So What is a ‘Good ‘ school?

I was re-connecting with my passion about reforming the education system whilst on my Easter break and wondering about Mr Blair's plans to reform schools.  He talks about ‘good' schools a lot and  says "controversial school reforms are needed in England because the system is "not working well enough" for many children".  I found myself wondering what he meant by that and continued to read the report.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4687964.stm.ry

I was not surprised to read that nowhere in the report does it mention researching and connecting with the people who use the schools..... the pupils.  It seems to me that when trying to reform our eighteenth century school system we focus on what the government feel is right, what school governers think is right and what the teachers and head teachers views are but we rarely see reports or headlines stating "pupils suggested that.... Or year 10 was consulted and we found that....

It seems to me that it is time, not to have yet another ‘reform' as all the previous ones don't seem to have worked but to have a complete overhaul.  Let's clear the clutter, jazz up the environment and give our children something to want to go to school for. Having been in a few schools recently, apart form the brand new modern ones, they can often still look like places that resemble state prisons with dark, gloomy corridors, poor lighting, totally aesthetically displeasing, no art or great posters on the walls, wonky slatted blinds, wound ounce too often and I have wondered ....who would want to start and end their day here? Not me!  What about inspirational posters and quotes smothering the walls or wonderful vibrant colours on the floors.

God incidence - It's good to talk!

So, celebrating this Easter tide I was musing over the amount of God incidences in my life over this last short period.  I guess many people would call them coincidences.  However, I know through very personal experience that God is working in my life all year, not just at Easter.  I was reflecting on my way to the airport to meet a friend at 4.30 a.m. I know, consider it an ungodly hour if you like!  I was thinking about business and having one of those time out reflective, holiday thinking periods with nothing better to do than watch the amazing moonset at that time in the morning. I think that was what got me thinking about all the God incidences that had occurred relating to my business this year.  Just looking at what a wonderful world he created.

So, I arrived at the airport and wandered in about 6.45 ah, great! I thought, just time for a nice cup of coffee, before my friends flight landed.   I had been praying about my business on the way up in the car, that God would show me a new direction.  Anyway, So there I was in the coffee queue smiling and happy, feeling on top of the world.  There was a lady standing next to me, she seemed very 'present' and she said, "oh, it's been quite a morning".  there began a conversation in the queue which was to last for the next hour.  She introduced herself by name, asked if she could join me and we had the most delightful hour, she walked me to the barrier while we continued to talk and she stood with me until my friend came through off the plane. She was charming, animated, interesting, lively, had some great stories, a joke and what's more had a small degree of crossover into my own business.  Her name is Claire and she was older than me and I think I would probably have a run for my money to keep up with just how much she does in her life and I have a seven year old to run after.