We are delighted to announce James Garside and Laura Bellerby as Co-Principals of Ealing Independent College.
In the UK, the standard model of leadership is still very old-fashioned, with a common belief being that effective leadership requires one person “at the top”, with that one person having the final say on every decision made.
However, as our students and parents know, Ealing Independent College is far from a “standard” college. As a progressive institution, we believe in doing things in a very different way. One of the most significant differences is that we have two Principals, who work together as equals to run the College.
Having Co-Principals offers the following advantages:
- All human beings have strengths and weaknesses. Our Co-Principals bring a diverse range of attributes and experience to every decision which is made
- Important decisions are made by both Co-Principals, and changes go forward when consensus is reached. This means that every decision is carefully thought through, with a proposal by one being thoroughly tested by the other before it is launched
- Proponents of the old-fashioned view may argue that decision making may be slowed down by having two Principals. However, this is not the case. Having the input of two people into decision-making means that the decisions are more carefully thought through, leading to full confidence when the decision is made. This is in contrast to the procrastination which can occur when one person is wrangling with a difficult dilemma
- There is increased responsiveness to students, parents and staff. If one Co-Principal is attending training offsite, teaching or in a meeting, the other Co-Principal is there to respond
- Increased approachability. It is human nature to naturally gravitate towards some people more than others. Having two Principals means that parents, staff and students who have a concern have a choice of two people to approach.
During the school day, educators spend a lot of time encouraging their students to work co-operatively, to support others and share their skills to lift the whole community rather than purely focusing on achieving their own success. With this being such an important goal, it does feel like a shame that schools have been slow to embrace a more co-operative style of leadership; one where egos are less important than outcomes. Both of us are very much looking forward to making EIC even more supportive and effective for our students, and working jointly will be a vital part of achieving this. And, if the students can see the benefits of two people standing together as equals rather than jostling for position, then that can only be a good thing.