Technology by @StuartLock

Name: Stuart Lock
Twitter name: @StuartLock
Sector: Secondary
Subject taught (if applicable): maths
Position: Headteacher
What is your advice about? Technology (slightly flippant)

1: It’s fine to use an IWB as a projector. It’s probably a mistake to use it interactively.

2: It’s probably a mistake to use a class set of iPads.

3: It’s probably a mistake to take them on the computers, or to a computer room. This doesn’t apply to ICT or Computer Science.

4: If they need to use their mobile phones in your lesson, there was probably a better way.

5: A visualiser is about the only good piece of technology for learning.

Parents’ Evenings by @StuartLock

Name: Stuart Lock
Twitter name: @StuartLock
Sector: Secondary
Subject taught (if applicable): Maths
Position: Headteacher
What is your advice about? Parents’ Evenings

1: Ensure you book in all your pupils’ appointments early. Phone the most likely not to show.

2: Know each parent’s surname to greet them, note it next to the pupil – this starts the meeting professionally. Ensure you know pupils names (see point 1).

3: Take class books to show if you get an argument from a child or parent. Also sit close to head of dept or mentor.

4: No interview should take more than 5 minutes, most 2 or 3. Parents want to know: behaviour, work ethic, progress. If you carry on you’ll repeat yourself.

5: Be honest, brutally if necessary. Parents must hear it as it is, without sugar coating or superfluous words.

OFSTED by @StuartLock

Name: StuartLock
Twitter name: @StuartLock
Sector: Secondary
Subject taught (if applicable): Maths
Position: Headteacher
What is your advice about? OFSTED

1: Don’t worry. The pressure is on leadership and governance so empathise unless you don’t like them.

2: Do teach as you always do plus, if asked to, fill in the plan proforma, data and so on. It’s 2 days and it won’t kill you.

3: Ensure your books are marked. Follow all policies as usual, including marking and behaviour.

4: If you’re asked for an interview, be honest without dropping your school in it (unless you want to).

5: Ensure you are on time to duties, be at your most professional, and be prepared to help out where any colleague requires it.

Workload by @StuartLock

Name: Stuart Lock
Twitter: @StuartLock
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: Maths
Position: Headteacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Workload

1. Know your calendar, keep a diary, and don’t let deadlines build up. This seems obvious, but is so often a cause of issues.
2. Share lesson plans. You don’t need to plan everything from scratch.
3. Ask for help, especially when things seem unreasonable. You’ll get an idea of what is really important.
4. Consider the benefits and opportunity cost of extensive marking.
5. Don’t volunteer for loads of extra things as a result of your first term’s enthusiasm. Determine if you have space in your established working hours first.

Relationships With Support Staff by @StuartLock

Name: Stuart Lock
Twitter: @StuartLock
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: Maths
Position: Headteacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Building relationships with support staff

1. Smile, get to know, and be nice to those in the office. You will need their discretionary effort, including holding off parents or advice about the school, at some point.
2. Smile, get to know, and be nice to those in resources/ photocopying. You will need their services regularly, and discretionary effort at some point.
3. Remember that colleagues who aren’t teachers are still your colleagues. Do not unwittingly exacerbate any teacher/ non-teacher divide.
4. Value non-teaching staff in pastoral positions, they’re certain to bail you out of a tricky situation at some point.
5. Don’t be afraid of asking if there is someone who can help you with things that are not classroom based (e.g. typing, resource creating, etc).