Acquainting heads of school in Malta with innovative ways of management and administration

Abstract

Appointed heads as well as aspiring ones who will read this report will certainly not find any one suggestion which has not crossed our minds in our long and time-tested experience in school but will find much that is not generally applied. And when it comes to that, you and I do not need to be told anything new. Our trouble is not ignorance but inaction. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to expose, illustrate, highlight and give courage to put into practice ways of leading even busier and ever more demanding schools for the sake of our children who are already out in the world by the time they come into our schools and as such, we have the responsibility of keeping them in touch! Research was based upon intensive interviews with an average of fifty members of staff and school management and administration at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in Belfast, Northern Ireland, all professionals in their own way and all of whom were always willing and eager to help me gain insight and be part of the daily running of the school. All of them permeated energy and wellbeing which, backed by experience, resulted in a most welcome and pleasant stay at their school. The last section of this report is made up of propositions for the betterment of our schools in a way which will help us as heads, survive living in a whirl, stop worrying about what we lack and instead find the time to think and get acquainted with ourselves, with what we have. Yes, foreign heads of schools should inspire us, but most of all we need to be professional optimists because we are worth it!