By Graham Quinn OBE
Sitting in my office writing this article feels rather surreal. This is likely to be my last piece that I write for SSAT. Earlier in the year I was interviewed for a book on leadership. The author asked me about my style,
“Well, I don’t really have one, it’s a bit varied”, I replied.
She continued,
“Well, what about leadership books and materials that you refer to?” “Well, I don’t really” I responded. “I tend to use a gut feeling and base most of my decisions against my values, I use an Umph factor!”
She scribbled it down – I’m not convinced it’ll be used in the final edit, and I’m certain it won’t be used as an exemplar for the next NPQH course. Umph is pretty tricky to catergorise! However, it did allow me to reflect on what, I guess, could loosely be called “maverick leadership”.
It only seems like yesterday that I was sitting in front of an interview panel at a small special school, in Oldham. In fact, it was July 1994. I was applying for the role of Deputy Head. I’d seen the job advertised in the TES and, out of everything I’d seen, I was determined to be successful.
I drove over to, what seemed to be, the back and beyond on the edges of the Saddleworth Moors. I was shown around the school. There were 50 children. It felt like a dream job. The potential was enormous.
The school building used to be an “open-air school” that was built in the 1930s and was constructed of bright red Accrington brick. The exposed car park at the back of the school, was apparently where the children’s beds were placed. This ensured the children benefitted from the bracing air on the edge of the Saddleworth Moor. Not convinced to be honest – I think nowadays there’d be a safeguarding review!! How thinking and practice has changed?
“Where do you see the school being in ten years’ time?” came the question from one of the staff Governors. Without a hint of irony, but with a massive dose of self-confidence I replied, “I want this school to be the best it can be.” I’ve always found the line between confidence and arrogance tricky to master.
Somehow, I was successful at interview. I later found out it was more to do with my socks (for those of you of a certain age you’ll remember the trend of brightly coloured or cartoon socks in the 1980s and 1990s) as opposed to the answers I brazenly trotted out.
So, what made me determined to put my professional roots down in Oldham?
On the 7th of April 1945 my grandfather, who was originally from Oldham, was killed in the second world war, as the allied forces completed their final push towards Berlin. Three weeks later Germany surrendered and the beginning of the end of one the worst conflicts this world has ever seen took place. My grandfather left his wife a widow and my mother an only child. Both of these incredible women were my motivation to work hard and “to try make a difference”. I had a real passion to try to contribute something/anything to the community.
So, with the introduction of my “maverick leadership” and some amazing colleagues the school set out on a journey of change and what changes did we introduce! I’d like to think we put the fun back into schooling and ensured our fragment of “a special school education” became relevant and meaningful. We introduced all sorts of bits and pieces:
- An annual Northern “Performance Arts Festival”
- Our Steel Band Toured Trinidad and Tobago –for note I don’t remember doing many risk assessments or any pre-visit evaluations.
- Stars in Your Eyes (OMG)
- We wrote and designed our own “soap opera” reading scheme – Hill Bank – complete with character and a terraced street. We had our own artist in residence.
- We set up specialist ASC units.
- We had our first overseas residentials to Disneyland, Spain etc. etc.
- We assembled an amazing team.
I was then asked, by the LEA, to support the work of another Oldham school. We’re now into the early 2000s and it was then that I first encountered SSAT. One of its main functions, along with others, was to lead and manage the process of the Specialist School Programme. Who remembers that?
In the meantime, in Oldham, we’d amalgamed 3 special schools to become 1 large generic school and, alongside our merger we explored the potential of becoming a Performing Arts College.
From my initial involvement with SSAT I could sense I had found a group of people who shared my drive and values. We had a thriving regional network with Dave Calvert, Gill Robinson and Mike Hatch et al all contributing to an exciting change agenda.
I was then voted on to the National executive and National Heads group where I came into contact with so many hugely influential and prominent figures within education including Sue Williamson, Dave Gregory, Barry Carpenter and Pauline Holbrook. It was certainly intimidating and, at times, rather overwhelming! Looking back and reflecting on being exposed to these well-established and experienced leaders it allowed our schools in Oldham to grow and learn. It was one of those decisions where clearly fate intervened.
From a personal perspective it was an absolute privilege to work with some of the most influential leaders in the country. Our combined enthusiasm and “can do attitude” seemed infectious. Perhaps there should be a collective noun for a cluster of “mavericks”? And what innovations New Bridge pinched and borrowed from all over the country. We collaborated, shared and took calculated risks. From a New Bridge perspective the impact was tangible and the rest is our history. Arts College, Single Academy Trust, Academy sponsor and now, Multi Academy Trust/Group.
And look at some of things we achieved.
- Young people with SEND exposed to GCSEs, A levels, University courses.
- Post 19 choices to ensure young people stay within our communities and with their friends.
- Flexible working and TOIL for all our staff teams.
- 48 weeks offer for all our children.
- Arts college ensured High profile alumni who are now TV actors and national ambassadors.
- Young people moving into full time paid employment, part time work, volunteering in their communities via Project Search and then Bridging the Gap.
- Before school clubs and after school clubs that allowed our families to continue working.
- School experiences that routinely include outstanding extracurricular opportunities – young people being a part of the 2012 Olympics, residential visits to Finland, Norway, France and USA.
- We “normalised” internships and work experiences.
- All our schools are 1:1 Apple schools with some now Apple Distinguished Schools.
All of it was a result of being outward facing and putting the hard yards in – visiting other schools, catching the train to London, Birmingham, Bristol etc etc. Blimey was it worth it!
In my opinion one of the most significant differences between then and now was school leaders weren’t as “needed” in their schools. They had more time to reflect and “think”. Also, central government appeared to encourage co-operation rather than competition and, most importantly, extra funding was made available for considered risk taking and innovation.
I guess the rest is history and could rightly be celebrated. New Bridge started growing and then the Trust formed. We’ve kept the flame of creativity and innovation burning throughout every iteration of our Trust. I think the non-conformist in me is still there!
From supporting 50 children 27 years ago we now support just short of 2000. We’ve always had a mantra of placing our young people and families at the centre of everything we do. So, after the best part of 30 years, it’s my time to pass the baton on to a new CEO and new team.
I know, my successor, Clare John, will drive the Trust forward – she will have her own style an I am certain she’ll surround herself with a new generation of mavericks.
The journey we’ve been on since that sunny day in 1994 is coming to an amazing conclusion for quite a few of us. We’ve seen births, deaths, divorces, marriages, affairs and everything in between.
In 1970, the Education Act ensured that many children, that were previously perceived as being “uneducable”, had a legal right to attend schools. In the last 50 years schools, like ours, have transformed the learning and life opportunities for young people with additional needs.
Quite a journey from the foothills of Saddleworth and my socks. The best bit, however, is thinking that the journey is far from over. It’s just starting. There’s a great foundation.
Where our schools will go next will be for a new generation. Never settle for less guys – no glass ceilings in our world.
It’s been a blast.
