There is a time for heads to be “distributed leaders”, giving colleagues the space to lead on their respective areas. But when the fire alarm sounds then there are also times to make clear decisions and deliver instructions in a calm and reassuring way.
That was Richard Middlebrook’s experience when Alsager School in Cheshire went into lockdown at the end of March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m a firm believer in distributed leadership and trusting staff to do their jobs,” he explained. “I have experts on curriculum, pastoral work and assessment data and I’m always guided by their recommendations because they are the experts in those areas. But when the lockdown was announced I realised that I had to be more directive and give people very clear roles.”
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