Never mind the logo on the school gates – it’s confidence in the classroom that counts
We are in the midst of a seismic shift in education in England, with policies like forced academisation, and subsequent political climb downs, seizing the headlines. All the while, these debates are distracting us from what will truly improve our schools. Published today, The Confident Teacher shifts the focus back to what really matters: developing teachers’ confidence and skill in the classroom.
“Ultimately, it’s about helping the teacher in the classroom, not changing the logo on the school gates,” says the book’s author, Alex Quigley. “A shiny new badge will not attract more teachers to our great profession. School structures won't help teachers improve if they don't have the time, tools and confidence to become better teachers. We must demand a better deal for teachers and recognise our own power to make positive changes in our classrooms and schools.”
“We must focus on the positive powers teachers possess to undertake self-improvement and become more confident, regardless of the political debates that stir outside of the classroom.”
“One truth I have realised in my time as a school leader is that the most important decisions that influence school improvement are near invisible. They are undertaken by teachers, and students, every day within our classrooms. This book is about helping teachers to make those decisions that little bit more successfully.”
“The Confident Teacher is a must for anyone interested in improving their impact in the classroom,” says Dame Alison Peacock, Executive Headteacher of The Wroxham School.
“You can almost smell this book's authenticity,” says Sir Tim Brighouse, Former Commissioner for London Schools. “It speaks so directly to teachers in the classroom and with such a genuine empathy which arises from being there himself on a daily basis.”
Even the best teachers are beset by doubts, assailed by excessive workload and struggle to juggle the job with their busy lives. Through better organisation, using body language effectively, combatting stress and developing confident students, teachers can develop the habits, characteristics and pedagogy that will enable them to do the best job possible, whatever policy makers throw at them.
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About the author:
Alex Quigley (@HuntingEnglish) is an English teacher and Director of Learning and Research at Huntington School, York.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
When referencing the book, please include: The Confident Teacher by Alex Quigley, published by Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group).
Learn more about The Confident Teacher at: https://www.routledge.com/products/9781138832343
978-1-138-832-343 | £14.99 in paperback | May 2016
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For more information, to request review copies, or to arrange an interview, please contact:
(UK/ Europe/ ROW) Isabel Roth, Marketing Manager, Routledge Education
Tel: +44 (0) 203 377 3194| Email: isabel.roth@tandf.co.uk
(North and South America) Eleanor Reading, Marketing Manager, Routledge Education
Tel: +1 (917) 351-7161 | Email: eleanor.reading@taylorandfrancis.com
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