Andy Kemp

The Art of Creative Thinking – Rod Judkins

By Andy | January 6, 2020 | 0 Comment

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of Rod Judkins’ insightful book ‘The Art of Creative Thinking’. It’s a collection of over 80 short chapters each looking at different aspects or examples of creativity and creative thinking. Each chapter consists of only 3-4 pages, or around 3-5mins in the audiobook, each offering an idea […]

Less, More and None (2020)

By Andy | January 3, 2020 | 2 Comment

I first came across the idea of structuring New Year’s Resolutions, or targets as I prefer to think of them, in the following form on Jamie Michie’s blog last year. The idea is to provide some balance to the typically extreme, and unachievable, resolutions; and ensure a balance of positive changes as well as the […]

The Importance of Belonging

By Andy | January 2, 2020 | 1 Comment

The idea that schools run essentially on the good will of staff who are willing to go above and beyond their contractural obligations is a concept well established. The real question is why are some so willing to give their time and energy so freely? I recently read an article from the Harvard Business Review […]

Student Leadership

By Andy | December 2, 2018 | 0 Comment

I believe it’s essential that as schools we think carefully and plan our process for developing the leadership potential in our young people. The ability to lead, and be led, is such a key skill that it can’t be left to chance! I wrote about this, and a conference on student leadership which I put […]

The Importance of Music in School…

By Andy | September 9, 2018 | 0 Comment

School’s offer a broad range of opportunities and activities to engage and enrich the experience of their students. Each has there place and provide important development opportunities. That’s not to say you can’t develop these skills through different activities (I actually think there’s a huge amount of similarity between the educational value of music as […]

Student Leadership – Project Leadership

By Andy | June 3, 2018 | 2 Comment

This article follows on from a series I wrote earlier in the year exploring whether student leadership in schools should be a right or a privilege: Student Leadership – A Right or a Privilege? – Part 1 Student Leadership – A Right or a Privilege? – Part 2 Student Leadership – A Right or a […]

The Head as a Conductor

By Andy | February 4, 2018 | 0 Comment

Having spent six years at Wells Cathedral School (one of the five UK Specialist Music Schools), the last two as Head of the Senior School, I’ve learned a lot about music and even more about leadership. Having watched easily 200+ concerts in the last few years I’ve come to understand the importance of the role […]

Servant Leadership

By Andy | January 22, 2018 | 0 Comment

A question you get asked a lot in interviews for leadership roles is to describe your leadership style or approach. I’ve spent a lot of time in my last 10 years or middle and senior leadership reflecting on this question. It even formed a significant part of my MBA studies where my dissertation focused on […]

Student Leadership – A Right or a Privilege? – Part 3

By Andy | January 14, 2018 | 2 Comment

This is part three of a three part series of articles on student leadership – If you haven’t already read Parts 1 and 2, you can do so by following these links: Student Leadership – A Right or a Privilege? – Part 1 Student Leadership – A Right or a Privilege? – Part 2 In […]

Student Leadership – A Right or a Privilege? – Part 2

By Andy | | 1 Comment

This is part two of a three part series of articles on student leadership – If you haven’t already read Part 1, you can do so by following this link: Student Leadership – A Right or a Privilege? – Part 1 In the first part of this series of articles looking at Student Leadership, I […]