This Much I Know About Love Over Fear ...: Creating a culture for truly great teaching

by John Tomsett

This Much I Know about Love Over Fear is a compelling account of leading a values-driven school where people matter above all else. Weaving autobiography with an account of his experience of headship, John Tomsett explains how, in an increasingly pressurised education system, he creates the conditions in which staff and students can thrive. Too many of our state schools have become scared, soulless places. John Tomsett draws on his extensive experience and knowledge and calls for all those involved in education to find the courage to develop a leadership-wisdom which emphasizes love over fear. Creating a truly great school takes patience. Ultimately, truly great schools don't suddenly exist. You grow great teachers first, who, in turn, grow a truly great school. There is a huge fork in the road for head one route leads to executive headship across a number of schools and the other takes head teachers back into the classroom to be the head teacher. John strongly believes that if the head teacher is not teaching, or engaged in helping others to improve their teaching, in their school, then they are missing the point.The only thing head teachers need obsess themselves with is improving the quality of teaching, both their colleagues' and their own. is an authentic personal narrative of teaching, leadership and discovering what really matters. It gets to the heart of what is valuable in education and offers advice for those working in schools.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2015

Reviews

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book as a journal to Headship - most of what Thomsett says is worthwhile and makes sense. I love his commitment to teaching but somehow I wonder quite how he "does it all". It's a nice companion book which reminds school leaders why they do what they do everyday. Bit too much gold for my liking though...

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

While much of what is said here has been said in other places, there is an authenticity to this book. This is partly the way it is built on the the passages which start each chapter about the author's own experiences growing up or that of his families, and partly because the ideas and advice is rooted in the author's own practice.

[Catullus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Lots of terrific ideas, much to underline and thought provoking for all teachers especially those in leadership roles

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minus the autobiographical bits which I found irritating, this was a timely reminder that there is another way.