ISA chairman Deborah Odysseas-Bailey addresses annual conference

15 May 2008

The chairman of the Independent Schools Association (ISA) today told head teachers that the independent sector must promote a leadership culture that empowers staff at every level. Deborah Odysseas-Bailey was addressing the association at its annual conference in Brighton.

Mrs Odysseas-Bailey, headmistress at Babington House School in Kent, told ISA members that "the latest preoccupation is with profit, planet and people. They are clearly interlinked and real success will only come with an awareness of all three. This is ethical leadership. And we are in an excellent position to draw attention and influence the debate."

She added: "The recent ISC Census illustrated that there is a significant increase in teachers coming from industry - 16.7%. Surely many of them have transferable skills worth developing? We ourselves must not be afraid to step back, provide others with opportunities and empower them to lead. As they move on to other senior roles these people will forever be our best ambassadors because we have encouraged them to shine and they will in turn seek to grow leaders themselves and in that way our sector will remain vibrant and effective."

Mrs Odysseas-Bailey continued: "Understanding the character and importance of leadership and its influence on learning is critical to the two most important factors in our business - the happiness and success of our young people as they become adults and responsible citizens. We heads willingly adopt a moral and social responsibility to leave no stone unturned in our search for - and our development of - future generations of inspirational leaders."

Mrs Odysseas-Bailey referred to a 2006 MORI poll which showed that 57% of parents believe a school is only as good as its head teacher, but told members that many heads feel that their world as it stands may give pupils the impression that it is not an esteemed profession.  To dispel this myth, she called for heads to "ensure that succession planning for leadership within the independent sector is one of our highest priorities."

 

Ends

 

Notes to editors 

For a copy of the full speech please contact Alex Caish, ISC Head of Press 07825 806017.

Deborah Odysseas-Bailey
Deborah Odysseas-Bailey was educated at the University Of Kent and since graduating her teaching career rapidly progressed in both the maintained and independent sectors. As well as being the Head Teacher of Babington House School for the past ten years and a member of the ISA Executive Council, she is also an active and representative for the independent sector as a whole. She is a member of the Cross Association Leadership Steering Group, whose aim is to ensure that the independent sector speaks on a variety of issues with one voice.

She represents the Independent Sector with the National College for School Leadership and is currently contributing to the redesign of National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), a programme designed to prepare candidates for the role of headship. In 2003 Deborah was sponsored by the Millennium Commission to run Leadership and Management workshops in the Eastern Cape and upon her return received a Millennium Fellowship Award.

She is an honorary member of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts (RSA) and has been praised by the Mayor of London for making an outstanding contribution to the life of Londoners. Deborah is also currently working alongside staff at the Royal Collection to enhance understanding of the monarchy, the history of the Royal Palaces and the works of art in the Royal Collection, so as to strengthen links with the younger community.

ISA
ISA was founded in 1879 and is one of the oldest of the independent school Heads' organisations. It exists to provide professional support to head teachers and opportunities to their staff, and to offer a wide range of sporting and cultural activities to pupils in around 300 schools. ISA schools educate approximately 70,000 girls and boys.

Babington House School
Established in 1887 and educating pupils between the ages of 3 to 16, Babington House School in Chislehurst, Kent, has an excellent reputation both nationally and locally and is currently ranked 17th in the country for value added (the extent to which a school enhances a pupil's academic performance). Deborah Odysseas-Bailey has led the school through two highly successful inspections, where on each occasion the governance and Leadership of the school were described as exceptional.

Press enquiries: Alexandra Caish, Head of Press, ISC

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