Feb 02

The London Eye and the human spirit

I swallowed my rather irrational (but probably essentially healthy) fear of heights on Sunday and went on the London Eye, the huge wheel that dominates the central London landscape and provides visitors with a bird’s eye view of the capital. The trip was a culmination of a rather irritating process of trying to persuade various sales people that the cost I was being charged online did not match the advertised cost – but to their credit they sorted this (eventually), and I ended up stepping out, into a moving capsule, on a brisk, fresh, clear morning, accompanied by my middle daughter.

The London Eye experience begins before you take this step, though, with a short 4D cinema film in the former County Hall, part of which is now transformed into the London Eye ticket hall. Capturing the excitement of a young child as she sees the Eye for the first time, it also contained clips of the spectacular New Year fireworks. A flurry of artificial snow flakes later, we were in the mood for our trip above the rooftops.

The London Eye, once it starts in the morning, almost never stops, moving inexorably round, people embarking and disembarking, capsules filling with people gazing out over a 360 degree London panorama. High up in the sky, London stretches before you – a beautiful city. It lacks the coherence of Paris or Washington DC, having evolved over centuries with only the faintest hint of a plan in small pockets, and the architecture varies wildly, due in no small part to the necessity of rebuilding huge swathes of the infrastructure after the devastation of the bombs of WWII. But it is a beautiful city nonetheless, and an inspiring one. All the movement, the endeavour, the work of Government, of enterprise, of people making this country function.

Perhaps it is the thought of seeing London less often when we move to Australia that allowed me to see it this way – I would prefer to think, however, that it is because a city like London encapsulates the desire and aspiration of the human spirit, and nowhere is this more evident than when rising high up above it and gazing down. I had the strong sense, as we moved ever upward, of the potential of humanity, not only in the engineering that was lifting us up, nor just in the design, architecture and activity beneath us, but in the spirit of our fellow human beings who can and do inspire us through the ages. It was magnificent, and I was so, so pleased to have shared it with my amazing daughter, whose life stretches ahead of her. May she and her generation continue to reach for the heavens.

Jan 30

On being thankful

On Friday evening I travelled down to Mount House Prep School in Tavistock, Devon to give a talk at their Friday service, and it was a lovely occasion. Mount House is a delightful school – small, warm, friendly and well-supported by parents, even to the extent that they are regular contributors to the great school choir, who sang a John Barnard anthem beautifully. A relaxed and delicious supper with the Head and his family after the service rounded off what was a super and uplifting evening.

My theme for the evening was thankfulness, as we have much to be thankful for in our lives, and sometimes we do not stop, take stock, and recognise this. I spoke again about Bangladesh, and my visit to that country last October with Plan UK to see the magnificent work that Plan is doing with and for children in that country (as in 49 other countries around the world); I find myself still inspired, on a daily basis, by my visit to Bangladesh – it was a powerful experience to see so much poverty and hardship, and yet so much positive work going on.

And of course, what was so remarkable in Bangladesh was the thankfulness and joy which was evident wherever we went. Everywhere we travelled, we were greeted with happy faces, cheerful songs, flowers … I wish I could have brought home the garlands of colourful flowers, and bottled up some of the laughter and the joy. These were people who had nothing, and yet were thankful for what they had, and for what they were doing, together with others, to create a better life for their children. There was a lightness, a happiness, a joyfulness about them as a result, and it was fantastic to see this.

That visit to Bangladesh taught me a lot. It taught me to value what I have, and to be thankful for my life. It taught me that you don’t need possessions to be happy. It taught me too that being thankful brings great joy not just to yourself but to others.

And of course, it taught me that we are all the same, we human beings, and we should never forget this. We should do what we can to help those less fortunate than ourselves, and we should do this not because we are better than them, but because we are all human beings together, and this is what we do – we do things for one another.

We would all do well, I think, to reflect from time to time on whether we are thankful enough for what we have, and for the world around us, and whether we are translating this thankfulness into action for our fellow humans. If, as I suspect might be the case, we realise that we are not thankful enough, or doing enough, then remember that it is never too late to adjust our perception of our lives, nor too late to make a difference. Start now – look up, look about you, see what is amazing in this world, and be truly, truly thankful. Your heart will be lighter immediately.

Jan 28

Communicating with young people: the work of Jean Gross

Jean Gross, the Government’s Communications Champion, – awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours List – came to talk at the GSA conference which I hosted as GSA President in Bristol in November, and she speaks out tirelessly about the need for us to communicate effectively with children. Her goal is simple: she wants us to do this so that young people in turn can learn to communicate with adults and with one another, and access what life has to offer – without communication, after all, we cannot fully function as social human beings, we cannot learn about the world around us, and our life is so much shallower and paler as a result.

Vanessa Feltz, the radio and TV presenter once described as the hardest working woman in the media – and for whom I have a lot of time, as I admire her dedication and incisiveness – wrote an article in last week’s Express newspaper about the work of Jean Gross, which is worth a read. In it, she mentions one of the shocking real-life examples which Jean Gross has encountered in the course of her work: one in five new parents, apparently, thinks it is ‘a waste of time’ to talk to their baby before he or she reaches three months old; they are, in effect, ‘spending their first quarter of a year on earth in silence’.

This is a shocking thought, knowing what we – as educated adults – know about the importance of communicating with babies and children from their earliest hours, to help them see the world and understand the love that surrounds them. As Ms Feltz eloquently puts it, ‘The thought is so cold, so sterile, so many million light years away from the kisses and tickles, nursery rhymes and games of ‘peep-o’ that we fondly believe come entirely naturally to our species, it chills us to the very marrow.’

But this is the reality that Jean Gross is encountering – parents who lack parenting role-models, and who have themselves been so poorly or inadequately parented that they have not learned how to parent their own children. As a result, we risk entire swathes of our population growing up unable to communicate well, and we cannot allow this to happen. Jean Gross is doing an amazing job, but we all need to help her in our extended communities. Let’s not be afraid of talking openly and widely so that parenting becomes understood through all the media at our disposal. Let us teach it in schools, and by the example we set to others. As Vanessa Feltz puts it, ‘Isn’t it time every 15-year-old was taught that talking to a newborn baby is not only fun and infinitely rewarding but absolutely essential for the baby’s future attainment and development?’

Together we can make the world a better place – but we need to start now, and we need to get the message out fast.

Jan 23

Parent power at work: ensuring excellence in independent schools

A great article on independent schools appeared in last week’s Times newspaper. Written by the thoughtful and insightful Greg Hurst, Education Editor of the Times, it posed the question ‘Just how good are independent schools?’ and proceeded to look at the evidence. The article quite rightly acknowledged that independent schools come in many shapes and sizes, and that independence does not of itself necessarily equate to excellence – a lesson that proponents of state-funded academies need to remember. (I write, of course, from the perspective as the Head of an independent school which has repeatedly been accredited by external inspections as ‘excellent’ and ‘outstanding’.) He also pointed out that independent fee-paying schools have more funds at their disposals, and that greater funds can mean more investment in teachers.

None of this proves superiority, of course, in the whole independent schools’ sector, but Mr Hurst went on to make the point that if parents are prepared to pay for the education at their children’s independent schools, this is the greatest testament to their excellence: ‘here’s the telling point: parents are willing to pay for what private schools offer. Fees vary but last year the average was £11,208 and £25,152 a year for boarding. These are big sums to fund from taxed income, hard-earned savings or investments. They must be doing something right.

And he is of course correct. Parents who are paying for their children’s education other than through the tax system (which can, incidentally, be a bone of contention for parents who pay for independent education and so are effectively paying twice) are very discriminating about where they invest their funds. Why would they pay for a substandard education? Their desire for excellence is what independent schools are responding to, and this coincides with – and enhances – the quest for excellence which originates within the schools themselves, from motivated educators who really care about the future of the young people who pass through their doors.

Parents want the best for their children, and when they choose a school for which they will have to pay, they are going to make sure that they are choosing the very best. From a personal perspective, I know that my school is outstanding, and I know that if it weren’t, the parents of my pupils would soon tell me. I want to know from them, if not directly from the pupils themselves, if something is not right, so I can fix it – and fix it fast. Parent power in education means that we are all working together to ensure the very, very best opportunities for the children in our care. It works.

Jan 20

Miss-Representation – how we portray women in the media, and what we can do about it

One of the sessions at the UK Girls’ Schools Association Conference in Bristol in November, which I hosted as GSA President, was an uplifting interactive conversation with colleagues from the States. It immediately preceded the arrival of Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools, who was delayed; the positive upshot was that we were able to talk more about international matters. Our colleagues from the States shared with us a project in which they had been involved – the development of a documentary, and a movement, entitled ‘Missrepresentation’, looking at how the media skews its portrayal of women. A colleague from Australia reminded me of this last week via Twitter, and I wanted to draw it to everyone’s attention.

Details of the documentary – and a 3 minute long trailer which is an absolute must-see – can be found at missrepresentation.org. A piece of advice – watch it yourself before you show it to others, especially children, as some of the scenes (although all taken from mainstream TV and music videos) are shocking, showing women in demeaning, violent, heavily sexualised poses. The derogatory comments made about women in the public eye such as Hillary Clinton when she was running for the White House, are highlighted too, and it is the juxtaposition of all these images and comments, which come tumbling out, one after another, which becomes overwhelming.

This is of course what girls in our society are exposed to every day, and we should take seriously not only the nature of the images and words, but their sheer volume. They form a compelling backdrop to the lives of girls and young women today; is it any wonder that as a society women often do not value themselves as they should? One of the high school students quoted in the film makes the point that ‘there is no appreciation for women as intellectuals – it is all about the body’, and this quest for impossible physical perfection, imposed by society, is one of the major reasons why women lack so much confidence. The film makes the point that children at the age of 7 divide equally by gender in their desire to become President of the United States; by the age of 15, there is a massive gap, and this is not in favour of the girls.

So what can we do? Well, watch the trailer – and see if you can watch the documentary at some point. Sign their pledge and follow the advice and guidance you will receive by email if you do. Above all, think critically about what you see around you and make sure you share this with the girls – and boys – you know. Our world deserves a fairer society, and we must all play our part in making this happen.

Jan 17

Being a female leader: the path prepared by Margaret Thatcher

I am really curious to see The Iron Lady – although, as with most films, I will have to wait until it comes out on DVD and I can squeeze in the time to watch it between other commitments. I am sure it will be worth the wait – since its premiere it has elicited the sort of reactions that only a great film does. Besides, Margaret Thatcher’s tenure as Prime Minister coincided with a very formative time of my early years; she was part of the backdrop of my life, and I want to see how other people have interpreted her legacy. When I look back on my memories of that time, I remember the anger and antagonism that Margaret Thatcher provoked, but I remember too my early sense that she was unusual in breaking a mould and that she was an impressive woman. I was also struck then, as I have been since, by how there was a focus on her as a female leader that simply did not happen to male leaders. No-one seemed to feel comfortable – at that time particularly – with the concept of a strong woman in charge – and I wonder now how much of the antagonism around her was down to that, rather than to her politics and her actions.

Interestingly, a number of female commentators in the Press last week expressed feelings of regret that there is no-one like Margaret Thatcher operating in public life now. Allison Pearson in Thursday’s Telegraph, reflecting on The Iron Lady, wrote that ‘Watching [the film] made me realise that leaders and leadership are thin on the ground – How many people will come out of cinemas this week wondering if we shall ever see a leader like Margaret Thatcher again?’ Sandra Parsons in Wednesday’s Daily Mail wrote ‘I don’t know how anyone – Left or Right – could fail to be impressed with her achievements – Will a female politician to rival Mrs Thatcher emerge from these years of austerity? I very much doubt it – a mark not only of her greatness but of our political impoverishment.’ Elsewhere in the Daily Mail, Amanda Foreman, Mrs Thatcher’s biographer, reminded us of the times in which she lived and worked: ‘She was patronised and condescended to at every turn – The idea of a woman leader […] was preposterous.’

And yet become a leader she did, making a strong mark as she did so – even though the country struggled as much with the concept of her as a woman as it did with her politics. She was a ‘woman in a man’s world’ – and still would be, as we should not overlook the fact that only 22% of MPs in our current UK parliament are women. The 1980’s were a different time in our history – we have moved on, but we have not left all the vestiges behind. Our female MPs are far more subject to comments about their appearance than are their male counterparts; it is commonplace for people to be ambivalent about the capacity of women to be powerful in leading roles. This should be no surprise – it is harder for people to grasp concepts if they do not have strong and multiple precedents, and Margaret Thatcher was a ‘one-off’ – so far, at least.

We need these precedents in this country, not just abroad, where the number of female political leaders is growing. We need to treat our female politicians and other leaders fairly and equally. We need to focus on substance not appearance in what our leaders do. We want both men and women to represent us in the decisions which impact on our lives. We must make it possible.

Margaret Thatcher’s biographer described an outing to the ballet last Christmas when she was approached by a line of girls wanting her autograph. She asked one of them what she wanted to be when she grew up; the reply was ‘I want to be like you. I want to be Prime Minister.’ Margaret Thatcher has left us an amazing gift – the sense of possibility that women can lead. It is up to us not to waste this legacy.

Jan 15

Keep an eye on the hidden surveys – for they tell a truth we must not forget

Surveys, by their nature, are newsworthy. They give a snapshot of a current issue at the current moment amongst whichever group they target, and as a result they will often make it into the daily news schedule. Sometimes they make a big splash, become major news items and have producers running to elicit requests for interviews, media appearances and subsequent comments; and sometimes they die a small death in the inner columns of the depths of regional newspapers. I always look out for these small mentions of surveys; after all, their positioning in a newspaper – their position and their size – gives a pretty good indication of how much the editor (who is usually pretty in touch with her/his audience) feels their content would be valued by the wider public.

And so it was interesting to read a short article last week buried on page 36, no less, of Thursday’s London Evening Standard, reporting on a survey by Women in Architecture UK which revealed that half of women architects say that they are paid less than men. 700 women completed the survey – not an insubstantial number – and the figures reported were deeply concerning. Quite apart from the perception that men are paid more than women in this field – and unless we dismiss all female architects as lacking a grasp on reality, then we have to admit that there is likely to be some truth in this assumption – worryingly, almost two thirds said that they had suffered some kind of sexual discrimination at some point in their career. 22% said that they experienced sexual discrimination on a monthly basis. The picture was added to by figures that showed in addition that only 8% of women questioned felt that raising a family would harm men’s careers, while 80% felt that having children was disadvantageous to them in their jobs.

Overall, the picture was far from great – the opposite in fact. And equally concerning was the relegation of the story to the nether regions of the Evening Standard. It practically had the designation ‘space filler’ emblazoned across the top. People may get tired of hearing stories of how there is still gender inequality in the workplace, but unless we keep telling them, raising awareness and persuading people that this is wrong and that we should do something about it, the chances are that we will forget why it is so important that we actually do something about it. We need men and women to be treated fairly in our society, and to feel that they are treated fairly, if we are going to have the chance of harmonious, equal, balanced relationships in the workplace and beyond. If we don’t tackle the inequalities that we see around us, then we are contributing to perpetuating them; we are just making it harder for those who come after us – our daughters (and our sons), and our grandchildren.

We all know that we are in a period of social transition; no-one expects things to change overnight (although sometimes it is nice to dream that they might). But if we relegate important stories to page 36 of the Evening Standard, then we are not helping matters. Look out for the hidden surveys, for they tell a truth we must not forget.

Jan 13

If you are a working woman, you need to read this book! A review of Dancing Round the Handbags by Lynne Copp

Just over 16 years ago, the author of this new book for women, Dancing Round the Handbags, had a vision of a different life, of removing herself from the overloaded, overwhelming life that she was leading as a senior executive and a mother of two. Crawling exhausted into her bed one night, she dreamed that she would write this book, and her dream – along with a new life – has finally come to fruition. As a result, we are all better off; it is a fabulously uplifting and empowering book of resources to help hard-working women step back from the turmoil around them, reflect on what they want to achieve, and go on to ‘dance their best life’.

From the vibrant magenta of the cover to the words of wisdom within, this book sparkles. The construct is an extremely clever one: the handbag is a metaphor for every woman, with the contents representative of a different aspect of her being – her diary is a metaphor for her time, for instance, her lipstick for the masks she wears, and her tissues for her health, amongst other items to be found in the depths of her handbag. I was particularly struck by the metaphor of the ‘snack’ – the personal and professional development which women need in order to be nourished and replenished. It is a captivating and memorable set of images which will strike home to any woman seeking a way to make her life make more sense. A poignant and powerful – and ultimately inspiring – imaginary narrative runs through the text, helping the reader to make connections with her own story.

This is an incredibly practical book, crammed full of exercises and tools to help women learn about themselves and evaluate their lives. It takes the reader systematically through each item in her ‘handbag’, beginning with a look at what kind of dance she is dancing in her life, and how all the contents of her handbag will help her to dance the dance she longs to dance. It encourages the reader to spend time on herself, reflecting on who she really is, and what she really wants to do, and then helps her to see how she might do it. Its aim is to help women declutter – at the end of each chapter a useful action plan focuses the mind on what we should BAG (Bin, Add or Get) – and it exudes a warmth, vitality and reality which will make you believe that it is all possible.

This book lives up to its intention of being a ‘catalyst for balancing the way we work and live’ and it is hugely uplifting. Take pleasure in your own dance through its pages!

Jan 10

New Year’s resolutions for a new term

Yesterday, according to the Daily Mail, was the day when most people gave up on their New Year’s resolutions and slipped back into old habits. Apparently, on average, people make the same New Year’s resolution four times in total – and, presumably, break it the same number of times. Opinion is divided on whether the New Year is the right time or not to be setting goals and targets for the next 12 months, but it strikes me that it is as good a time as any, as long as you set about it the right way.

In schools, we prepare young people all the time to set goals and targets for their futures, to envisage that future happening, and to make it come into fruition. Based on experience, this is what makes the process effective:

1. You need a bold vision for this year ahead and beyond – a strong idea about where you are headed. Without it, you will not be able to set the goals and targets which you need to achieve it. And you need ambition – life is meant to be lived, and you want to get the most out of it. Think about this in planning what you want to do for the next 12 months.

2. You need to focus – to concentrate on what it is you want to achieve this year. With this in mind, you can write clear tasks which will help you achieve that goal. And hard work – really hard work – always pays off …

3. Be real – this is not about perfection, but about keeping going, sometimes with more energy and sometimes with less. It won’t matter in the short term if you don’t do something quite as well as you want, so don’t waste brain space on this; it does matter in the long run, however, that you keep working away with your goal in mind, and you move closer and closer to it.

4. The most effective goals are not just about you – they are part of a wider perspective on life. If you want to achieve something just for you, then you are missing out on what life has to offer – do it for the greater good of humanity, and you will discover a purpose and drive that you might never otherwise have imagined.

So – will 2012 be the year that you make a difference in the world? Go and make it happen!

Jan 08

An emboldening experience in a Chelsea nightclub …

Last night I found myself in a wine bar/nightclub on the King’s Road, Chelsea, London – not, I hasten to add, where I would normally expect to find myself on a Saturday evening shortly before the start of the Spring Term … or, indeed, on a Saturday night ever. Having arrived unfashionably early, I was mistaken as I was waiting outside for the owner of the club; quite what I should make of that, I leave to the imagination of others, but suffice it to say that I do not intend to change career direction in the foreseeable future.

There was, of course, a reason for me to be there, along with our wonderful school Director of Development and our brave Head of Classics … the St Mary’s Calne leavers of 2010 had organised a reunion, and it was a marvellous opportunity to catch up with them, to hear their news, to see them reconnect with others, and to talk about their futures. I heard stories of gap years, of settling into university, of second year dissertations, of internships conducted and planned, and of the looming question of ‘what next in life’. Everyone was on amazingly good form; the noise level was high, the welcomes exuberant. It was a fantastically uplifting experience to be in their presence.

I was struck by a number of thoughts as I watched them: first, they were all still really, really good friends. I knew anyway that they had kept in touch, and this is not unusual at all for girls from St Mary’s Calne. There is something in the way in which we do things at school that bonds all girls, across subject disciplines, personality types and character. I hear tale after tale of weddings, christenings and the like where over half of that particular year group will turn up, to the astonishment of onlookers who have come through school with only a small handful of close friends. The friendships that these girls – now young women, of course – have built at school will endure and will be a source of help, comfort and laughter for years to come.

Secondly, they were more than ready for the next phase of their lives. Going out into the world of work, and the next stage of their relationships, will bring with it hurdles, ups and downs, disappointments and sadness as well as triumphs and happiness, but these girls have resilience, an intelligent approach to the world, a boldness that is not arrogant, and the support of one another. As I watched them and listened to them, I hoped that I would continue to hear about their lives, and that they would continue to keep a special place in their hearts and minds for the school which had been their focal point for their formative teenage years, and which had brought them all together. Above all, though, I was reaffirmed in my conviction that what we do at school is right and works. I was hugely encouraged and I was emboldened to continue what I do. It was a brilliant feeling.

I slipped away into the night, back to Paddington station and home to Calne before the wine bar turned fully into nightclub mode. My ears were ringing from the music and from the conversations. As my train drew away from London for the short journey home, I was glowing. What a tremendous experience!

Girls, if you read this, know that I am so, so proud of you. Good luck with everything that life brings to you, and may our paths cross again soon.