by Kate Claydon @KateClaydon The role of a headteacher is the most privileged within our profession. You have the opportunity to shape the culture and ethos of your school, determining not only the academic outcomes of your students but also developing their characters, confidence and understanding of values; sowing seeds that w...
#WomenEd Blogs
by Kerry Jordan Daus @KerryJordanDaus The 3rd Annual Unconference of #WomenEd is set to excite, challenge and enthuse us all. I am taking a moment, a space, to reflect on Shirley Chisholm's words and the provocation for our weekend: "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair". What does that mean to me? This is timely, as I ...
by Kerry Jordan-Daus @kerryjordandaus I considered myself a rank outsider. But I had nothing to lose. Well maybe, my pride. But still I gave it a go. I believed I could. So, I would. No, I should. When we reflect on #BreakTheBias, we are facing personal, cultural, and structural barriers to equality. Today, I am thinking about my own bias, the unco...
by Christalla Jamil @ChristallaJ
This year’s International Women's Day 2021 was marked by a campaign focused on 'challenge'. When we support each other, women accomplish amazing things. For me, once again, this was illustrated on Saturday 6th March when the three regional networks that I am honoured to work with, gave a platform to a community of new voices to share how they #ChoosetoChallenge. I would like to extend my thanks to all three #WomenEd regions: @WomenEdSE, @WomenEdEastern and @WomenEdLondon.
by Bretta Townend-Jowitt @Headspiration
Madness part 1 – the need to clarify my reason for blogging. Earlier in my career I suffered from a lack of knowledge and understanding my employers had around fertility treatment, 14 years later I expected significant improvement, however, now at menopause age I’m discovering the same lack of knowledge and understanding of this topic too.
by Amy Carson @TitchyDitch #PledgeForChange20
I have the pleasure of working with @cerasmusteach, in fact she's my line manager. A few weeks ago she came into my classroom and invited me to write a blog for her #WomenEd #DGmeet to #PledgeForChange2020. My initial thoughts were 'What would I write about?' then 'Who would be interested in reading what I have to say?'
by Clare Erasmus @cerasmusteach #PledgeForChange20
My son has been on the mental health disability register since he was 9 years old ; we only managed to get C.A.M.H.S intervention when he reached secondary school. He is now in his teens and despite a situation which is becoming more challenging we can only secure a monthly appointment with a C.A.M.H.S therapist. It feels like a drop in the ocean in terms of the clinical support my son really needs.
by Naomi Ward @naomi7444
I need to look back to look forward. The last two years have been about clarifying values and purpose, then exploring what those mean in my life after teaching. This year is about habits, consistency and discipline. Doesn’t sound that inspiring right, and yet, this is what’s needed to build on hard-won foundations.
The word ‘discipline,’ derives from ‘disciple,’ – ‘to follow or adhere to doctrine.’ To me this means that I am a follower of my values and purpose, and will learn as I walk where they guide me.
I was struck by this image on Twitter recently; I have a purpose and am also aware of the distractions that are in my way; imposed by roles as well as the obstacles I like to put in my way: distraction, fear, resentment, poor prioritisation, other people’s requests, ‘urgency.’ How important is my mission? Is it important enough to use my time wisely? Yes. Is it something I’m willing to drop? Hell no.
So I #pledge to say no and be clearer on my boundaries. Truth be told, I’m slightly bedazzled by people who say no with conviction and grace – it takes strength. Do it, because it means you create time and if done well, it earns respect and is contagious. I also #pledge not to resent other roles I have and perceive to be getting in the way. After twelve years of parenting, it can be easy to resent the constant demands and bickering (hello Christmas holidays!). That’s why, when choosing discipline in alignment to my purpose and values, it’s worth looking through the lens of each role I inhabit for the opportunity to deepen my learning. I’ve stolen this exercise from Covey’s ‘Seven Habits.’
by Claire Lowe @ExecPrincipal @CharlieMackesy The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse
Ever since I can remember I wanted to teach. At an early age I used to love playing schools with my little sister, she was always the pupil, and, at my forward thinking primary school, I had the privilege of being a teacher for a day – first one in my class to have the honour of doing it and I loved it, the planning, prepping and thinking all at the tender age of 10!
By Kate Smith @MrsKatieSmith
I write this blog just a few weeks after Sir Andrew Carter’s most unhelpful comments about how it is ‘wrong and immoral’ for teachers to ask for their hours to be reduced after taking on full-time jobs.
by Julie Hunter @MsHMFL @PledgeForChange20
There have been lots of press articles recently about lack of teachers and there being a recruitment problem. I have experienced the lack of retention of superbly talented teachers who are leaving due to work place demands. A colleague went on jury service and came back, resigning immediately. The reason being they had seen friends, family and had quality time to think about life.
by Debs Jewell @jewellsjournal
It has been many years since I flexed my blogging muscles but this seemed a good post to start with. The first of a series of posts containing a collaborative pooling of ideas about dreams, friendships, networks, support, helping each other to navigate the daily grind, empowering a tribe, assembling a crew … you get the picture.
by Kate Brown @katebrown2016 Thursday 5th March: #LeadMeet for #IWD2020 at Dr Challoner’s High School, Buckinghamshire.
There is an undeniable irony in that even as I write this blog, I am all too aware of the fact that the reason I have never published my reflections previously is the belief that my thoughts are not as interesting, engaging or impactful as those of the Edu-Twitter community that regularly share their ideas and whom I admire.
by Kathryn Evans @purekathryn76
My husband has often mused that if I have the option of two different pathways, I will always choose the harder journey. To this, I always reply that the journey may be hard but the learning will be of greater value and the sense of achievement even greater
I am incredibly proud of the success of the @WomenEDSE #LeadMeet on International Women’s Day 2020, which was held at my workplace, Archbishop Courtenay Primary School in Maidstone, Kent. The sense of team, collaboration, community and support was tangible.
by Debs Jewell @jewellsjournal Image: The Tree of Life - by Gustav Klimt, 1905
We bandy about the term ‘It’s okay to not be okay’, heck I’ve thrown it out there into the world myself, and with the best intentions. But … is it? Is it really okay to not be okay?