Parents worried about head lice, colleagues confused about job opportunities, meaningless memos. And your school is shortly to close. Oh, the joys of leadership. Thank goodness for students.

Decisions of the head or heart?

An email from the local authority (LA) acknowledges that, for redundancy purposes, my start date of the last century (!) has been confirmed. Yes, redundancy.

They are closing my school because it is a middle school and my LA has decided that the two-tier system will work best. I really hope they are right.

Another email is ‘inviting’ me to a meeting 20 miles away next week that schools are ‘expected to attend’ about improving SATs results. There are 11 weeks until the SATs. If I am a half-decent leader we will have had plans in place for months to address this.

Obviously, it has only just occurred to me to think about it. This is not why I am here.

There is an email from a parent distressed about head lice. I am distressed, too – just thinking about it is itchy – but I repeat the party line.

There is a reference request for someone who left the school a long time ago and never rings or writes to ask, just assumes. I do it resentfully. I have 42 references still to do before we close.

There is a tap on the door. Amy, Georgia and Hannah.

“Please, Miss, can we do a talent show this year?”

I pretend to consider it carefully and ask questions about dates, planning, finals and prizes. I know they can easily organise this. Hell, give them half Gove’s budget and platform and they could change our educational world.

Eventually – as they always knew I would – I say yes. They grin and leave. Now that is why...

I gather some data and start to crunch it. The phone rings; it’s an anxious parent. Sorted. Colleague arrives. Job application? D Discussed, reassured and encouraged. Back to data – actually, it’s looking OK. Relief. Share with deputy.

Another email. Safeguarding audit. Last year, this took my assistant head several hours to complete. This year it’s my baby as she has retired. Oh happy day!

I open it with trepidation – and the format has been simplified! Alleluia! I can do this. More relief. The small joys of leadership.

I get the form done just in time to go to teach. Top set Year 8 English. This is why.

Back to office – more emails. One, from the LA, asking us – enthusiastically – to engage in a consultation about the 2013/14 term dates.

I reply immediately – just this side of ‘rudely aggressive’. I get an apologetic email back about ‘transparency’ but my teeth, loosened by an hour of Romeo and Juliet with Year 8, are gritted again.

This is not why.

Lunchtime. Up on the field my wonderful dinner ladies organise a snowball fight for more than 50 children. This is definitely why.

Assembly. I tell a story about a very gentle girl who helps others even when they are unkind to her. One Year 6 pupil puts up her hand with a question.

“Did she have long or short hair?”

“Oh long, definitely long,” I answer, as that is her preference.

She smiles and dreams off.

I sign all the interim reports, the masterclass certificates, the holiday forms. The bell rings. The bus leaves and I return to the audit. Ricky bounces into the office. I glance up and he retreats, knocks, comes in again and grins.

“I’ve had a really good day, Miss!”

I try to look stern. “Really, Ricky?”

“Honest, Miss, I wasn’t put out of any lessons and I did my test and got a star.”

He waves his planner at me proudly and waits.

“That’s really great, Ricky.” Long pause. I give in. “Do you think it deserves a dip in the goodie bag?”

His face lights up and the grin splits his face.

“Yes Miss, I do!”

The goodie bag contains pencils, badges, stickers and lollies. Ricky chooses one.

“Thanks Miss!” He makes for the door and then turns back.

“And Miss, you have a good weekend, won’t you?”

“Thank you, Ricky, you too.”

I have to smile.

This is why.

• The author is a headteacher in the East of England

Want the last word?

Last Word always welcomes contributions from members. If you’d like to share your humorous observations of school life, email Sara Gadzik at leader@ascl.org.uk ASCL offers a modest honorarium.

Designed with IMPACT

© 2024 Association of School and College Leaders | Valid XHTML | Contact us