LONDON - 9 May 2007 - 456 words
Henry
V used to inspire prospective head teachers
At the National College for School Leadership (NCLS) yesterday,
up to 100 headteachers and future headteachers from both inside
and outside the Catholic sector met to reflect upon and explore
ongoing creative solutions to the challenge of securing and retaining
leaders for Catholic schools and colleges. 'Leading Catholic
Schools and Sixth Form Colleges in the 21st Century: Opportunities,
Rewards and Challenges' is this year's two-day national Catholic
education conference organised by the Catholic Education
Service of England and Wales (CES) and sponsored by the NCSL.
Shakespeare's Henry V set the stage for a model of authentic leadership;
a character who knew what he wanted to achieve and wasn't afraid
to take the first steps. This was a man who inspired the troops,
allocated the right resources to the task, made time for reflection,
knew how to deal with traitors and overcame the 'dark night of
the soul'. The Olivier Mythodrama Company presented this highly
original Henry V workshop to the conference delegates.
"The head is not a superhero but a person in service,"
said Oona Stannard, Chief Executive and Director of the CES in
her opening presentation. "In such vital work the head both
deserves and is entitled to our supportAs a community we should
be supporting our Catholic schools and all who work and lead in
them". The role of headteacher is about "bringing people
together, to provide support, to offer vision, working inspirationally
and collaboratively to build consensus".
A special welcome was extended to delegates currently teaching
or leading beyond the Catholic sector. Ms Stannard urged them
to consider applying for leadership in the Catholic sector and
assured them of a warm welcome. She also acknowledged the valuable
work that Catholic heads do leading community schools.
Conference speaker Steve Munby, Chief Executive of the NCSL said
the Catholic sector can be "confident" about the quality
of heads already working in Catholic schools and colleges, which
are "much more successful (than other maintained schools)
at creating an ethos where pupils learn effectively". He
acknowledged that there is "hard stuff still to do"
but that the Catholic sector has a very strong base upon which
to nurture prospective leaders. Mr Munby also recognised the
distinctive nature of the Catholic school or college, in stating
that headteacher recruitment and retention is "particularly
important for Catholic schools, so as not to lose experienced
spiritual leaders".
Other speakers at the conference include Kate Griffin, President
of the International Confederation of Principals and Fr. Michael
Holman SJ, former head of a voluntary-aided school and Jesuit
Provincial. The two-day programme will tackle the stereotypes
of headship and encourage creative and distinctive solutions to
the challenge of securing heads for the future.
Source: CES
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