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The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

School performance and accountability

Caroline Collins
16 November 2023

Managing and investigating complaints

When it comes to complaints, it's essential to take prompt action to maintain positive relationships with parents and prevent damage to your school's reputation. Caroline Collins advises how to manage the complaints process and communicate outcomes openly. */ Nobody wants to receive a complaint but...
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Lisa Griffin
19 July 2023

Five ways to make your MAT more sustainable

Looking for ways to go greener in your multi-academy trust? Use these ideas to inspire you to creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly trust. More and more schools are adopting environmental sustainability as a core value and raising awareness of it among staff, pupils, and parents...
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Elizabeth Holmes
21 June 2023

Eight ways to simplicity – small steps towards clarity

Discover the transformative power of simplicity in education. Elizabeth Holmes explores practical steps to declutter and focus on fostering wellbeing and renewed purpose as an educator. I remember sitting in a colleague’s office several years ago waiting for a meeting to start and watching while he...
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Sheza Afzal
13 April 2023

Three common mistakes schools face in their EDI work

Inclusive environments in schools require a shared responsibility to promote EDI. Sheza Afzal outlines three mistakes and offers suggestions for addressing them. Schools strive to create inclusive environments through their efforts to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). However, this...
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Olivia Dickinson
21 March 2023

Why are pupils protesting about school uniforms?

How do you feel about pupil protests? Olivia Dickinson discusses both pupil and staff views on uniform policies and the consequences of these protests. Protests about school uniforms have happened periodically over the years, including the girls at Wirral Grammar School starting a nationwide...
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Elizabeth Holmes
19 January 2023

Climate change and sustainability — what role for schools?

Is your school wasting energy unnecessarily? Elizabeth Holmes suggests actions to take to better manage energy consumption. In a recent tweet , the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, stated that the last eight years are on track to be the warmest. The tweet continued, 'Sea...
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Liz Worthen
18 October 2022
★ UPDATED 07 November 2022

A time to reflect and celebrate

The inaugural MAT Excellence Awards give school trusts the opportunity to be recognised and celebrated for their work. What achievements would you like to share? What are you most proud of about your multi-academy trust? Is it the wellbeing support you offer to pupils, staff and families? Is it the...
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Adam Smith
14 September 2022

Smells like team spirit

Does your classroom benefit from strong pupil centred team spirit? Adam Smith describes how to evaluate and review the impact of teamwork. In schools we all talk about having a positive ethos or a collaborative culture where we are singing from the same hymn sheet, on the same page, and all the...
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Rob Morrissey
31 August 2022

New headteachers: 10 things not to do!

Starting a new headship position this term? Rob Morrissey lists some things to avoid and describes what to focus on for a successful start. Without wishing to decry programmes such as the NPQH there is nothing which quite prepares you for being in the chair (as I call it) or headship. That said I...
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Luke Ramsden
4 August 2022

Looking ahead to changes in the ISI inspection framework

What can independent schools expect from the proposed changes? Luke Ramsden discusses. It is very likely that the vast majority of the proposed new framework will come in for September 2023, not least because some of the elements are already in place, and other changes are in line with the new...
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