The best way to predict the future is to create it

Whether this quote originally comes from Abraham Lincoln or Peter Drucker doesn’t much matter (it is credited to both). What struck me about it, is its relevance to maintained schools facing a period of major upheaval in the face of the Government’s recent announcement about academisation. At the moment this feels to many schools like a forced transformation over which they have absolutely no control. It is perhaps this feeling of being out of control that makes it feel so uncomfortable and stressful. And our natural reaction in such situations is to try desperately to hang onto the status quo; we dig our heels in, we protest and sign petitions, we hope for a change of Government in time for the policy to be reversed. And all the while that we are doing this, we are validating our current position and so adding to the pain of letting go of it.

So back to the quotation – the suggestion is that we can wrest back some control by stepping forward and deciding what we want our schools to look like in the future – taking the opportunity now to create our future schools. If taking back control in this way appeals to you, then I would recommend, as a good starting point, the four questions highlighted in this blog published by SSAT (The Schools, Students and Teachers Network) https://www.ssatuk.co.uk/schools-should-be-thinking-hard-about-academisation/ and reproduced here:

• What defines us as a school? What type of school do we want to be?
• What are our core principles and educational beliefs?
• What schools and MATs do we know that share these principles and beliefs?
• How can we actively seek out schools and MATs we don’t currently know which share these beliefs and principles?

Use these questions to begin to create and predict the future for your school.

I would also recommend reading the excellent Framework for Governance publication created by the NGA (National Governors Association) in partnership with The Wellcome Trust www.nga.org.uk/Guidance/Workings-Of-The-Governing-Body/Governance-Tools/Framework-for-Governance.aspx

Jacqui Burke works with the NGA as an Associate Consultant. The NGA provides support to school governing boards, including development of strategic approaches to academisation.