In the classroom

In a direct challenge to the hundreds of thousands of governors in the UK, (Ofsted head) Sir Michael Wilshaw said businesses should instruct senior staff to become governors at their local schools, to improve the calibre of those involved. And he warned time was running out for those at low-achieving schools, who would rather spend time "looking at the quality of lunches and not enough on maths and English" - press report

I read this with amusement. I've never heard such condescending codswallop from a senior official. As a former Cranfield lower school governor I am aware that schools are complex organisations and the factors that contribute to their success are both internal and external. Most people on the governing body are not education professionals and unless you set out to micromanage the head and senior staff,  changing things as a governor is very difficult. Anyway, with bullies like Wilshaw around why would you even want to serve?


Wilshaw stated in 2011: "If anyone says to you that ‘staff morale is at an all-time low’ you will know you are doing something right." 

Sounds like his aim is to improve governance by reducing morale to rock bottom. And he doesn't care if the kids stuff their faces with turkey twizzlers and drink fizzy drinks all day long.