The First Application

Well I've managed it. The first application is in & I imagine a few of us may be looking at the same position. So no giving away where it is! Anyway, the experience was only a little less nerve-wracking than I thought. Actually there always seems to be a long lead-in time for many of these positions so deadlines are fairly generous.

What tied me up in knots was the purpleness of my prose! One of my friends who looked over my letter reproached me for using to much "treacle". "You floury poof" were his exact words!!! Another, looking at the same letter, thought it seemed, with some tweaking, pretty strong! Both, by the way, are Heads...So what do I do? Stay up late pouring over the minutiae with my wife the night before the deadline is what! Gosh, I married a patient woman!

So what about you? What advice have you had as far as purple-shaded prose is concerned? Have you been advised to be concise & business-like? Or has it been suggested that you write in an authoratative manner, outling your experience & philosophy as if your life depended on it?!?

I know, that by the time I finished the application that night, each time I tried to re-read it the thing sounded less & less convincing! It just had to go into the post & from there into the lap of the gods (or rather governors!).

Let us know your dilemmas (post to "Dear Aunty IAPS"!)

Schooling beyond the curriculum

BBC NEWS | Education | Schooling beyond the curriculum

Food for thought.

An article here from the BBC News online concerning the recent issues of school trips and school dinners. For me this relates to what we are as Independent Schools. With the behavioural and financial stability (by and large!) that our establishments and their families possess do we not have a greater responsibility to address the implications of developing more "active and socially aware citizens"?

As leaders in our schools we are in a very strong position to stress to our colleagues and communities the importance of embedding the values and thinking skills esential for our children as they grow and leave us to enter our increasingly pluralist society. Is this not how a Preparatory School is defined?

If you have any comments just login & click on the comment link below.

Antarctic Explorers: Ernest Shackleton

Ernest Shackleton

I hope I'm not developing a weird obsession about Shackleton. Anyway, just to keep the theme going for a bit longer the link above is to a fairly extensive online bio of the man and his explorations.

Professional Development Reading List: Number 1

Shackleton's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer

Thought this might tickle you! Remember that this book was mentioned by Andy Duff? Well, in keeping with the spirit of this weblog I felt we all might welcome the chance to purchase the above tome. The links will take you to Amazon (where else?).

I must say that discussion at Tewkesbury piqued my interest and, not wishing to be a johnny-come-lately, I all also purchased a copy of "Edurance" by Alfred Lansing to fill in the gaps (or rather cavernous expanses!) in my personal knowledge of British Antarctic exploration in the early 20th century! You never know, it may come in useful during a lull in an interview.

Get Blogging!

Thanks to everyone who has joined in this weblog so far. Have a go at writing something, even if its to say hello & let us know how you're getting on.