Consistency and Change – Duncan Murphy

We live in interesting times according to our Director of Education, Duncan Murphy.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The matriarch of our society for so many years, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was recently mourned by millions across the world and her funeral showcased remarkable British pageantry, pomp and ceremony to sit alongside a plethora of raw emotion. It is an interesting concept that so many ‘ordinary’ people felt sufficiently moved by her death, most of whom never met her whilst she was alive, that they queued for long hours through the night to pay their respects to her as she was lying in state. Perhaps the most moving moment occurred as the cameras zoomed in on Emma, the Queen’s horse, as well as her dogs, who were looking on wistfully as the funeral cortege approached Windsor Castle.

Her Majesty’s ability to connect with human beings across the age range knew no barriers; her empathy, grace and humility commanded our respect whilst her dignity and forbearance during the Royal Family’s darker moments afforded our empathy and understanding. The Queen was, on a human level, very much someone to whom we could all relate – and that is what made her one of a kind. It is hard to believe that we will see her like again. However, Charles and Camilla have won the nation’s hearts for the time being whilst William and Kate offer a healthy degree of reassurance for the long term future of the monarchy.

Westminster

By contrast, in Westminster, a deplorable demonstration has been given on a global platform of what can happen in the absence of effective leadership. The net result of a power vacuum at Downing Street is three different Prime Ministers in eight weeks. To a lesser degree, but related nonetheless, schools now have their fifth Education Secretary in four months. How can children, or their teachers, possibly benefit from such a lack of continuity? At a time when questions are rightly being asked about the relevance of our out-dated modes of assessment, not least GCSE examinations, the key decision-makers have barely had time to update their LinkedIn profiles before being catapulted out of the door.

The Future

Our young people deserve better. In good news, and whilst many people justifiably called for a General Election, it is wonderful to see a proverbial ‘glass ceiling’ in politics shattered with the appointment of Rishi Sunak as our new leader, a man of Indian ethnicity and Hindu religion. Notwithstanding the glib criticisms of him as a wealthy ex-Wykehamist, let us hope that he can inspire confidence in those around him and offer our beleaguered nation a glimmer of hope for the future. Certainly, consistency of leadership is called for in order to beget meaningful change. If our politicians show willing to draw upon the legacy of Her Majesty The Queen, then their actions might just start to match up to their words. Time will tell.

Please do not hesitate to contact Duncan for an informal chat about any aspect of strategy for your school: Duncan@mtmconsulting.co.uk