Every school believes it is a good school.
That belief is useful. It builds pride and helps recruitment. It becomes dangerous the moment it stops being tested.
It shows up quietly. Parent surveys that only ask flattering questions. Data that is shared when it looks good and filed away when it does not. New staff who raise a concern and are told, “That’s just how we do things here.”
Growth needs friction. A school that has stopped listening to its critics has also stopped improving, even if the results hold steady for a while.
The best leaders I have worked with went looking for bad news. They asked the newest teacher what looked strange. They asked students what bored them.
What has your school stopped questioning?
Leave a Reply