Happy, if belated, New year! I am tickled pink by what is certainly the most positive news story of 2013 so far - perhaps for the rest of the year! We should all encourage our pupils out into the playgrounds, parks and fields to build snowmen to manage the pace of the thaw! Here’s a picture of a six foot six one we found during the first snowfall in the local park. Respect!
I hope you all encouraged widespread snowman building. I know several of the teachers and leaders from the Cambridge SUPER network who I was working and learning with recently had ideas on those lines. It all helped banish any January blues brought on by the snow and cold, the flu and norovirus.
Another thing that has lifted spirits in CUREE is two recent opportunities to work with over 90 aspiring senior leaders for intense sessions on leading and modelling excellence in coaching as a school improvement lever. We were particularly struck by the depth of their thinking and the ambition of their goals (see below for a more detailed snapshot of the aspirations of this group of people, who we are confident will be helping to lead the profession as a whole very soon).
My sense is that with the lengthening days the sap is beginning to rise in several senses. We are enjoying lots of conversations about long-term CPD and use of research partnerships with different groups of schools. Colleagues seem to be using 2013 to look beyond the urgent, and focus on the important.
Philippa Cordingley - Chief Executive