Croydon headteacher goes back to school - for six years

By Aline Nassif

aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk

It isn't often that a headteacher goes back to school themselves - but that's exactly what Judy Harris has done for the past six years.

She has combined running Croydon's Old Palace School with completing a doctorate in education at Sussex University.

Having completed her studies this summer she is now known to many of her pupils as "Doctor J".

Studying was "pure joy" but Dr Harris admits the new title is hard to get used to.

"All my letters are signed off with doctor now, but the title doesn't feel like mine just yet," she said.

"For a lot of people, writing a 45,000-word thesis may seem like a chore, but it's been an amazing journey to have gone down.

"I've loved it and now I'm trying to decide on what to do next."

Dr Harris has used her doctorate as a vehicle for keeping up to date with the latest trends and ideas in education.

"We should all be reading about our profession and initiatives," she said.

"If we can't reflect on what the school is doing for the students, then we won't be doing the best we possibly can for them."

Old Palace, an independent girls' school, this year saw an 88 per cent A to C A Level pass rate and 98 per cent of all GCSE students gaining five of more A* to C passes including English and maths.

But Dr Harris says there is no time for complacency and is constantly looking for ways to improve.

Her doctorate, which analysed another all-girls' independent school with a view to improving its leadership structure, has helped her "formulate ideas" for her present job.

She said: "My research has changed my outlook, without a doubt, and it made a real difference to the school I was researching.

"Members of staff recognised their contribution to the development of a school (after her work there).

"They started feeling like an integral part of the outcome which gave them a sense of pride.

"This is absolutely fundamental to the successful running of a school."

Elaborating on the conclusions of her thesis, she added: "Traditionally, people look for leadership coming from the head.

"(But) my idea of good leadership is that the school is sustainable, so when the head is away the school doesn't fall apart.

"Teachers, students and even parents have to recognise their contribution to their school and they must be encouraged to act out their ideas."

Illustrating this approach, Dr Harris explained how her students are encouraged to take up "positions of responsibility", like presenting to the whole school (in assemblies) and thinking up charitable schemes.

While Dr Harris' doctorate may have reached its conclusion, her passion for soaking up information about the latest education initiatives has not.

She explained: "The moment a school doesn't continue to move forward, it is technically going backwards."