Thread by @educurious2015

Just listened to @pna1977 and thinking about leaders’ responsibilities for managing culture in schools. What should leaders explicitly do to really make a shift in their schools? (Obviously buy ‘Running The Room’ @tombennett71).
At @DRETnews we started with a focus on systems:

Every system in a school should be set up to support teachers.
Consider the unintended consequences of your systems - if your system allows the return of a child to a class after they have been sent out by their teacher, you tell the class that children/others make the rules.

That is very undermining, so the likelihood is that teachers will avoid using the pathway in future and will reluctantly accept poor behaviour in their classrooms. Learning slows, students feel a vacuum of leadership and this is stressful for all concerned.

Centralised detentions mean that the burden is shared out. ‘I want high standards in my classroom but I also want a coffee and comfort break’ - there’s a conflict here. How does it incentivize staff to follow the pathway if it costs them time every time they do so?

Leaders, find the teachers who are using the removal system a lot, then congratulate them! ‘Thank you for upholding our high standards’ (preferably said in front of the class).
Students being clear that the adult in the room is trusted and that their word is king is important.

Tell students all the time how important/expert/valued your teachers are. Tell them constantly that you will always back them. Put them on a pedestal - students and staff appreciate and value their position in the classroom when you do this well, it clarifies everybody’s role.

‘Students - you are there to learn. This is what good learning etiquette looks like. (Teach it)
Teachers are there to teach you. They should not have to tolerate disruption or interruption. Their time is too important for that. Your education is too important for that.’

Then every time you go past a classroom where students are exhibiting good learning etiquette, congratulate the teacher ‘Thank you miss/sir, you have high standards for your students, they are very lucky’. They have earned that climate by using the systems. Thank them.

If you walk past and the class are not behaving, apologise to the teacher. ‘I am so sorry miss/sir - the class know better than to treat you this way and it is not acceptable for you to have to put up with this ...’ (be specific) then stay with them whilst they regain the room.

The job of leaders in schools is to enable teachers to teach and students to learn. Nobody wins when it’s left to chance, or if every teacher has to establish a good climate with every class alone and unsupported. It’s exhausting, we can do so much to support. #TheDRETWay

Our sec Principals are always happy to support with advice - they’ve done it and got the t.shirts: @ocoalastair (Charnwood College) @jo_myhill (Thomas Middlecott) @judehunton (Skegness Gram) @danshoubridge (Humberston) @MusicCPDandMore (Havelock) @MeganChelseaMo3 (Malcolm Arnold)

@bobsloan79 and @621carly (Lodge Park) @jmyhilljohnson (King Edward VI) @SueJones_ (Charles Read) James S (Barnes Wallis) Dan Botting (Bobby Moore)
They are all voracious authors and supporters of our DRET Way and they hold us to our @DRETnews vision and values tightly.

Our primary colleagues are also awesome: @KimLawton_ , @SandraApplebyHT @KhpaPrincipal , @MissJVC_ @Wynthorpe to name but a few - always happy to support and offer advice/share ideas. We at @DRETnews are a caring sharing bunch! Always happy to help and collaborate. #luckyDRET