We did it here! is a treasure trove of hope and a distillation of wisdom for building successful schools. This outstanding raft of case studies and lessons in leadership is brilliantly written by Brin Best. At the beginning of the 21st Century we are often encouraged to awork outside the boxa, a very worthy expression of innovative intent. This book offers up much more than dreams and intentions, this is the stuff of current realities. It contains solid evidence of learners and leaders working not just ain the boxa and aout of the boxa, but out to the very corners of the box and the space it sits in. Charged with positive energy, and balanced with rigorous research, this book explores the ways in which contemporary schools are serving their learners at the cutting edge of practice. This is a must-read for every teacher, senior leader and aspirant manager, not to mention an uplifting and stimulating read for anyone with an interest in teaching and learning. This beautifully considered work provides the rules for success for an effective school. It celebrates effective practice and goes on to eloquently challenge the existing system and lay down tracks for the next 50 years of educational history.
Will Thomas, Education Performance Coach, author of `Coaching Solutions`
We Did It Here! bills itself as a set of ainspirational stories of school improvement and classroom changea, and looks to offer a series of informative case studies offering ideas and activities to inspire young learners. The book seeks to demonstrate how teachers and school leaders can create powerful changes in their schools in an education system that is replete with new initiatives, government programmes and imposing targets. The case studies include schools that have set up and run their own magazines, transformed themselves in challenging circumstances, established links with business and industry, and created websites, all backed up with helpful pictures and photographs to give the reader concrete examples of the potential outcomes of the advice. There is also a chapter looking at individual teachers' actions, which aims to show that it is possible to achieve great results at classroom level, even in struggling schools. Among other topics, it looks at transforming PE and science, making ICT more exciting, and meeting the needs of more able students. Author Brin Best is an educational consultant who has worked as a teacher, head of department, and local authority advisory teacher. He has drawn on his own experiences, and visited a range of different secondary schools across the country to compile this guide to motivating and inspiring learners.
Sec Ed Chris Parr,
About six months ago I asked Crown House Publishing whether they were aware or not of whether all the books they publish on changing the face of education were actually having any impact within the educational system. So it was with great surprise that I received this book to review. The essence of the book can be summed up as follows: aWhen rules and regulations stifle creativity and productivity, there will always be quiet leaders who will find solutions to over come the overbearing ruling in whatever form it takes.a The book itself is more like a documentary. It tells through story, pictures and facts and figures the dedicated efforts of educators who seek to make learning so much more than what it has become. The courage and commitment of these schools to dare to become something more than what is being asked by Regulatory Bodies has without a doubt made learning exciting and relevant to students in terms of every day living and life. I liked the personal stories of the schools, educators and students who were able to show how learning today very much needs to have some relevance to every day life in our community, our environment and in our relationships. The encouragement to look at being independent and interdependent is truly unique and wonderful to read about. This book will really encourage those educators who have wondered how they can turn things around within their classroom (or school) whilst still meeting deadlines and reports for the overhead regulations. aWe Did It Herea is the first step to creating a forum of like minded educators who rise above a system that is long over due an overhaul and be living examples of what is possible when you are creative, confident and caring in one's approach to learning. The pay off is experiencing the joy of seeing students truly live the meaning of aeducarea.
Kathleen Ginn, Author of `The Secret Learning Code`
As Harold McAlindon once said: Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. This book celebrates some innovative trailblazers without alienating the less adventurous. It provides creative ideas broken down into adoable' chunks, and is liberally peppered with a acan-do' attitude. I hope that government are receptive to Brin's challenge to nurture creativity within our system. The more that follow the excellent ideas in the book, the happier our society will be.
Dave Harris, author `Are You Dropping the Baton`
If I were a secondary Head Teacher I would want to keep a copy of We Did It Here in full sight to remind me just what schools should be about; if I were a classroom teacher, I would want a copy to remind me just why I came in to teaching; and if I were training to be a teacher, I would want it to show me just what I was aiming for. Prepared to be inspired and uplifted! A must for all secondary school leaders and governors.
Lyn Bull, Gifted and Talented (G&T) Consultant
In this entertaining book, Brin Best, a teacher turned education consultant, reports on instances of inspirational school improvement and classroom change. He wants to get across that the ayou couldn't do that herea attitude is plain wrong - that there is room for creativity and imagination in education. He recounts the story of the PE teacher who has a Year 11 class where 96 per cent of pupils are expected to achieve grades A*-C at GCSE in 2008 (it was a lowly 27 per cent in 2006), or there's the head, who turned to the a14 principles for effective organisations' that were put together by US business leader W. Edwards Deming, the man credited with improving Japanese management from the 1950s onwards. Best's book is a celebration of innovation, creativity and motivation - aspects that are often lost in the climate of initiatives, national targets and tests. As he portrays successful schools and school leaders, he builds to a climax where he draws up a 10-point manifesto for areal change in our schools'. Best's lessons for school leaders are clear. Two of the main ones are that leaders must accept the responsibility that comes with the more flexible educational framework for schools that lies ahead. They should also commit to making creativity a key Dart of the ethos of the school.
Leadership Focus
There are few things as reassuring and compelling to teachers and school leaders as case studies of success. All the theory in the world is outweighed by one story that educationalists can relate to in their own context. Brin Best has produced a range of compelling stories which give detailed guidance on how schools have addressed some of the most challenging issues of today. Each study provides credible examples of actual strategies that have worked. The narrative is accompanied by a range of supportive materials and is underpinned by detailed and systematic analysis, explanation and discussion. This is a practical resource that allows schools to explore the possibilities of change.
John West-Burnham, Visiting Professor of Education, University of Bristol
This is both an enthralling book and an excellent source of effective practice and strategies for change. With the pressure on so many schools to push forward the targets, the book is full of support materials for managers and staff at all levels. As a freelance consultant who has witnessed the consequences of both uplifting and disappointing performances by short term change gurus, it was heartening to read of the sustainable progress at Northumberland Park and Matthew Moss schools. It was particularly pertinent to note the significant role played by student observers of teaching and learning at Matthew Moss school. This book is a must for all managers to enable staff teams to reflect on good practice in other schools and to ask themselves whether aWe Might Do It Here As Wella.
John Morris JTM Educational Consultants
