Every #RemembranceSunday I reflect proudly on the bravery of my great grandad, Sgt Fred Anderson, who fought in the infamous Battle of Cambrai. #LestWeForget www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/sgt-no-...

We continue to receive calls in regard to the new inspection framework. Call us in confidence if you need support and a friendly ear. It’s completely free.

Thank you @sheffielduni.bsky.social for a great day. A very proud dad.

Sad news. This gent was a legend. When I was a HT in London we invited him to run a marathon in 100m shuttle runs with the children in the playground. Between them they ran the full marathon length with him. It took all day. He ran to the school and then ran home afterwards (Ilford). He was 94. 🙏🏼

Out with friends in Liverpool last night. ❤️

Gorgeous down at the beach today. Blackpool shimmering in the distance. 🌞

If you are looking for authentic leadership support next year - coaching in particular - then please get in touch. I’d love to work with you! More on the website: www.makanaleadership.co.uk

Back home following a lovely few days in the lakes. Ullswater was beautiful. Wainwright was spot on. It hosts the finest walk in Lakeland.

Liverpool win record-equalling 20th league title with rout of Tottenham

Lovely few days in the North York Moors with all the family. Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay the jewels.

There is one message for the government on this anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster No watering down, no ifs or buts, no more delays. It is time to deliver a Hillsborough Law in full in the name of 97 football fans who were unlawfully killed

9 April 1968 | Zofia Kossak-Szczucka passed away. A writer, co-founder of Żegota Council; Arrested on 27 Sep 1943 and imprisoned in #Auschwitz 9 days later (64491). In May 1944 she was transferred to Warsaw & sentenced to death. Released thanks to efforts of Polish underground.

We have written to the appointments commission jointly with @headsroundtable.bsky.social opposing the peerage nomination of Amanda Spielman. We’ve also sent a copy to No 10. You can download our letter and send it to your MP and the commission as well.

We will be issuing a joint statement with @headsroundtable.bsky.social later this afternoon. We will also publish a letter for you to send to the House of Lords Appointment Committee and your local MP. It will be available to download on our website blog. www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog

Look out for the @headrestuk.bsky.social petition to put a stop to this.

“Obscene”. “A deliberate insult to every teacher in the country.” Fury as we reveal Tories have nominated Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief when Ruth Perry killed herself after a bruising inspection, for a peerage. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Delighted to see #sotofelllowship and #fourquadrantframework feature as one example of how we could do intelligent accountability in the real world in Beyond Belief, the timely and important new book edited by @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social www.johncattbookshop.com/products/bey...

Annual Legends game at Anfield this afternoon. Crouch and Gerrard on the pitch, Dalglish and Rush on the bench. 😎

Happy World Poetry Day to all who celebrate. If you’re interested in writing poetry yourself, I hope this poem will be of some use.

I’m re-reading 1984 and was reminded of Newspeak’s really helpful way of categorising things: *Plusungood *Ungood *Good *Plusgood *Doubleplusgood ‘Every concept that can ever be needed will be expressed by exactly one word.’ Not sure if it will ever catch on in education, but just a thought. 🙄

“Accountability needs to have a point. It needs to lead to action, be it a change in approach or a shift in attitude. It must improve the school.” 'Beyond Belief': www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Belie..., @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social & the @headrestuk.bsky.social team, published by @johncattedu.bsky.social.

"As a profession, we need to learn how to hold ourselves & others to account for the quality of our work, rather than having constantly to rely on outsiders." @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social & the @headrestuk.bsky.social team in www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Belie... @johncattedu.bsky.social

‘Christ, who’s this bloody tosser?’ This is a fascinating insight from his son into the oft-flawed genius of George Orwell.

"Being able to hold oneself (& others) to account is an essential characteristic of an ethical & self-aware leader. It’s at the heart of being able to self-regulate, which in itself is all about trust." @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social & the @headrestuk.bsky.social team: www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Belie...

Grateful to the TES for sharing our piece on ‘Why we fear Ofsted is not really listening’ and why we created the Alternative Big Consultation. The survey only takes 5 mins to complete. www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

This is a hugely positive step forward and is so welcomed; a wise and inclusive approach to managing a significant brief that gives some much-needed clarity and purpose and our work. Please do take the time to read and share.

On accountability to parents: “Ofsted has inserted itself as central to accountability to parents – this is a huge overstatement of the case. Inspection reports are one source of information used by parents, & by no means most parents." @emmakn.bsky.social in www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Belie...

The book offers some helpful case study examples of how intelligent, rigorous and robust peer review can complement and support low stakes inspection. Strong governance is key though, especially in a multi-school organisation.

One of the best photos I have seen in response to “why don’t you wear a suit”

"If we want a school system where every school & trust take equal responsibility for our most vulnerable young people, then we need a system that holds all of us to account." And governors are key to this, suggests @jonnyuttley.bsky.social in www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Belie... @headrestuk.bsky.social

"Moving from a culture of low trust & high accountability with a never-ending list of boxes to be ticked, to one of high trust & high autonomy within a clear framework (purpose), supported by effective professional development, improves wellbeing. This is just as true at.." @mrlev.bsky.social 1/2

Times are hard. Trigger would be proud.

“Accountability in teaching goes beyond mere compliance. It embodies a commitment to excellence & continuous improvement.” Paulette Osborne in www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Belie... @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social @headrestuk.bsky.social @johncattedu.bsky.social

“During my 10 years as a head in an inner-city school…we didn’t need Ofsted to hold us to account because as a school we had a strong code of professional aspiration.” Paulette Osbourne in www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Belie... @headrestuk.bsky.social @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social

"The alarming trend of heads leaving their first headship within 5 years is indicative of systemic issues within the current accountability framework. The intense pressure & scrutiny can lead to burnout & disillusionment, driving talented leaders away from the profession" @calmleadership.bsky.social

So pleased that Patrick has contributed to this book as a serving headteacher. I so wish his calm leaderhip approach was there when I started out as a head (just like him in London). @calmleadership.bsky.social

"How can we create a new set of nuanced & intelligent accountability measures aligned with a long-term plan & clear vision for education across the entire system? How can we increase challenge & support while at the same time reducing the pressure & high-stakes nature of accountability?" 1/2

"I will argue that inspection, which is necessary, if properly understood needs to be about validating judgements made by those being inspected to develop consistency & accuracy & to spread expertise." @malcolmg.bsky.social in www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Belie... ed @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social

On padded seat duty today helping out and hosting at non-league hospitality. ⚽️🥂

"One headteacher, whose school moved from RI to good in just over a year, said, 'In truth, not much has changed. We've got the same staff and the outcomes are similar. The big change was the lead inspector: the most recent one understood our school. The first one didn't.'" @julespg.bsky.social

"By drawing on the collective & lived experience of those who find themselves right at the heart of the system - often at the receiving end of inspection - we aim to offer a real-time insight into what it looks & feels like to lead schools." @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social, 'Beyond Belief'.

Absolutely spot on from @wsc.co.uk The experience is different, and people are embracing it www.wsc.co.uk/stories/edit...

More than a thousand complaints have been made to Ofsted following school inspections over the last three years. The number of complaints have increased by 60% to 397 in 2023-24. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

"This book is an opportunity to start to think differently about accountability...I hope this book helps to take the debate forward." Lord Jim Knight's foreword to 'Beyond Belief: Why School Accountability is Broken & How to Fix It', @johncattedu.bsky.social, ed @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social

End of another busy week coaching school leaders and topped off with a day facilitating NPQEL and their final presentations as they reflect on their 18-month leadership journey throughout the course. Get in touch if you need support. Here to help! ➡️ MakanaLeadership.co.uk

In the latest monthly update I shared links to:

My Gene Hackman. RIP

My copy arrived today - thank you, @johncattedu.bsky.social. I'll read it and post snippets from it in due course - hope they help to raise awareness/give others a taste of what the book has to offer. @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social www.johncattbookshop.com/products/bey...

Mine didn't quite make the print edition but I'd be honoured if you found some time to read my article from this edition my.chartered.college/impact_artic...

If you’re interested in exploring different approaches to accountability, this new book from @headrestuk.bsky.social will help. As a profession we need to speak for ourselves, and those in this book are bravely doing just that. Includes a foreword by Rt Hon Lord Jim Knight. amzn.eu/d/0KmhHzA