Frank and Stan Chat No. 177: The Sam Gibbs Edition

This week the two gents are joined by Sam Gibbs, Leader of Curriculum and Development for the Greater Manchester Education Trust. Sam contributed strongly at a recent Forum Strategy event and also published a fascinating analysis of the risks associated with centrally driven training programmes. As she points out in the chat there is a need for professional agency and leadership development programmes need to acknowledge this. Frank develops this theme by referring to a recent blog published by academics at the University of Manchester called 'House of Cards: The marketisation of school leadership qualifications in England'. This paper identifies potential risks in drawing apparent leadership expertise from a very narrow base and from multi-academy trusts deemed to be in favour of the current government. Stan then completes the discussion by considering how effectively Liverpool Football Club are managing the announcement of Jurgen Klopp standing down. He highlights the for schools to take succession planning much more seriously, especially with the dearth of applicants for senior positions.