Book of the Month for January 2025
The Pruning Principle offers a groundbreaking approach to educational leadership, drawing inspiration from horticulture to address the chronic issues of overwork and inefficiency in schools. The authors, Dr Simon Breakspear and Michael Rosenbrock, propose a radical shift from the culture of “doing more” to one of strategic subtraction, arguing that by carefully pruning away non-essential tasks and initiatives, schools can achieve better outcomes with less strain on resources and staff.
Osprey Learning Networks
Recommended Read
February 2025
The Age of Identity: Who Do Our Kids Think They Are . . . and How Do We Help Them Belong?
by - Dennis Shirley, Andy Hargreaves
Dennis Shirley and Andy Hargreaves brilliantly show how we can and must engage with young people's identities in their fullness and complexity. Rooted in classical and contemporary theories of identity, extensive research, and in sheer common sense, their book takes us from bitterness to belonging
Previous Reads
October 2024
The Art of Skimming Stones: Leading Sustained Improvement in Schools
by - Steven Trotter
The Art of Skimming Stones challenges conventional leadership frameworks, highlighting a crucial gap in their ability to effectively drive improvement.
September 2024
Thinking Protocols for Learning
by - Janelle Wills
Grow students into creative, ethical, and critical thinkers who confidently navigate our changing world. In this comprehensive guide, the author brings together strategies for teaching thinking skills, designing group activities, and promoting a collaborative classroom environment.
August 2024
Teaching Sprints: How Overloaded Educators Can Keep Getting Better
by - Simon Breakspear, Bronwyn Ryrie Jones
Teachers and school leaders have ambitious goals, but improvement work in busy schools is hard. Eminently practical and field tested around the globe, the evidence-informed process outlined in this book will provide you with a framework for robust, sustainable and powerful professional learning.