Culture eats strategy for breakfast. Peter Drucker
After two days getting our Academy ready for today, our pupil’s returned. The atmosphere was positive.
Reflecting on the past two days, a mix of vision and values and policy and practice, with a good dose of curriculum time, I reminded myself of Peter Drucker’s words ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast.’ I believe our culture has greater clarity. What is more, the strategy for teaching, learning, assessment, behaviour and welfare, were all revisited. Which leads me to draw the conclusion that there is real value in gaining staff momentum with two days INSET to start the year.
That said, two positive INSET days with staff were quickly eclipsed by one hour teaching a wonderful Y8 Maths class. All but one pupil reported maths was in the bottom half of their favourite subjects list, a far number had maths rock bottom. What a fantastic professional challenge for me.
I know how important subject enthusiasm is to pupils. Maths is the currently the best subject in the universe. I managed my own behaviour very tightly today. Meet, greet. Thank. Acknowledge. Praise only where pupils went beyond the pale. I focused on the “95%” and I believe I made real in roads with a handful of new pupils via the “Oh yes, Mrs X made a determined effort to tell me were an excellent maths pupil,” and “Thank you. It has been a while since I heard such a unique answer.” As for the 5%, with some many on board, I only offered an odd look here or there. Routines where vehemently adhered to, stressed even. Pupils arrived and entered calmly. Pupils used the new laminated “GO” green page in our planners to communicated. We shared the department ^5 (high five) code and reinforced it without exception. We left calmly in order of those who contributed the most. I had my scripted interventions and did not use it and hence, I did need my follow-up around restorative practices. I personally thanked each pupil today.
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