Engaging the Unengaged The Leadership of Change

Michael Fullan

“The Headteacher leads deep cultural change that mobilises the passion and commitment of teachers, parents and others to improve the learning of all students.”

The Moral Imperative of School Leadership2003

Is deep cultural change purely down to the Headteacher?

Are there roles, opportunities and responsibilities for others?

Historical Warnings....

“And it ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, then to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under new”.

The Prince, N.Machiavelli, 1515

What is it about change that triggers negative emotions?

People resist change when...

• They believe it is unnecessary or will make a situation worse

• They fear it will it will mean personal loss• They had no input into it• They are not confident it will succeed• They believe that they will not be up for it• They like the status quo• They believe that prior initiatives were badly

implemented• They lack faith in their leaders

E H Schein, 1997

People support change when

• They expect it to result in personal gain• They can relate to the vision behind it• They believe it makes sense• They can input into the change• They respect and believe those who are

championing it• They believe it is the right time

“People don’t resist change, they resist

being changed”Edgar Schein

"If anything is certain, it is that change is certain.

The world we are planning for today will not exist in this form tomorrow.“

Philip (Bayard) Crosby

Eight steps for successfully leading change

1. Create a sense of urgency

2. Pull together a guiding team

3. Develop the change vision and strategy

4. Communicating the vision

5. Empowering others to act

6. Produce short term wins

7. Don’t let up – press harder after the first successes

8. Create a new culture

John Kotter

Set the stage

Decide what to do

Make it happen

Make it stick

One size fits all Key Stage 3 provisionSmall number of students did not make 2

levels progress at KS3Some students were not being given the

best opportunity to catch up and consolidate

Self esteem and desire for learning

Catch up – support pathway at KS3

First initiative in new schoolHead very keen on providing more

effective support to studentsSpoke to key staff first – HOY7, SENCO,

HOF for English, Maths and MFLShared plan with the Senior Staff for

discussion

Set the stage..

Key staff met twice in all – once to discuss structure and content – the second was to confirm plans

Common vision – all involved shared the desire to provide a different experience for the students and focus on their self esteem as much as literacy/numeracy

Decide what to do..

Curriculum models – final planReduced MFL time in year 7 from 6 to 2Best staffing option was to block MFL in

year 7 on its own (smaller group numbers) this had a huge advantage to the MFL department

Make it happen...

Funds available for resourcesBlank sheet of paper for contentBaseline evidence – for selecting students

and as a measure for evaluation laterShort term wins – all staff have

commented on the students enjoyment of the sessions

Make it happen..

Celebrate experiences of the students with other staff

Evaluation – various forms of evidence not just test based – review and reflect current provision

Create model for year 8 – develop progression routes and share with staff, parents and Governors

Make it stick..

What next?

Lucky first attemptUse good will capital and successes so far

in next project....Reporting and assessment procedures

www.whatagreatidea.com

““YESYES,, BUTBUT......””Numerous strategies for

defusing the killer phrases of...

•Yes, but.....•It’ll never work...•Let’s set up a committee...•The last person who did this isn’t here anymore....•It’s not in the budget....•No!

When written in Chinese the word crisis is composed of two characters. One represents danger, and the other represents opportunity.

John F. Kennedy

The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year.

John Foster Dulles