tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254885666790498217.post6771865596785454992..comments2023-03-06T18:05:06.398+00:00Comments on Thoughts on managing variability: 10 thoughts for a head of departmentKev Listerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417437251161335205noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254885666790498217.post-73493259475325115482013-08-13T23:11:54.544+01:002013-08-13T23:11:54.544+01:00Sounds great - and certainly some form of training...Sounds great - and certainly some form of training is much better than none at all!Kev Listerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02417437251161335205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254885666790498217.post-79627149453098607592013-08-12T10:54:49.862+01:002013-08-12T10:54:49.862+01:00Thanks, Kev - and yes, I will certainly do that. ...Thanks, Kev - and yes, I will certainly do that. Also, recommending Twitter and suggesting they follow people like you is something else I'm keen to do (see the beginning of John Smith's blog here!http://pennydropteaching.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/if-you-tweet-it-they-will-come/)<br /><br />I think the National College's NPQML is an interesting development for Middle Leader preparation, building on Leading from the Middle and the Middle Leadership Development Programme. I do believe things HAVE got better, but there's still a long way to go. Strengthening Middle Leadership is crucial both in terms of improving standards of teaching and learning AND preparing the next generation of Senior Leaders and heads.<br /><br />Thanks again. Jill Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07968197362738941523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254885666790498217.post-40628567159062187592013-08-11T13:46:35.858+01:002013-08-11T13:46:35.858+01:00Thanks for your comments Jill. Interesting that yo...Thanks for your comments Jill. Interesting that you think things have improved- in many ways I suspect a lot of HoDs would say that they don't get much preparation for the role and end up just muddling through. All seems far too hit and miss for a national system.<br /> I'm happy for you to use my blog in your work, but please can you give them the web address as part of it? Kev Listerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02417437251161335205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254885666790498217.post-53453165655738100842013-08-11T13:46:21.207+01:002013-08-11T13:46:21.207+01:00Thanks for your comments Jill. Interesting that yo...Thanks for your comments Jill. Interesting that you think things have improved- in many ways I suspect a lot of HoDs would say that they don't get much preparation for the role and end up just muddling through. All seems far too hit and miss for a national system.<br /> I'm happy for you to use my blog in your work, but please can you give them the web address as part of it? Kev Listerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02417437251161335205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254885666790498217.post-50701191233448333842013-08-06T18:24:03.461+01:002013-08-06T18:24:03.461+01:00I enjoyed this, Kev - thanks for sharing your expe...I enjoyed this, Kev - thanks for sharing your experiences and your thoughts.<br /><br />I was a HoD what seems a lifetime ago - in the early 1990s - and at that stage there didn't seem to be ANY preparation/training for the middle leader role (and that wasn't a term we used then. I think HoDs were seen as administrators as much as anything). You learnt the job by doing the job, and we didn't pass on advice to other new/aspiring HoDs either. We've come a long way since then!<br /><br />I went on to become a Head in due course, but I finished in 2010, and now I do a number of things, including consultancy, and I'll be doing training with aspiring, new and experienced HoDs next academic year. I'd like to use your blog in that work, if I can. It's great to have stories of serving HoDs to use as examples and to discuss/reflect on. Let me know if you're happy for me to do that?<br /><br />Thanks @jillberry102 Jill Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07968197362738941523noreply@blogger.com