Special School Leadership

Thoughts and Articles on School Leadership

I have had the privilege of working as a senior leader in not just one, but three special schools. These incredible learning environments have shaped my perspective and allowed me to witness the incredible potential that lies within every student, regardless of their abilities or challenges. In addition to my role as a senior leader, I am also a dedicated governor in another special school, where I contribute to the strategic decision-making process alongside a passionate team of parents and professionals.

As a passionate advocate for inclusive education, I firmly believe that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, deserves access to quality education that caters to their unique needs. This belief has been the driving force behind my journey as an educational leader.

A School Leader Blog

When I started this website many years ago, it began as a reflective blog for my NPQML (National Professional Qualification for Middle Leadership). It was a space where I could document my personal growth and reflect on the challenges and triumphs I encountered as a leader in the special education sector. Little did I know then that this platform would evolve into something more encompassing and empowering.

Today, this website serves as a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in special school leadership. It has become a hub where I share insights, strategies, and best practices gathered throughout my career. While I don’t consider myself a brilliant school leader, I am a lifelong learner, constantly seeking ways to improve and do my absolute best for the pupils under my care.

A Community of Learners

My aim is to foster a community of leaders who are dedicated to enhancing the quality of education and support for students with special needs. I firmly believe that together, we can create inclusive learning environments where every student thrives, reaches their full potential, and achieves their goals.

So, whether you are an experienced leader looking for fresh ideas or just starting your journey in the field of special school leadership, I invite you to delve into the articles, resources, and reflections shared on this platform. Together, let’s continue to make a positive impact and transform the lives of the incredible students we have the honor of serving.

Our educational system that faces new and complex challenges every day. Below are links to the leadership articles on this website. I hope you find them useful and I would love to hear your comments.

Leading Teams

• Leading a Team – Using Questioning to Lead Teams: A Guide for School Leaders
• Developing a Vision – School Leadership: developing a Vision for your School
• Gaining Buy-In – 10 Ways School Leaders Secure Buy-In from Their Teams
• Courageous Conversations – Effective Courageous and Difficult Conversations for Leaders in School.
• The Incomplete Leader – Imposter Syndrome? or Are You Just a Reluctant or Incomplete Leader?

Books about Leadership

• Growth Mindset and Leadership – Applying Growth Mindset to School Leadership
• Applying Leadership Guides to Education – 3 Must-Read Leadership Books for School Leaders: Essential Takeaways
• Difficult Conversations – School Leadership Lessons from “Radical Candor”
• SAS Survival Guide – The SAS Survival Guide: A SchoolLeadership Manual (Published in TES!)

General School Leadership Reflections

• Resilience For Education Leaders – Developing Resilience as a School Leader
• Middle Leadership Conversations – School Leadership: Conversations of a Middle Leader
• NPQML Leading With Trust – Leading Through Trust: NPQML
• NPQML Final assessment – NPQML: Final Reflection.
• NPQML – NPQML: Reflection on my Leadership Journey 1
• NPQML Effective Communication – NPQML: Reflecting on Effective communication – Meetings
• NPQSL Final Reflection – NPQSL: Final Project
• NPQSL Sinking, Swimming and Surfing – NPQSL: Sinking Swimming & Surfing
• Post Pandemic School Challenges – Powerful Leadership Lessons From Challenging Times
• NPQH Implementing Change – EEF Guidance on Implementing Effective Change in Schools

Quotes about Leadership in Schools.

Here are 20 quotes on school leadership:

1. “A principal is a leader who leads with soft steps, but leaves deep prints.” – Unknown
2. “The biggest single factor in the quality of education of any school is the principal.” – Michael Fullan
3. “Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence and inspiration.” – Robin S. Sharma
4. “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” – Unknown
5. “A schoolmaster knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” – Oscar Wilde
6. “Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” – George S. Patton
7. “A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit.” – John C. Maxwell
8. “Leadership is getting people to work for you when they are not obligated.” – Wendell Phillips
9. “Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work.” – Seth Godin
10. “Leadership is not a position or title, it’s action and example.” – Ralph Nader
11. “The true leader is always led.” – Malcolm Forbes
12. “There is much more to successful leadership than the ability to work hard.” – Roy Spence
13. “Leadership is not magnetic personality – that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not making friends and influencing people – that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to higher sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” – Peter F. Drucker
14. “The secret of successful leadership is discipline. Discipline yourself and your organization will follow.” – Charles Garfield
15. “A leader leads by example, not by force.” – Chinese Proverb
16. “The trouble with some people is that when they aren’t doing the things they shouldn’t, they aren’t doing the things they should.” – Unknown
17. “Leaders don’t force people to follow – they invite them on a journey.” – Charles Swindells
18. “Schools should turn out producers rather than consumers.” – William Kerrigan
19. “Remember, you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” – Jim Carrey
20. “I learned that if you’re going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters.” – Charles Kay