I have lost count of the number of assemblies I gave during my 20 years as a Head on the theme of ‘Change’ and often played the students in to the hall with the wonderful Bob Dylan singing that great song.
We used to love the lines:
‘…if your time to you is worth savingThen you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone…’
As Heads, we encourage our students to embrace change confidently as they proceed on their journeys, and to react positively to the odd twist and turn, that unexpected T junction or occasional bump in the road. We advise students that their journeys may well not go the way they had originally intended, but that it was how they reacted was the most important.
Now it appears to be our turn!
The educational landscape is certainly changing, and Anthony Millard Consulting, is embracing change too by increasing its services accordingly to ensure our schools, Governors and Heads are well supported as they face their own proverbial T junction.
There is no doubt that schools are ‘starting swimmin’ and we are delighted to be supporting Governing Bodies and School Leaders as they seek to embrace change and challenges pro-actively and effectively.
AMC are currently working with hugely successful schools who are in very strong, enviable positions, to help them realise their bold visions and turn what could be considered to be a hugely courageous vision into strategy and a success.
We are seeing the most agile school leadership as schools review their current model, income streams, and provision– they certainly do not intend to ‘sink like a stone’.
AMC continues to offer a first-class leadership recruitment solution for schools throughout the world and enjoys an enviable reputation for doing so. But as we continue to grow our team of Associate Consultants who bring additional skills, attributes and new areas of specialism, we too can embrace change with confidence and offer School Leaders and Governing Bodies the very best strategic support.
At the same time, we see a definite ‘change’ in the mindset of Governors as they embark on the recruitment of a new Head. Headship today is most certainly not for the faint hearted and Governors should consider vison, strategic thinking and agility as ‘must haves’ alongside strong values and the ability to inspire others to believe in themselves and flourish.
There is no doubt we are seeing a definite ‘flight to quality’. Parents want their children to be safe and happy; the school’s communications with parents have never been so important. They say that ‘great leaders truly care about those they lead…’- it has also never been more important for Heads to promote strong parental engagement and a community of trust and belonging. Schools have to strengthen their reputation and normal daily behaviour which has the wellbeing of its students and staff at the heart.
We look forward to supporting more and more Governors and School Leaders as they focus on planning strategically for their schools’ future and challenging what their school has always done!
As Dylan says:
‘…Your old road is rapidly aging…’
More and more we see great schools set about re-examining their business model and AMC has the team to support them in doing so.
I wish all our friends, old and new, a great 2022.
