It is always a pleasure to have guests on Frank and Stan Chat who feel relaxed and willing to be open and honest – Lisa Fathers, Director of Education and Partnerships at Bright Futures Educational Trust, fits that bill.
The chat covers mathematics for Primary Schools, what the Shadow Secretary of State for Education may have meant when she suggested more regular inspections on the most important issues, the importance of political awareness but maintaining impartiality, brushing teeth and why being honest about a lack of knowledge or an error of judgement are important features of effective leadership.
A great 30 minutes or so. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did in making the video/podcast.
Frank Norris and Stan Johnson have been friends since 1995. Both have had successful and lengthy careers in education. Frank was a very senior HMI with Ofsted for 11 years and was CEO of the Coop Academies Trust for 6 years.
Stan was seconded to Ofsted for a year and then returned to headship before working as a senior adviser with Lancashire LA. He has latterly led a successful education consultancy in the North West. Prior to Covid-19 the two colleagues would meet in Manchester for a pint or two but the pandemic put an end to that.
On 1 May 2020, they recorded their first video chat as a way of recording their emotions and reactions to the pandemic. After putting the video on Youtube as a safe place to store their discussions they realised that some followers began to appear and were interested in their leadership perspectives. Now, with over 170 weekly episodes and usually an eminent guest joining them, they have a growing and increasingly influential following.
