Best Practice

Leadership learning and a baptism of fire

CPD Senior leadership
From television crews to Ofsted judgements, Del Planter quickly put his professional learning into action when he became headteacher for the first time during a tumultuous time. Yvonne Gandy finds out more

Baptism of fire is an over-used phrase in the world of school leadership, but it seems an entirely appropriate way to describe the beginnings of Del Planter’s first headship.

Television cameras had been at Marlwood School in south Gloucestershire for several months filming for the BBC documentary series School when Mr Planter arrived as deputy head, balancing the role with a similar position at Mangotsfield School, a fellow Castle School Education Trust (CSET) school.

Then, just weeks into the role, Mr Planter’s life changed dramatically. His predecessor departed following a critical Ofsted monitoring visit – a development captured by the documentary-makers and chronicled in the six-part series, broadcast in autumn 2018.

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