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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry
@jillberry102.bsky.social
1.4K followers 270 following 2.5K posts
Former head, now a leadership development consultant, education writer & commentator. Interested in all things education! Now also writing fiction. See https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B01JSM9UXI
www.amazon.co.uk
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 17h
"A huge issue in many primary schools is that middle leaders are often over-stretched & have limited non-contact time...Thinking time isn’t prioritised." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach... OUT TODAY!
(I think this is true of many secondary schools too, Simon!)
jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 19h
Inspiring Leadership Conference 2026.
Book your tickets at the reduced rate before 31st Dec.
🔹 When? 4-5 June 2026
🔹 Where? The ICC, Birmingham
🔹 Why book now? Save up to £40+VAT per individual ticket and £79+VAT per person in group bookings.
www.inspiringleadership.org?utm_source=M...
jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 1d
"If you are flying high on great results then long may it continue.
But keep your feet on the ground." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., out from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social TOMORROW!
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 1d
"I am increasingly of the opinion that the most dangerous moment for any successful school is the year after a successful Ofsted inspection. I am also of the opinion that the second most dangerous moment for any successful school is following a run of good results." @southgloshead.bsky.social 👇
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 2d
"I believe that a headteacher who still teaches from time to time sends out a powerful message to the staff, to the children and to the parents." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach.... I agree! I've written about it here: jillberry102.blog/2017/12/02/s...
Should heads teach?
A recent Twitter conversation about the advantages and disadvantages of heads having a teaching commitment made me thoughtful.  I was a teacher for thirty years, and a head for the last ten of thes…
jillberry102.blog
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 2d
"There is no such thing as ‘best practice’, only ‘best bets’. Leaders need to carefully look at the available evidence to decide whether the proposed change will have the desired impact in their setting." @southgloshead.bsky.social www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach... @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 3d
"..when they are getting the new approach or technique more wrong than right." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach... @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social 2/2
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 3d
"For staff to buy in to school improvement, they need to know two things:
1. Why it is important to both the future of the school as a whole & to them as individuals.
2. How safe they will be (professionally speaking) during the messy early phases of implementation..." @southgloshead.bsky.social 1/2
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 3d
"...and that this research has never been more easily accessible to educators." Absolutely, @southgloshead.bsky.social. I started teaching in 1980, so I feel this even more acutely! (And I remember my own secondary schooling in the 70s.) I think of this whenever anyone lambasts education today. 2/2
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 3d
"I believe that teaching has improved dramatically since I started my career in the late 90s, when you could pretty much teach anything you wanted, however you pleased. I also believe that we live in a golden age of research into the science of teaching & learning..." @southgloshead.bsky.social 1/2
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Reposted by Jill Berry
seced.bsky.social
SecEd @seced.bsky.social · 4d
Calling all #teachers: Sign up for our free @seced.bsky.social Bulletin. Every Thursday. Latest #education best practice, pedagogy, case studies, #podcasts, #webinars, free downloads as well as news analysis & blogs for all those working in secondary #schools buff.ly/3Ub2JYt #edusky #teaching
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Reposted by Jill Berry
debsrichmond.bsky.social
Debs Richmond @debsrichmond.bsky.social · 4d
"Having a mentor increased the likelihood of people accepting their accomplishments, being reassured that impostor feelings were normal and avoiding unrealistic comparison with others." From @mrenglishteach.bsky.social in @tesmagazine.bsky.social
jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 4d
"What is it that makes teachers so vulnerable to impostor syndrome? And what can schools do to help staff who might be struggling with it?" @mrenglishteach.bsky.social writes in @tesmagazine.bsky.social: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
Why schools have an impostor syndrome problem
Evidence shows teachers are vulnerable to persistent feelings of inadequacy, and this can have wide-ranging negative effects for schools, finds Mark Roberts
www.tes.com
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 4d
"What is it that makes teachers so vulnerable to impostor syndrome? And what can schools do to help staff who might be struggling with it?" @mrenglishteach.bsky.social writes in @tesmagazine.bsky.social: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
Why schools have an impostor syndrome problem
Evidence shows teachers are vulnerable to persistent feelings of inadequacy, and this can have wide-ranging negative effects for schools, finds Mark Roberts
www.tes.com
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 4d
"The best leaders I’ve worked with don’t need to win. They ask the right questions. They listen without interrupting. They don’t flinch when someone sees things differently & they certainly don’t centre themselves in every conversation." Ian Watts @tesmagazine.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
Is your ego holding back your school's progress?
The best school leaders can stop their pride from getting in the way of effective collaboration, says this international assistant head – but it's easier said than done
www.tes.com
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 4d
"Audit which children attend clubs & other activities & which don’t. Cross-reference this with their level of attendance & their conduct. Is there a link between a lack of belonging & low attendance/poor behaviour?" Advice from @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach...
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 4d
"I suspended 22 children in my first term as headteacher, most for a single day, all for similar violence & refusal to follow direct instructions. In my second term I suspended five children. In my third two. By my fourth term, I no longer needed to suspend at all." @southgloshead.bsky.social 👇
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 5d
"Discretionary effort comes more from feeling than cold logic. And how people feel about the school’s vision & the journey you & they are embarked upon has as much impact as the practical, sensible, logical things which you as leader are doing to improve the school." @southgloshead.bsky.social
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 6d
"If we are not in a system where there’s time & space to honestly reflect with a critical friend about our work, the chances of us being very good at it for a sustained amount of time is…. pretty low." @claireharley.bsky.social: www.researchtoclassroom.com/post/do-we-d...
Do we do what we say we do?
Last year I downloaded a habit tracker app. With so many spinning plates, I thought this would be a useful way of making sure I kept up the habits that I felt were the most important. My other aim was...
www.researchtoclassroom.com
jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 6d
"...The best visions are coloured by the present but nod to brighter days on distant shores." @southgloshead.bsky.social in 'Headteachering', out from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social on Thursday 9th October. 2/2
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 6d
@southgloshead.bsky.social's advice to heads: "Spend some time understanding your school’s origin story & be clear in the core beliefs or concepts that are driving your ambition for the future, before you begin trying to formulate a school vision…" www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach... 1/2
www.bloomsbury.com
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Reposted by Jill Berry
claireharley.bsky.social
Claire Harley @claireharley.bsky.social · 6d
Do we do what we say we do?

Some thoughts on balancing imperfect people (which we all are!) with systemic actions.

www.researchtoclassroom.com/post/do-we-d...
Do we do what we say we do?
Last year I downloaded a habit tracker app. With so many spinning plates, I thought this would be a useful way of making sure I kept up the habits that I felt were the most important. My other aim was...
www.researchtoclassroom.com
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 6d
Thanks, Claire - will have a read. Hope all is well with you! Enjoy your weekend. J
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 6d
"..that could fill your every day if you’re not careful." @southgloshead.bsky.social in his new book: 'Headteachering': www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., out from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social on 9th October.
I always remember @maggiefarrar.bsky.social talking about 'the tyranny of stuff'! 2/2
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 6d
"It is worth creating a short plan which covers your first term as headteacher…A 100 day plan will be a very useful tool in ensuring all the pieces of school improvement work get done & aren’t crowded out by the constant ‘white noise’ of ‘stuff’..." @southgloshead.bsky.social 1/2
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jillberry102.bsky.social
Jill Berry @jillberry102.bsky.social · 7d
"...This will give you a sense of how well the school knows itself – and what might need to come next." Advice from @southgloshead.bsky.social to new leaders, especially new heads, in his (excellent) new book, www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach... out from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social on 9th Oct 2/2
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
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