The Frank and Stan Chat

The Community Edition with Dave McPartlin

Frank and Stan

Frank and Stan

About the guest

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.

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The Community Edition with Dave McPartlin

Frank and Stan Chat Number 166

A few months ago Frank met Dave McPartlin at a glitzy event in Blackpool.

Dave, Headteacher at Flakefleet Primary School in Fleetwood has recently spoken out publicly about the current Ofsted arrangements and how these were impacting on his wellbeing as well as other senior leaders. He mentioned some work he was proud of at his school so we decided to record this week’s Frank and Stan Chat in the school’s new community cafe.

The chat explains why the cafe is important to the school’s community and how it was funded (Spoiler alert: No school funds were used in the making of the cafe). He also gives an insight how he feels about his leadership role and we all consider the chaos that appears to have been at No.10 during Covid.

We all consider the terrible events that are taking place in Gaza and how teachers must try to navigate their way through this with their pupils.

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