Getting relationships right - and magic happens!
Listening to the latest podcast from the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has given me the focus for this third and final blog.(1) (for the time being!) One of the most detrimental situations I see when I meet with boards of governors is where the relationship between the board and the headteacher has broken down. This can range from a situation where neither side fully understands their role, and cross or duplication of work happens, to the downright destructive where neither side will talk to the other! Some Headteachers see the governors as meddling; and some governors I meet do spend too much time trying to get into the detail of the operational. Some boards who, quite correctly, want to get clear strategic work done for the school come up against a controlling headteacher who sees that as usurping their role. So what can be done to get everyone pulling in the same direction whilst respecting their different roles - surely we are on the same team? I use the