15/11/2015
Trust... the magnificent seven
It's not been a great week for leadership in the world of sport, has it?
Following Blatter...
www.parkhouseschool.org/Blog/Win-But-never-at-all-costs.aspx
We now have Lamine Diack...
His son...
The Russian Athletics Federation in its entirety...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/34779539
And even the venerable Lord Coe coming under criticism for the naivety of his tenure as Vice President of the IAAF under the now disgraced Diak, with Jon Snow giving him a particularly hard time on Channel 4 News...
Add to this toxic mix...
Greg Dyke on 'bungs' and his views of the inherent corruption of the Football. World Cup 'bidding' process...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34783181
And Stuart Lancaster's resignation as England Rugby Coach in the wake of allegedly internecine rifts and bungling Sam Burgess code conversion controversy...
And you have a pretty ugly version of a Grand Slam.
Out of all the analysis of the week's fall out, I particularly liked this from the BBC's Tom Fordyce...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/34767962
Fordyce is arguing that our enjoyment of sport and such wider power that it has to simultaneously unite and inspire has to be based on trust. Trust on so many different levels. A trust in what were are watching is fair - the proverbial 'level playing playing field' - and trust that sport is governed and administered with integrity so that competition is regulated to ensure genuine competition.
It is above all the importance of trust as an essential ingredient of leadership which struck me; not just of course in relation to sport but in its wider application. Trust in leadership builds brilliant teams and supports high performance.
If early in the week my faith in great leadership was therefore shaken by its apparent absence in my beloved sport and the values associated with it, it was rapidly restored.
As so often by youth.
On Tuesday we held our annual Sixth Form Open Evening. The most important opportunity in the year to showcase our fantastic post-16 community where great relationships and fantastic teaching and learning result in progress and achievement that positions the school in the top 10% of all nationally.
And as ever we placed our trust in our wonderful Senior Student Team - the leaders of the student body - to lead our presentation to prospective students and their parents.
That trust was repaid with superb summary of why they are themselves in turn such trusted leaders of student community.
Chairing the weekly Student Council...
Acting as an interface between staff and students on school improvement working parties...
Organising social events such as the new 'Winter Formal' and annual Prom for their peers...
Representing the school as ambassadors during VIP visits and events...
And, as 'Learning Makers', providing guidance and support to younger students in their lessons and through additional Reading programmes.
Kamila, Kate, Selina, Elliot, Jack, Seb and Duncan.
As trusted a team as any 'magnificent seven'...
