I have had sometime to reflect on the recent visit from the UK of Owen Lynch and his colleagues from Ireland, Jimmy Stewart and Tom McMullan. We visited some schools in NSW and Victoria. In particular we visited Belmore South Primary School on the fringe of inner city Sydney. As their website says, ‘we are proud to be a school who can boast a population that comes from many and varied cultures’.
What was evident at this school and many others we visited was that first and foremost the focus was on good learning and teaching. We saw a true learning organisation in play. Distributed leadership and an environment of trust and support for trying new and innovative ideas. Teachers learning alongside the students and the technology an integrated part of the learning process.
A critical issue is how to make this pocket (and others) of excellence systemic? So what would education look like if we were successful at creating a scale of change that became systemic. Interesting question? Not sure I have any answers yet!!
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The UK is obviously beating a path to Belomore South, Garry - my wife and I have an invitation to visit when we are both in Sydney in a couple of week’s time. Looking forward to seeing Gail, Kim and others in situ.
I hope we can catch up at the ACEL conference and look forward to your presentation.
Garry thank you for your kind words here and on our blog. It is a team effort in an environment where innovation is encouraged and rewarded. We all share the responsibility for the education of our children and it is fortunate that in our microcosm we have the most amazing group of educators, ranging from very experienced and passionate to the very fresh, enthusiastic and keen to learn. Teachers who are not afraid to admit they don’t know it all and as such are co learners.
Quality teaching just doesn’t happen it takes a great deal of time and effort as well as self analysis and critical reflection.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed your visit; both students and teachers enjoy showing off.
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