Values, not rules

Values-conscious schools have seen improved behaviour, increased confidence and capacity, and better spiritual, moral social and cultural education.  These underpin effective learning and higher standards.

back to school The sun is streaming in the window at the back of the hall.  The school staff are smiling,  suntanned and relaxed,  bearing witness to the long days of summer sun.  What a different energy from the one I felt in this room 3 short months ago.  We are here to look forward to the coming year, determined to hang on to all that is special about this school, in the face of the challenges and opportunities of a new school year which includes the start of a 2-year re-build and whatever new initiatives Mr Gove identifies next.  For me, this is the culmination of 9 months’ work supporting this school to re-define its values.

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Living your values

Have you heard about the Spanish athlete who gave up his chance to win a cross-country race in Burlada, Navarre?   He was running second as the athletes entered the finishing straight,  when he saw the Kenyan runner  Abel Mutai (3,000 meter gold medallist at the London Olympics) mistakenly pull up about 10 meters before the finish, thinking he had already crossed the line. Not being a Spanish speaker, he didn’t understand the shouts from spectators to keep going.

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