Project Background
The Schoolgenie project arose from the desire to be part of the solution to the teacher recruitment and retention crisis by affecting school culture. Schools that wanted to prioritise building a positive and trusting school culture where teachers staff and pupils could be safe happy and able to flourish were attracted to this work. They came from a range of national contexts, Local Authorities, Multi-Academy Trusts and settings. In each case senior leaders participated in the programme and were able to impact the culture within the school on their own terms and at their own pace. Supervision and coaching was provided alongside the leadership development and this enabled the leaders to respond to the training develop their own practice whilst remaining connected with the designers of the Schoolgenie programme.
The basis of the programme for developing trust in cultures was drawn from Jeanie Davies’ experience as an education leadership development designer and Georgina Newton’s extensive knowledge and understanding of the education sector as an Associate Professor in teacher education.
Based on research from Jeanie’s MA in coaching and her background as a teacher, school leader and coaching consultant, the basis for the Schoolgenie programme is detailed in the book The Trust Revolution in Schools. Drawing together four key psychological concepts, the book explores what a trust-based culture looks like and the conditions that are needed for this to develop. It looks at the paradoxes that lie in how staff create harmonious and collaborative cultures and the practical steps that are needed to create a culture where staff thrive.
Appreciation
We are grateful for the work and expertise from other leaders and thinkers, such as Amy Edmondson on Psychological Safety, Nancy Kline on Thinking Environments, Karen & Chris Blakeley on Leading with Love, The Commission for Ethical Leadership in Education and the UK NHS Ethical Mentors. We are especially grateful for our associate, Christopher Spriggs, who has generously enriched the Schoolgenie programme with his expertise and wisdom.
