Reflections

posted in: Purple Governance | 0

Mirror, mirror on the wall…..well not THAT sort of reflection!

We have started the summer break and I don’t know about you but I am shredding paperwork I no longer need and putting saved documents into folders. I have only 5 icons on my desktop which take me to my folders. I personally never understand how people cope with a multitude of icons over their screen. I would also be lost without dropbox on my Ipad!

I also keep notebooks. They are full of observations from External Reviews, meetings and conferences with an ‘x’ next to key points or things I have to action. I have a lot of notebooks!

But back to reflecting. I usually say to my colleagues at the final FGB meetings of the year, please reflect on what you have done this year. Have you been on the right committee? Have you contributed enough in meetings? Have you been honest in your skills audit? Have I, as chair, allowed enough debate during our meetings?

I confess that a few times this year I have been complacent. I have allowed certain items on the agenda to be glossed over. I have read papers before meetings and thought ‘do I challenge that?’. Is it me being picky and what difference will it make if I run with that?

Have I supported my Headteachers enough with their work-life balance? Have I seen when they have been under pressure and have I ‘had a word’? Has anyone noticed when I have been under pressure? Have I used the skills of my vice chair enough and what do I expect of them and what do they expect of me? Have we thought about succession planning?

I have three new Headteachers starting in September. I am filled with enthusiasm for the new school year but I know there are some challenges as well as opportunities ahead. Am I ready? Too right I am!

I have some External Reviews planned for the new academic year too. Am I ready to talk to governors, share some good practice and learn from them too? I am ready.

It is time, over this break, to personally reflect on my actions during the last academic year and time to learn from those reflections for the next.

What are your reflections?

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