“Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness, close-bosomed friend of the maturing sun.”
This oft-quoted first line of Keats’ Ode to Autumn tells of a season rich in the glories of nature. We could easily apply that line to the hopes and expectations of a new academic year, rich in the promise of great things to come in our schools and education system.
As head teachers address their staff at the first staff meeting of the year, they should paint a bright and optimistic picture of the future. If they don’t, staff will quickly become demoralised as the inevitable pressures and problems of school life reassert themselves. Teachers must feel confident that they will be supported by leaders who can tackle these problems as well as developing clear strategies for further improvement.
That is why leadership has never been more important and why I’m delighted to be working with a recruitment and search organisation such as ACADEMICIS to find good people to fill such important jobs in our society.
With a new Secretary of State for Education, an above-inflation pay rise for teachers and a new government committed to public sector reform, school leaders should feel optimistic that the political infrastructure will be put into place to support and challenge them to raise standards.
I know that Richard Lucas and I are looking forward as much as you are to the new educational year.
You can be assured that we will use our best efforts to support governors, trustees and leadership teams to find people who can fit well with the unique culture and character of individual schools and the communities they serve.
We wish you the very best for 2024/25 and hope that we can help in any way we can.
Sir Michael Wilshaw, Associate Director, ACADEMICIS
