Following my first two posts explaining why <\/a>(and, almost more\u00a0importantly, why not<\/a>) I am involved in leading ONSchool<\/a>, the proposal for a free school\u00a0in Oxford, I want to answer a key question that follows from one of my\u00a0main motivations, to keep learning and challenge myself.<\/p>\n Firstly, I have found that I have\u00a0some amazing friends, talented neighbours and a\u00a0professional network who have proven essential to the progress we have\u00a0made. There are so many people to thank, so many acts of kindnesses, big and small. Thank you.<\/p>\n I realised, as these people just kept on giving and sharing, that in some ways, the nature of the ONSchool proposal – for a school that is so innovative – has allowed people to give something new of themselves. And boy did they give! I\u00a0learned that even under pressure of a project far beyond my previous\u00a0experience, and on a deadline I would never normally subject a team\u00a0to, it is possible to hold on to core values and an evidence based\u00a0approach.<\/p>\n I have worked in education, in practice, publishing, and policy. Modesty prevents me from blowing my own trumpet – but there are some things I do well. What I did not know was how the skills, experience and knowledge I have would apply in a role I had never tried before – or been selected for. I put myself into this role, and could have run away at any point. I discovered that my core strengths – to Synthesize good ideas, \u00a0harnessing the expertise of cleverer people than me, and to be in touch with the key trends in education – are \u00a0transferable and much stronger than I thought they would be.<\/p>\n Admit when your wrong, admit what you don’t know. Never forget to say thank you. So far, the ethical approach has worked. I intend to stick with it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What have I learned so far? Following my first two posts explaining why (and, almost more\u00a0importantly, why not) I am involved in leading ONSchool, the proposal for a free school\u00a0in Oxford, I want to answer a key question that follows … Continue reading Other people are amazing<\/h3>\n
Right time, right place, right idea<\/h3>\n
I can still surprise myself<\/h3>\n
Be good, Be Honest. It works.<\/h3>\n