Ty Golding

@tygolding.bsky.social

headteacher - rugby coach - doctoral student complexity ~ policy ~ leadership ~ curriculum ~ professional learning ~ chips peas gravy …always ask why…

As we approach the return to school, this is an authentic opportunity for leaders to reflect upon the context of agency in the schools and refocus upon ‘the change’ we want to realise.

Educators: I hope you have had the opportunity to refill your reservoirs… of energy, enthusiasm and hope. Even if you aren’t looking forward to returning, know that there are learners & colleagues who will be excited about being with you again. #nearlygotime

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Maybe not a typical first week to the year for most. Two days of PLD - developing & refining across our curriculum & assessment approaches. Then right into three days of adventurous activities, on a residential with Y6 in the Brecon Beacons. Busy, exciting, purposeful. Brain & Body officially aching

Such a great way to kickstart Y6 for our learners. First morning back, straight onto the bus & off to the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) for team-building, personal challenges & a chance to consider the year ahead.

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So far, so good. Day 2 of our PLD - Assessment & Progression. Really enjoyed the discussion on the functions of feedback & refinement, across the curriculum. Good provocation from Austin’s Butterfly. Today was about 4Ps - progression, portraits, profiles and portfolios. #teamholton holtonps.co.uk

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A great first of 2 Professional Learning & Development days - reviewing our mission&vision, renewing our team charter, setting priorities for our culture of learning & thinking about v3.0 of our Flourish Curriculum. For me, today was about ownership, direction & hope #teamholton - How was your day?

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Good luck to everyone returning to school tomorrow… remember to be deliberate in your dialogue, choose slowness over haste, lead with questions over providing answers, and take time to observe that which is right in front of you 😊 #bepresent

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A very apt point Rob. Could your point be broadened to be said of other ‘middle tier’ roles and responsibilities too? It is clear to see where we have been guilty of bypassing experience, credibility and even capability as a response to either necessity or as a benefit of networks.

Rob Williams@robw40.bsky.social · 2y ago

In Wales there has been a similar ‘risk’ to headship via roles at Consortia level being led by some with no headship experience & yet ‘holding to account’ headteachers in schools. It’s not impossible for that to work, but unless you’ve sat in the seat, it’s much more difficult.

Utterly and brilliantly compelling. We also need to be highlighting the possibility and value of Joint Headships like mine. I’d have never applied for the job on my own for various reasons, but Joint Headship made this most challenging of roles both attractive and achievable.

SouthGlosHead@southgloshead.bsky.social · 2y ago

NEW BLOG: Where have all the Headteachers gone? #Edusky #Schools #Headteacher @headteacherchat.bsky.social @teachertapp.bsky.social pls share. southgloshead.wordpress.com/2024/08/31/w...

One of the most life-affirming - but not much talked about - aspects of being a teacher is hearing from your former pupils. Tonight, on the field near our house, I bumped into Josh, a student of mine in 2003. He didn’t like school much. But, gosh, we had the greatest, happiest reunion tonight.

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IME, slowness in the classroom, along with the ability to take a step back from ‘coverage’ based thinking, is always a difficult one for practitioners. A culture of PL, trust & agency help to mitigate the pitfalls of ‘fast forward’ classrooms and then the responsibility sits with individuals.

NetworkEd PLD @networkedpld.bsky.social · 2y ago

As we move from the Summer Hols, where most of us have embraced slowness & having time to properly think(never to be undervalued) ~ what reflections or advice would you offer new colleagues & NQTs, on maintaining a sense of slowness, balance and purpose?

As we move from the Summer Hols, where most of us have embraced slowness & having time to properly think(never to be undervalued) ~ what reflections or advice would you offer new colleagues & NQTs, on maintaining a sense of slowness, balance and purpose?

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Definitely. The issues stem from an improvement right now culture. Compassion does have a human toil and toll on leaders the problem with both is that the compassion is not always reciprocal and is often confused with 'being nice to people where our compassion must be about learners first.

I also worry it takes an element of thought out of the process which may make it harder to adapt or differentiate learning for those who need it, as the person delivering had little or no involvement in the genesis of what they are delivering.