Alison Lawson, Director of Education, Weaver Trust
It may seem strange that someone can feel lonely when surrounded by so many people, but, sadly, it’s all too common.
For a primary school teacher, in a one form entry school, their day revolves around 30 children. For five or six hours each day, it is completely normal to be on your own, with your class, meticulously picking off the objectives from the National Curriculum. Along with marking work, giving meaningful feedback, planning what needs to be taught in the following lessons - there is little chance for any other interactions. The treadmill is relentless. But we do it - we do it to give our children the very best life chances. Knowing they have a very short time in primary school - preparing them with the foundations they need to go on to be successful learners.
So yes - it can be lonely. Lonely in as much as you are one adult. One adult who is relied upon each day to be all things. A teacher, a comforter, a mediator, a joker, an encourager, a task master - juggling the hats as required.
Very few adult interactions can take place in school, perhaps crossing paths with a colleague in a corridor, at the photocopier or filing into assembly. Unless leaders build time and effort into the day to nurture and grow meaningful, professional relationships between adults, a school can be a very lonely place indeed.
Collaboration is a partnership; a union; the act of producing or making something together. Collaboration can take place between two people or many people, strangers or best friends. To collaborate is to commit to the possibility of producing an outcome greater than one that would be developed in a silo.
Collaboration in schools can, on occasion, happen by accident. Colleagues sharing practice through mentoring, or being drawn together as friends, as well as colleagues. However, collaboration in the true sense, collaboration which creates a greater outcome must be engineered and invested in by school leaders.
Realising that working together really does mean ‘being in it together’ not only has the outcome of better chances for children - but also supports and nurtures teachers own sense of well-being.
As a small school trust, from the very beginning of our journey, our ethos has been about building learning communities. Communities where as a teacher, a subject leader, a Sendco, a leader - you have supportive, experienced colleagues surrounding you. Not to judge - purely to support. Colleagues who are equal to you; fully getting the day-to-day battles you face alone in your classroom.
Setting the tone, so people aren’t ‘having things done to them’ but are part of driving strategies together, has been key. The very first meetings have got to be about relationship building, more sociable than outcomes driven.
Relationships which are built on mutual respect, understanding each other’s context and a genuine desire to feel part of something bigger than your classroom, or school, hold so much value. Not being afraid to talk honestly about your practice: good and bad. Knowing there is always someone to message, email, phone - and knowing without shadow of a doubt that they will understand and want to help. Even if they don’t have the answers - they will work with you. This is true collaboration.
Over time - our collaborative groups have worked together to develop their own terms of reference. Decided on their priorities - driven by the Strategic Development Plan, mission, vision and values and shared ethos of our trust, raising standards for the children in our care.
Allowing organic growth over time has allowed for true collaboration: Collaboration as a partnership; a union; the act of producing or making something together. It works. It needs managing, it needs time, it needs the commitment from all involved - especially leaders. Leaders need to give their teachers the time out of class, their Sendcos, subject leaders, attendance officers etc. the time to reflect, collaborate and improve. But it works. No adult need ever feel alone - or lonely. It works for improving the mental health of our staff. It inspires. It enables belief. And most importantly - it achieves.
To find out more, please contact the CEO, Annette Williams, who would be delighted to welcome you to find out more about Weaver Trust… we are in this together.
The CST Blog welcomes perspectives from a diverse range of guest contributors. The opinions expressed in blogs are the views of the author(s), and should not be read as CST guidance or CST’s position.
