It’s a moment of pride and celebration at The Staff College as Meera Spillett, a trailblazer in social work and children’s services, has been awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award (Gold) at the Social Worker of the Year Awards. With an illustrious career spanning over 35 years, Meera has not only been at the forefront of initiatives that have shaped the landscape of social work but has also held various significant roles, including that of Director of Children’s Services. Her leadership and expertise have been instrumental in addressing the underrepresentation of black leaders in the social care sector. Meera’s written works, such as ‘Leading in Colour’, ‘Black Leaders Missing in Action’, and ‘Cultural Competence,’ have sparked essential conversations on race…

We are so sad about the death of Patrick Scott. Patrick had a huge influence over the offers we have now, particularly the Black and Asian Leadership Initiative and Aspiring and New Directors programmes.  As we and our partners remember and celebrate Patrick’s legacy, warmth and integrity, Anton Florek has written this tribute.   As a recently retired Director of Children’s Services, Patrick was invited by Steve Munby, the then Chief Executive of the National College of School Leadership to join our advisory team for the Directors of Children’s Services Leadership Provision, which was commissioned in November 2008 by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Patrick brought a wealth of experience to the advisory team having served as a…

This Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) clarifies a shared commitment of stakeholder to building a culture of collaborative professionalism in Ontario’s education system. The core priorities of this commitment include: building a shared understanding of collaborative professionalism, and articulating a commitment to working together to further improve student achievement and well-being of both student and staff; transforming culture an optimizing conditions for learning, working and leading at all levels of the education sector in alignment with Achieving Excellence: A Renewed Vision for Education in Ontario

This report captures some of the learning and thinking that took place during a Leadership Academy seminar held to explore the LA’s role in ensuring that all schools are good or outstanding, securing sufficient high quality pupil places and championing the needs of children and families who face the greatest challenges.

The education system is failing to meet the needs of too many learners today because it ill equips them for the challenges of an uncertain, turbulent world in which they will have to find solutions to challenges with other people. Drawing on some of the most innovative organisations in the world, including Pixar and Barcelona FC, Leadbeater builds a case for schools as a place where children go to explore, create, make and learn together in a creative community with a cause. School should be the place where learners can discover their passions and purpose –and inspire their active and collaborative, problem-solving learning.

A think piece written by VSC associate Anna Wright focusing on co-production and its relevance to children’s services and community resilience. It explores co-production as a growing method for planning and delivering children’s services, with a strengths-based approach at its heart. The paper defines co-production and the different ways it can be used. It provides examples of its use in children’s services. It identifies how it can be implemented and the benefits and risks of doing it. Finally, it explores how leaders in children’s services might deploy it as part of systems leadership. This is designed as a companion piece to the think piece ‘Changing Professional Behaviour: What Works’, which focuses on how to lead the cultural change required to…

The Government is consulting on proposals for reforming Key Stage 4 qualifications, initially replacing GCSEs with ‘English Baccalaureate Certificates’ (EBCs) in the English Baccalaureate core subjects (English, mathematics, sciences, history, geography and languages). This think piece outlines the proposals, their rationale and some of the implications, including the potential impact on schools achieving floor standards. It suggests that DCSs (in line with the statutory guidance on their role) should engage with school leaders (and others) to try and forge a common position on the best outcome from these vital reforms, uniting school and broader community interests – thereby helping to secure a result with greater stability and longevity than the current lack of political consensus on the proposals otherwise holds…