Putting Staff First: A Blueprint for Revitalising our Schools

by John Tomsett (Headteacher), Jonny Uttley (CEO)

If we do not ensure, first and foremost, that our teachers are feeling physically and mentally well, they cannot be their best for their students. Consequently, a school which does not prioritize staff wellbeing is disadvantaging its own students. ‘Students first’ is a misplaced the best thing for students is a happy, healthy, motivated, well-trained, expert staff. By putting staff first you are providing for students the one thing which will help them make good progress in their truly great teaching. Whilst it is easy to say that schools would not exist if it were not for the students, the glib converse is that without truly great school staff, the students would not be taught. What we need – as recruiting subject specialist teachers, school leaders and specialist support staff becomes increasingly difficult – is a revolution in how we treat our school staff. We have to put our staff before our students because it is the only hope we have of securing what our students need a world class education. The longer our schools are populated with hypoxic adults, we imperial all our futures.

Genres: Education, Leadership

186 pages, Unknown Binding

Published April 30, 2020

Reviews

[Kerry Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely food for thought from people who really know - a digestible and thoughtful walkthrough of a revitalisation blueprint. A pity the people who really need to read it, won't!