STANDING ON STRONG GROUND

Over the holidays, I read Brené Brown’s new book, Strong Ground, a powerful exploration of what it means to lead, live, and belong in times of change. One of the ideas that struck me most was borrowed from another author, James March, who described great leadership as a balance between plumbing and poetry.

The plumbing is the everyday work that keeps things running: the systems, routines, and careful decisions that make a school function. The poetry is the heart and meaning behind it: the story of who we are, why we do what we do, and the values that connect us.

At St Thomas More’s, I think our strength comes from holding both. The plumbing is solid: the routines are strong, the teaching is consistent, and the care for every child is deliberate. But there’s also poetry in our halls: in the way our students greet each other, the joy in classrooms, and the shared sense that this is a community that truly sees its people.

That balance shows up in our data too. This year, 91 % of our Year 5 students achieved in the strong bands for Reading, a result nearly twenty points above the national average. That’s plumbing - a reflection of great teaching, planning, and structure. But the poetry is what sits beneath it: students who love to learn, who feel encouraged, and who know their teachers care deeply for them.

It’s also seen in wellbeing. In our recent National Youth Resilience Survey, 90 % of students said they feel safe at school, compared with 86 % nationally. And in our School Effectiveness Parent Survey, families rated teacher morale at 85, one of the highest results in the country. That kind of feedback isn’t just a number, it’s a reflection of a staff that is energised, hopeful, and committed to each other and to your children.

In our School Effectiveness Survey, parents rated STM at 82 for School Improvement Focus; among the highest in the country. It’s an incredible affirmation that our community believes in the direction we’re heading and the values guiding our decisions.

Brené Brown also talks about what she calls symphonic thinking; the idea that great organisations sound like orchestras, not solo performances. Each person has a part to play: different instruments, different rhythms, one shared song.

That’s how I see St Thomas More’s. Every teacher, every student, every parent; all contributing their sound to a single melody: Fostering Greatness. A melody that reminds every child, “I matter.”

Mr Casimir Douglas

Monday 20th October, 2025