Taking up a principal’s role for the first time – or taking over at a new school – is tough for anyone. Ciaran McMahon suggests that you have to adjust, be patient, listen, get the right people on your side and acquire “the knowledge”, and thinks they should be more like lambs than lions.
Trust and trustworthiness are essential for happy, vibrant, and successful schools. Mark Starbuck looks at how leaders can build trust within their school.
Providing great PD on a tight budget is always a challenge. Lural Ramirez, Director at the Centro Educativo Futuro Verde and her team have been implementing a creative solution.
Outdoor education specialist David Gregory likes to push things to the limits, but confronted with this challenge, he really had to think.
Aaron Ashton of RSAcademics, sheds light on what the strongest candidates reveal at interview for international school headship roles.
As an Outdoor Education instructor, David Gregory has learned to strike a balance between taking the lead in the field, and allowing others to do the leading. Everything depends on the needs of the students
Ask almost any young learner what a “green light” means and they will say, “GO!” Drivers will say a green light signals them to move forward, but implies so much more. Katherine Knox examines “Green Light” actions that keep a school moving forward consistently and effectively.
According to Leah Davies, good communication depends as much as on actively receiving messages (listening; reading) as on giving messages (talking; writing). Good teachers and schools get both parts of the formula right – and work hard to keep improving.
Educational technology is central to the construction of a modern program of learning, argues Matt Harris. To be properly implemented and sustained over time it must have the committed support of a transformational leadership team.
David Gregory questions the essence of leadership and how to teach it, following a simple comment by a student after a day in the field.
Sue Collins has been working on the Endicott International M.Ed. Programs for the last five years. She was moved by the testimonials of the program alumni, and reflects on how the M.Ed. programs have changed so many lives.
The unknown can be scary but it also offers adventure and challenge. David Gregory explores the benefits of caving as an outdoor activity as students learn how to lead under pressure.
Paul Cabrelli has recently explored the idea of “sustainability in schools” as a speaker both at the COBIS conference for Bursars, HR Managers and HR staff at St. Julian’s School, and the CEESA Job – a- like conference for Business Managers, Chief Accountants and Facility Managers, arguing that this is a 21st Century issue that must not be ignored.
Efforts recognised
The British School Kathmandu (TBS) has recently won three of the eleven 2017 British International School Awards – ‘Community Initiative of the Year’, ‘Senior Leadership Team of the Year’ and ‘British International School of the Year 2017’.
In the third and final part of this series on Managing Your MIS, Greg Martin offers some practical advice about how a school can use its information management system to connect with parents.
British international education in South East Asia has been grown rapidly for some time . We meet Ron Stones, one of the most influential British school leaders over the last 30 years, look back on his career and ask about his next project.
Walking into the open plan office area of the COBIS HQ in London’s Russell Square is rather like stepping through the doors of a good school. This, one feels, is the way that CEO Colin Bell and his staff like things.
Judicious change and improvement are the lifeblood of schools. Beginning this process from first principles is not easy. Brian Ambrosio explores how a government village primary school in Malaysia transformed itself.
ITM looks at a new on-line management tool that has the potential to speed up the whole business of school recruitment, while also making it more personalised.
International schools are ideally placed to develop and encourage greater global consciousness. Dr. Chris Muller explores how best to exploit this opportunity.
Many UK independent – and a few state schools – have considered setting up overseas branches of their schools. Is there still a market for UK independent schools to expand overseas? Undoubtedly. Are there pitfalls and dangers along the way? Definitely. So what are the risks involved and how can they be mitigated? Paul Cabrelli suggests you should be guided by 10 fundamental principles.
Just what stresses might Social Media cause Headteachers in the “post-truth” era? The evidence of a new survey from the UK suggests that there is a significant problem to be addressed. Rebecca Oram reports.
Listening is invaluable in schools in all sorts of ways and at many levels of responsibility – teachers, school leaders, students themselves and parents. Here Peter Hudson explains why listening is vital for school leaders.
Child abuse is a difficult issue for any educator to confront and International School leaders face particular difficulties. Jane Larsson, Executive Director of the Council of International Schools (CIS) recently spoke to ITM about a new source of support for schools as they develop more robust safeguarding policies.
Teachers are the adults closest to the two most important functions of any school: teaching and learning. Who else, Ciaran McMahan asks, is better placed to bring about changes that will lead to successful school improvement?
When taking up responsibilities at a new school, school leaders need to get things moving quickly while also taking stock in a measured way. How do you strike the right balance? Andy Homden talked to Dr. Tassos Anastasiades, who has just taken up the Directorship of Ajman Academy.
The Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur has been celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2016. Head of School Roger Schultz talked to ITM about the school and its place in the history of international education.
Much has been written about “meeting and exceeding standards” in order for a school to be considered “outstanding”. Regulators routinely expect schools to rise to this kind of challenge in order to earn their approval. Malcolm Greenhalgh offers some advice about responding positively, while remaining unashamedly student–centred.
Chris Binge, Principal at Island School, Hong Kong, thinks that assessment is artificially narrow and has become an end in itself, divorced from a student’s work. What, he asks, is to be done?
Best-selling author and thinker, Ira Chaleff is looking forward to his forthcoming appearance at the Asia-Pacific International Schools Conference (AISC) in Hong Kong this December. What he’s got to say is important, even though it might ruffle a few feathers . . .
How you can ensure all your staff become champions of your new school information management system? Neil Butcher provides practical and very helpful guidance.
Cross-curricular inspirationThis is the ultimate teaching and learning resource. Students of French, history, literature, media studies, science, biology, the environment . . . . and leadership will be totally absorbed. The winner of the 1987 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, is based on the original book by Jean Giono, also reviewed in ITM.
All schools aim to provide an admissions experience that is efficient and leaves families feeling valued and confident that they have made the right decision. Nancy Kroonenberg offers practical guidance to benefit both schools and families.
Information management technology is inextricably interwoven into the fabric of most schools. At its best it allows schools to manage data efficiently and effectively for the benefit of students, staff, leaders and parents. At its worst it can be a source of frustration for all sections of the school community. Greg Martin shows how to ensure your system suits your needs.
With the growing competition for students and staff, it has never been more important for a website to be noticed and read properly by the people you want to reach. Andy Homden looks at what you should be doing to give your website the edge.
In a competitive and often unpredictable world, effective school governance is crucial if a school is to remain true to its mission and achieve its vision. Consilium Education’s Paul Cabrelli reflects on five essentials that sustain excellence and help governors enjoy their time in office.
Andrew Wigford, a former international school Head Teacher and founder of Teachers International Consultancy, is keenly aware of the changes taking place in international education. Reflecting on the past 10 years as a recruiter, he thinks that schools need to adjust their recruitment policies accordingly – urgently.
In some areas of the world there is a leadership crisis in schools; England reports an alarming lack of head teachers. Workload and stress levels have been cited as contributing to the paucity of teachers willing to take on leadership roles, but Ciaran McMahon suggests that directed leadership training will enthuse teachers and offers a positive route out of the leadership shortage predicament.
This article appears with the kind permission of the Irish Primary Principals’Network (IPPN) It originally appeared in Leadership+, the IPPN’s members’magazine.
Phil Jones, Director of VPJ Solutions, a UK based consolidated educational supplier, thinks that schools should regularly review the services they receive from providers to make sure that they not only get the best service, but also the best value for money.
New report
The UAE continues to be the leading country in the world for English-medium K-12 international schools. In terms of the number of international schools, the UAE is currently competing in a very tight race with China, but in terms of student enrolment, the UAE leads the world decisively. The data has been published in the new Market Intelligence Report for International Schools in the United Arab Emirates by ISC Research. Anne Keeling reports.
The value placed upon attention to detail in teaching and leading is commendable but what if the bigger picture becomes unclear as a result? In this article, Angela Lynch talks about seeing the wood rather than the trees
The role of deputy principal is multi-faceted but is known to vary greatly between schools. Recognising the demands placed upon principals, Ciaran McMahon believes the deputy principal role requires development including greater responsibility and recognition that it is crucial to the success of a school.
Duty of Care Training for SchoolsThis course is designed to give an awareness and understanding of basic Duty of Care in the International Schools Sector. To learn more about the one and two day courses offered by Philip Jones, Co-Owner and Operations Director of VPJ Solutions Limited.
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Round the world with Sarah Outen
From the comfort of our cozy lives, it is difficult to imagine what it is like to cycle, row and kayak around our planet. Sarah Outen has done just that and her experiences provide one with a sobering sense of perspective and genuine awe. Tony Richards reflects on her epic trip and makes the case for opening up outdoor education to those who are yet to experience its benefits.
Inspiring a love of learning in students is a challenge all teachers face and often relish. Vicky Hill describes an unconventional and innovative approach to developing a passion for learning at Island School, Hong Kong, which has proved effective and very enjoyable for all involved.
Fortunately few of us will experience events as tragic as the earthquake that struck Nepal in April 2015, but such events do happen and, as we have witnessed, demand enormous human resourcefulness and resilience. Steve Priest, teaching in the The British School of Kathmandu at the time of the earthquake, explains the crucial role that forward thinking and planning played in enabling the school to react effectively to events and support the school and wider community.
Drawn from his experiences, Steve also provides valuable guidance on how schools can and should prepare for crises available as a downloadable PDF. (see below)
In the second of two articles, Grace Kelly explains further her perspective on how to deliver the “outstanding” lesson so admired by inspection teams.
Bill Gates was recently asked how he would feel about the possibility of being cast away alone on a desert island, without any contact with the outside world. There would be no phone, and no internet.
He didn’t much care for the idea.
Sandeep Aneja wants us all to talk to each other about radical changes taking place in global education. To this end, he’s getting a few people together at the The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina on February 27 & 28 to carry on a conversation that started in Singapore two years ago. It’s an impressive gathering.
This is just one of the memorable lines from the 1988 movie Stand & Deliver during an Oscar – nominated performance by Edward James Olmos, playing the role of LA Math teacher Jaime Escalante. In a remarkable career, Escalante took issue with one of the most popular misconceptions about learning, and in doing so developed an approach to teaching that Andy Homden has come to describe as “The Learning Wedge”