Fingers crossed but the vaccinations seem to be holding up against the third surge and a partial reduction in restrictions is in sight. So after four terms of the greatest upheaval in education since the evacuation of schools and children in world war two here are the lessons I have learnt, some of them quite surprising. Not in order:
- The UK independent sector more resilient and agile than seemed possible, some schools including boarding coming out of COVID actually strengthened
- The UK state sector, in spite of many valiant efforts, has disappointed entangled by union intransigence, red tape and extreme tendency to risk aversion
- International sector thriving and continuing to expand and innovate, despite anxieties over the future of the Chinese market
- Virtual learning here to stay with much of education moving ahead on a “hybrid” basis; high premium for those schools who are tec-savvy
- Education Conferences also will go hybrid with both savings on travel etc. and vastly increased reach using remote technology; heightened access to thought-leaders etc.
- Leadership and Executive Search – remote technology and virtual methodology will replace old-fashioned head-hunting, except for final assessment and selection which will continue in real time and in person
- Executive Principals to whom heads will report will become more typical of larger and medium sized schools; they will be supported by Super Bursars (directors of finance and administration)
- Good Governance even more necessary, with the role of Chairman / Chairwoman increasingly professionalized and remunerated
- Educational Consultancies morphing from recruitment to generalized strategic consultancy – something AMC has led the way on!
In 1964 I was taking O-Levels, listening to “A Hard Day’s Night” and cheering on Harold Wilson as he “dragged Britain kicking and screaming into the twentieth century”.
