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Continue reading →: On ‘Hamnet’ – to read or not to read!
“The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” – Mark Twain From the moment humans could speak, they told stories. Around fires, in caves, under starlit skies, stories were shared to explain the world, to teach, to entertain, and to connect. Long before…
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Continue reading →: October: “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.”
As we step into October, Keats’ words echo with gentle truth – this truly is a season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. In schools, it marks a moment of settling, of rhythm, and of reflection after the whirlwind of September. The start of a new academic year is always a…
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Continue reading →: I am so proud of you!
As educators, we often wonder what impact we truly have. We pour our hearts into our classrooms, hoping that something we say or do will plant a seed that grows long after our students leave us. Last week, I had one of those rare and beautiful moments that reminded me…
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Continue reading →: Empowering Women in School Leadership: Leaving the Ladder Down
A couple of weeks ago at an evening event in one of our local teaching Colleges for Governors and Principals, I met a female school leader and she asked me, ‘Are you still writing your blog Fiona?’ I was mortified and humbled by the conversation we had following my stumbling…
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Continue reading →: Leading the Way: Building a New School and a Thriving Community
As Principal, the opportunity to oversee the construction of a brand new school building while simultaneously striving to create an exceptional educational environment is both a monumental challenge and a profound privilege. This dual focus on physical infrastructure and educational excellence requires a delicate balance, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment…
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Continue reading →: “A bouquet of newly sharpened pencils!”
For fans of ‘You’ve Got Mail’ (Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan), perhaps like me, this quotation from Hanks’ character, Joe Fox always conjures up the return to school in September. Ah, September! The month that brings a mix of excitement, fear, and the unmistakable scent of freshly sharpened pencils and…
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Continue reading →: School’s Out for Summer: Reflections for School Leaders
As the academic year draws to a close, many school leaders find themselves at their desks, reflecting on the past year—a year filled with both triumphs and trials. I hope this reflection shows a little of what it means to lead a school, even when the students and most of…
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Continue reading →: Walk Away? Or Walk Toward?
The Power of ‘Courageous Conversations’ for School Leaders Following on from my last blog, I thought it might be good to take a look at the ignoring/empowering dynamic through the lens of a school leader. Paulo Coelho, author of the worldwide best-selling “The Alchemist“, encourages us all to ‘walk away’…
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Continue reading →: What We Ignore, We Empower:
A Reflection A colleague of mine quoted me this week at a full staff meeting as she was making a presentation to teaching staff – I don’t think this has ever happened to me before! It was quite an interesting experience though as I sat alongside staff and it got…
