Jan 23

Parent power at work: ensuring excellence in independent schools

A great article on independent schools appeared in last week’s Times newspaper. Written by the thoughtful and insightful Greg Hurst, Education Editor of the Times, it posed the question ‘Just how good are independent schools?’ and proceeded to look at the evidence. The article quite rightly acknowledged that independent schools come in many shapes and sizes, and that independence does not of itself necessarily equate to excellence – a lesson that proponents of state-funded academies need to remember. (I write, of course, from the perspective as the Head of an independent school which has repeatedly been accredited by external inspections as ‘excellent’ and ‘outstanding’.) He also pointed out that independent fee-paying schools have more funds at their disposals, and that greater funds can mean more investment in teachers.

None of this proves superiority, of course, in the whole independent schools’ sector, but Mr Hurst went on to make the point that if parents are prepared to pay for the education at their children’s independent schools, this is the greatest testament to their excellence: ‘here’s the telling point: parents are willing to pay for what private schools offer. Fees vary but last year the average was £11,208 and £25,152 a year for boarding. These are big sums to fund from taxed income, hard-earned savings or investments. They must be doing something right.

And he is of course correct. Parents who are paying for their children’s education other than through the tax system (which can, incidentally, be a bone of contention for parents who pay for independent education and so are effectively paying twice) are very discriminating about where they invest their funds. Why would they pay for a substandard education? Their desire for excellence is what independent schools are responding to, and this coincides with – and enhances – the quest for excellence which originates within the schools themselves, from motivated educators who really care about the future of the young people who pass through their doors.

Parents want the best for their children, and when they choose a school for which they will have to pay, they are going to make sure that they are choosing the very best. From a personal perspective, I know that my school is outstanding, and I know that if it weren’t, the parents of my pupils would soon tell me. I want to know from them, if not directly from the pupils themselves, if something is not right, so I can fix it – and fix it fast. Parent power in education means that we are all working together to ensure the very, very best opportunities for the children in our care. It works.

Jan 20

Miss-Representation – how we portray women in the media, and what we can do about it

One of the sessions at the UK Girls’ Schools Association Conference in Bristol in November, which I hosted as GSA President, was an uplifting interactive conversation with colleagues from the States. It immediately preceded the arrival of Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools, who was delayed; the positive upshot was that we were able to talk more about international matters. Our colleagues from the States shared with us a project in which they had been involved – the development of a documentary, and a movement, entitled ‘Missrepresentation’, looking at how the media skews its portrayal of women. A colleague from Australia reminded me of this last week via Twitter, and I wanted to draw it to everyone’s attention.

Details of the documentary – and a 3 minute long trailer which is an absolute must-see – can be found at missrepresentation.org. A piece of advice – watch it yourself before you show it to others, especially children, as some of the scenes (although all taken from mainstream TV and music videos) are shocking, showing women in demeaning, violent, heavily sexualised poses. The derogatory comments made about women in the public eye such as Hillary Clinton when she was running for the White House, are highlighted too, and it is the juxtaposition of all these images and comments, which come tumbling out, one after another, which becomes overwhelming.

This is of course what girls in our society are exposed to every day, and we should take seriously not only the nature of the images and words, but their sheer volume. They form a compelling backdrop to the lives of girls and young women today; is it any wonder that as a society women often do not value themselves as they should? One of the high school students quoted in the film makes the point that ‘there is no appreciation for women as intellectuals – it is all about the body’, and this quest for impossible physical perfection, imposed by society, is one of the major reasons why women lack so much confidence. The film makes the point that children at the age of 7 divide equally by gender in their desire to become President of the United States; by the age of 15, there is a massive gap, and this is not in favour of the girls.

So what can we do? Well, watch the trailer – and see if you can watch the documentary at some point. Sign their pledge and follow the advice and guidance you will receive by email if you do. Above all, think critically about what you see around you and make sure you share this with the girls – and boys – you know. Our world deserves a fairer society, and we must all play our part in making this happen.

Jan 17

Being a female leader: the path prepared by Margaret Thatcher

I am really curious to see The Iron Lady – although, as with most films, I will have to wait until it comes out on DVD and I can squeeze in the time to watch it between other commitments. I am sure it will be worth the wait – since its premiere it has elicited the sort of reactions that only a great film does. Besides, Margaret Thatcher’s tenure as Prime Minister coincided with a very formative time of my early years; she was part of the backdrop of my life, and I want to see how other people have interpreted her legacy. When I look back on my memories of that time, I remember the anger and antagonism that Margaret Thatcher provoked, but I remember too my early sense that she was unusual in breaking a mould and that she was an impressive woman. I was also struck then, as I have been since, by how there was a focus on her as a female leader that simply did not happen to male leaders. No-one seemed to feel comfortable – at that time particularly – with the concept of a strong woman in charge – and I wonder now how much of the antagonism around her was down to that, rather than to her politics and her actions.

Interestingly, a number of female commentators in the Press last week expressed feelings of regret that there is no-one like Margaret Thatcher operating in public life now. Allison Pearson in Thursday’s Telegraph, reflecting on The Iron Lady, wrote that ‘Watching [the film] made me realise that leaders and leadership are thin on the ground – How many people will come out of cinemas this week wondering if we shall ever see a leader like Margaret Thatcher again?’ Sandra Parsons in Wednesday’s Daily Mail wrote ‘I don’t know how anyone – Left or Right – could fail to be impressed with her achievements – Will a female politician to rival Mrs Thatcher emerge from these years of austerity? I very much doubt it – a mark not only of her greatness but of our political impoverishment.’ Elsewhere in the Daily Mail, Amanda Foreman, Mrs Thatcher’s biographer, reminded us of the times in which she lived and worked: ‘She was patronised and condescended to at every turn – The idea of a woman leader […] was preposterous.’

And yet become a leader she did, making a strong mark as she did so – even though the country struggled as much with the concept of her as a woman as it did with her politics. She was a ‘woman in a man’s world’ – and still would be, as we should not overlook the fact that only 22% of MPs in our current UK parliament are women. The 1980’s were a different time in our history – we have moved on, but we have not left all the vestiges behind. Our female MPs are far more subject to comments about their appearance than are their male counterparts; it is commonplace for people to be ambivalent about the capacity of women to be powerful in leading roles. This should be no surprise – it is harder for people to grasp concepts if they do not have strong and multiple precedents, and Margaret Thatcher was a ‘one-off’ – so far, at least.

We need these precedents in this country, not just abroad, where the number of female political leaders is growing. We need to treat our female politicians and other leaders fairly and equally. We need to focus on substance not appearance in what our leaders do. We want both men and women to represent us in the decisions which impact on our lives. We must make it possible.

Margaret Thatcher’s biographer described an outing to the ballet last Christmas when she was approached by a line of girls wanting her autograph. She asked one of them what she wanted to be when she grew up; the reply was ‘I want to be like you. I want to be Prime Minister.’ Margaret Thatcher has left us an amazing gift – the sense of possibility that women can lead. It is up to us not to waste this legacy.

Jan 15

Keep an eye on the hidden surveys – for they tell a truth we must not forget

Surveys, by their nature, are newsworthy. They give a snapshot of a current issue at the current moment amongst whichever group they target, and as a result they will often make it into the daily news schedule. Sometimes they make a big splash, become major news items and have producers running to elicit requests for interviews, media appearances and subsequent comments; and sometimes they die a small death in the inner columns of the depths of regional newspapers. I always look out for these small mentions of surveys; after all, their positioning in a newspaper – their position and their size – gives a pretty good indication of how much the editor (who is usually pretty in touch with her/his audience) feels their content would be valued by the wider public.

And so it was interesting to read a short article last week buried on page 36, no less, of Thursday’s London Evening Standard, reporting on a survey by Women in Architecture UK which revealed that half of women architects say that they are paid less than men. 700 women completed the survey – not an insubstantial number – and the figures reported were deeply concerning. Quite apart from the perception that men are paid more than women in this field – and unless we dismiss all female architects as lacking a grasp on reality, then we have to admit that there is likely to be some truth in this assumption – worryingly, almost two thirds said that they had suffered some kind of sexual discrimination at some point in their career. 22% said that they experienced sexual discrimination on a monthly basis. The picture was added to by figures that showed in addition that only 8% of women questioned felt that raising a family would harm men’s careers, while 80% felt that having children was disadvantageous to them in their jobs.

Overall, the picture was far from great – the opposite in fact. And equally concerning was the relegation of the story to the nether regions of the Evening Standard. It practically had the designation ‘space filler’ emblazoned across the top. People may get tired of hearing stories of how there is still gender inequality in the workplace, but unless we keep telling them, raising awareness and persuading people that this is wrong and that we should do something about it, the chances are that we will forget why it is so important that we actually do something about it. We need men and women to be treated fairly in our society, and to feel that they are treated fairly, if we are going to have the chance of harmonious, equal, balanced relationships in the workplace and beyond. If we don’t tackle the inequalities that we see around us, then we are contributing to perpetuating them; we are just making it harder for those who come after us – our daughters (and our sons), and our grandchildren.

We all know that we are in a period of social transition; no-one expects things to change overnight (although sometimes it is nice to dream that they might). But if we relegate important stories to page 36 of the Evening Standard, then we are not helping matters. Look out for the hidden surveys, for they tell a truth we must not forget.

Jan 13

If you are a working woman, you need to read this book! A review of Dancing Round the Handbags by Lynne Copp

Just over 16 years ago, the author of this new book for women, Dancing Round the Handbags, had a vision of a different life, of removing herself from the overloaded, overwhelming life that she was leading as a senior executive and a mother of two. Crawling exhausted into her bed one night, she dreamed that she would write this book, and her dream – along with a new life – has finally come to fruition. As a result, we are all better off; it is a fabulously uplifting and empowering book of resources to help hard-working women step back from the turmoil around them, reflect on what they want to achieve, and go on to ‘dance their best life’.

From the vibrant magenta of the cover to the words of wisdom within, this book sparkles. The construct is an extremely clever one: the handbag is a metaphor for every woman, with the contents representative of a different aspect of her being – her diary is a metaphor for her time, for instance, her lipstick for the masks she wears, and her tissues for her health, amongst other items to be found in the depths of her handbag. I was particularly struck by the metaphor of the ‘snack’ – the personal and professional development which women need in order to be nourished and replenished. It is a captivating and memorable set of images which will strike home to any woman seeking a way to make her life make more sense. A poignant and powerful – and ultimately inspiring – imaginary narrative runs through the text, helping the reader to make connections with her own story.

This is an incredibly practical book, crammed full of exercises and tools to help women learn about themselves and evaluate their lives. It takes the reader systematically through each item in her ‘handbag’, beginning with a look at what kind of dance she is dancing in her life, and how all the contents of her handbag will help her to dance the dance she longs to dance. It encourages the reader to spend time on herself, reflecting on who she really is, and what she really wants to do, and then helps her to see how she might do it. Its aim is to help women declutter – at the end of each chapter a useful action plan focuses the mind on what we should BAG (Bin, Add or Get) – and it exudes a warmth, vitality and reality which will make you believe that it is all possible.

This book lives up to its intention of being a ‘catalyst for balancing the way we work and live’ and it is hugely uplifting. Take pleasure in your own dance through its pages!

Jan 10

New Year’s resolutions for a new term

Yesterday, according to the Daily Mail, was the day when most people gave up on their New Year’s resolutions and slipped back into old habits. Apparently, on average, people make the same New Year’s resolution four times in total – and, presumably, break it the same number of times. Opinion is divided on whether the New Year is the right time or not to be setting goals and targets for the next 12 months, but it strikes me that it is as good a time as any, as long as you set about it the right way.

In schools, we prepare young people all the time to set goals and targets for their futures, to envisage that future happening, and to make it come into fruition. Based on experience, this is what makes the process effective:

1. You need a bold vision for this year ahead and beyond – a strong idea about where you are headed. Without it, you will not be able to set the goals and targets which you need to achieve it. And you need ambition – life is meant to be lived, and you want to get the most out of it. Think about this in planning what you want to do for the next 12 months.

2. You need to focus – to concentrate on what it is you want to achieve this year. With this in mind, you can write clear tasks which will help you achieve that goal. And hard work – really hard work – always pays off …

3. Be real – this is not about perfection, but about keeping going, sometimes with more energy and sometimes with less. It won’t matter in the short term if you don’t do something quite as well as you want, so don’t waste brain space on this; it does matter in the long run, however, that you keep working away with your goal in mind, and you move closer and closer to it.

4. The most effective goals are not just about you – they are part of a wider perspective on life. If you want to achieve something just for you, then you are missing out on what life has to offer – do it for the greater good of humanity, and you will discover a purpose and drive that you might never otherwise have imagined.

So – will 2012 be the year that you make a difference in the world? Go and make it happen!

Jan 08

An emboldening experience in a Chelsea nightclub …

Last night I found myself in a wine bar/nightclub on the King’s Road, Chelsea, London – not, I hasten to add, where I would normally expect to find myself on a Saturday evening shortly before the start of the Spring Term … or, indeed, on a Saturday night ever. Having arrived unfashionably early, I was mistaken as I was waiting outside for the owner of the club; quite what I should make of that, I leave to the imagination of others, but suffice it to say that I do not intend to change career direction in the foreseeable future.

There was, of course, a reason for me to be there, along with our wonderful school Director of Development and our brave Head of Classics … the St Mary’s Calne leavers of 2010 had organised a reunion, and it was a marvellous opportunity to catch up with them, to hear their news, to see them reconnect with others, and to talk about their futures. I heard stories of gap years, of settling into university, of second year dissertations, of internships conducted and planned, and of the looming question of ‘what next in life’. Everyone was on amazingly good form; the noise level was high, the welcomes exuberant. It was a fantastically uplifting experience to be in their presence.

I was struck by a number of thoughts as I watched them: first, they were all still really, really good friends. I knew anyway that they had kept in touch, and this is not unusual at all for girls from St Mary’s Calne. There is something in the way in which we do things at school that bonds all girls, across subject disciplines, personality types and character. I hear tale after tale of weddings, christenings and the like where over half of that particular year group will turn up, to the astonishment of onlookers who have come through school with only a small handful of close friends. The friendships that these girls – now young women, of course – have built at school will endure and will be a source of help, comfort and laughter for years to come.

Secondly, they were more than ready for the next phase of their lives. Going out into the world of work, and the next stage of their relationships, will bring with it hurdles, ups and downs, disappointments and sadness as well as triumphs and happiness, but these girls have resilience, an intelligent approach to the world, a boldness that is not arrogant, and the support of one another. As I watched them and listened to them, I hoped that I would continue to hear about their lives, and that they would continue to keep a special place in their hearts and minds for the school which had been their focal point for their formative teenage years, and which had brought them all together. Above all, though, I was reaffirmed in my conviction that what we do at school is right and works. I was hugely encouraged and I was emboldened to continue what I do. It was a brilliant feeling.

I slipped away into the night, back to Paddington station and home to Calne before the wine bar turned fully into nightclub mode. My ears were ringing from the music and from the conversations. As my train drew away from London for the short journey home, I was glowing. What a tremendous experience!

Girls, if you read this, know that I am so, so proud of you. Good luck with everything that life brings to you, and may our paths cross again soon.

Jan 05

How universities can better prepare for the workplace

Given the increasingly bleak outlook for graduates of our universities, what can universities be doing to ensure that students who come to the end of their time at university are placed as well as possible to be able to embark on a fulfilling and satisfying career?

Here, in no particular order, are my suggestions:

  • Make it compulsory for all students to take some careers advice. They may be adults, able to determine their own actions, but this does not mean that they will have had the opportunity at home or at school to develop the skills necessary for them to be able to access proper guidance and advice. Do they know themselves well enough to know what they might consider doing with their lives? Do they know how to ask for help and where to turn?
  • Ensure that all students do voluntary work and/or paid work – preferably a mix – so that they have a strong CV when they leave. This can be done in vacation time – there is plenty of scope for this then. Employers want experience; a degree alone does not prove that you can cope successfully in the workplace. Nor does it show that you have the people skills that are essential in practically any job. Everyone needs work experience on their CV covering their university years.
  • Invest in careers services. Universities are the absolute final line between study and the workplace in this country, and they shouldn-t just leave careers advice to chance. It is a phenomenal waste if a student comes through an excellent education, from the age of 3 to the age of 21, and then doesn-t know what to do with it. A tired office tucked away will not cut it; careers services should be professional.
  • In investing in careers services, make sure that all staff in the university are on board and up to speed with what careers outside academia are about. The Oxford University Careers Service, for example, which has been extremely well-developed in the last 5 years or so, has specific sections of its website targeted at current staff. Universities need to make sure that all their lecturers, professors and educators of all types are fully aware of the need for learning in their hallowed institutions not just to be an end in its own right, but a means to another end.
  • Engage with the students as individuals. There is a tremendous danger in vast organisations that the individual becomes lost and that teaching and examining exist for their own sake – and for league tables – rather than as part of the rich tapestry of the existence of an individual person. Universities need to remember the person at the heart of what they are doing, and consider why he or she is reading this particular subject. Careers advice will flow much more naturally as a result, as part of a holistic approach to education.

Above all, though, universities need to be extraordinary places of learning. They need to teach incredibly well, and they should teach stretching, challenging subjects. They must avoid any risk of being accused of dumbing down. Only by ensuring that the students who graduate have developed the ability to think deeply, creatively, innovatively and concisely, will universities truly demonstrate their worth in the world. These are the real skills our graduates need to be successful contributors to our national economy.

Jan 02

Why our young people should look at universities abroad

Earlier today I spoke on BBC Radio Wiltshire about comments I had made last week, reported in the Huffington Post, about the growing interest we have noted at school in universities abroad. There has been a resurgence of interest amongst our students in US universities, particularly on the East Coast of the United States, and a growing and significant interest in European universities which teach in English, so much so that we have reorganised our staffing and are in the process of creating a role which specifically supports students applying abroad.

There are many reasons for this growth in interest, not the least of which are very practical logistical reasons – with the squeeze on university places in this country, it makes sense to have a broader approach to applications, and look beyond our national boundaries. Moreover, with the advent of higher tuition fees, the difference between the cost of an education in the UK and the US is greatly reduced, especially when you take into account the financial aid which is often on offer. At Yale, Harvard and Princeton, for instance, between 50% and 60% of students receive financial aid, and the average annual cost of courses after receiving these grants is less than $20,000 as a result. European universities such as Maastricht can be significantly cheaper – around 3000 Euros – and this can be offset quite considerably by taking paid work with the university, as a Student Ambassador, for instance. There are of course living expenses on top … but this is the case wherever you are in the world, and would-be students should definitely look beyond this hurdle.

Perhaps the most important reason to my mind for why students should actively look at universities abroad, however, is that it encourages a global outlook. This is a truly global world in which we live – young people today will either end up working abroad at some point, or will without doubt have to deal with international customers, and it is really important that they gain some kind of international experience and understanding. I also believe that living abroad at some point, with other people, in a different culture with a different way of viewing the world, is essential to help us all to understand one another as fellow human beings – different but the same at heart – and if we can do that, then we all start to help make the world a better place.

So – I encourage all students to think about studying outside the UK, even if only as a year abroad as part of their university course based in the UK. Our young people are our future – they need to see the world, live with other people, and learn to respect other cultures. They are the ones who will make the positive change in attitudes that we need to overcome intolerance. They need to get out there and experience it. An exciting – and both broadening and grounding – journey awaits them.

Dec 30

A New Year’s message to our politicians – sharpen up your act and make 2012 the start of a new era of respect

The vast majority of politicians I have met in person have impressed me with their commitment to making things happen, to changing for the better the lot of people in this country and beyond, and – essentially – to making the world a better place. I respect their drive and their strength of purpose. But I do not respect how they treat one another in Parliament, and what I and the rest of the country see each week on Prime Minister’s Question Time, and in other debates, is at best disappointing, and at worst reprehensible.

And this is particularly the case when it comes to the treatment of women MPs. Women make up only just over a fifth of our elected MPs – far too low a number – and this proportion seems unlikely to change when they are subjected not only to the weight of a heavily male-dominated tradition (which is at least forgivable, given the relatively recent changes in gender status which we have witnessed in the past century), but also to ribald comments, sexist behaviour, and sexual innuendo (which is not forgivable at all). The American writer Sarah Lyall, based in London since the mid-1990s, reminds us in her 2008 New York Times bestseller ‘The Anglo Files’, of just how appalling this behaviour can be. She describes the sexism in Parliament as ‘casual and unchecked’ and reels off a litany of shocking examples. Of Boni Sones’ 2005 book, ‘Women in Parliament: The New Suffragettes’, which was based on interviews with 83 women elected to Parliament since 1997, she says ‘The book, and a companion documentary, sounded like the evidence in a sexual-harassment lawsuit, except that no one was suing anybody’. Just in case you were tempted to think that things must have got better since 2005, then do recall the hilarity earlier this autumn when David Cameron described Nadine Dorries MP as ‘extremely frustrated’ in a reply to a question she had put to him in the House. Mr Cameron himself participated in the sexual innuendo – and ended up failing even to answer her question. In any other workplace, this kind of public, sexist humiliation would indeed be grounds for a complaint.

Our politicians set themselves up as representatives of the people – and we elect them as such. But we do not elect them to represent the basest aspects of our selves; we elect them to serve, to work to make our society better, and to be positive role models, not least in upholding our laws (several of which outlaw such sexist behaviour). The weekly baying and ribaldry of PMQs and the confrontational style of our politics, where snide personal remarks are valued over thoughtful wisdom, do nothing to give our young people a sense of how they should behave with one another and in our wider society. Moreover, such poor behaviour has the effect of diminishing the respect for politicians that members of the public might be expected to show for those in authority. Given that this respect has already been severely diminished by the expenses scandal, not to mention numerous sex scandals, you would have thought that our politicians would recognise the need to claw it back wherever possible. It is entirely within the capabilities of our politicians to make a change in this sphere, to determine to respect one another and to make a stand against sexist, crude, rude behaviour.

Where they go, society will follow – let 2012 be for our politicians the year when they sharpen up their act, and show their respect for others in everything they do, including in the House of Commons.