We are greater than the sum of our parts!

We are greater than the sum of our parts!

It has been my absolute honour to connect with so many talented teachers via twitter and especially the PrimaryRocks community.  What started as a few teachers having a chat on a Monday night about superheroes and the like has metamorphosed into something of a grassroots movement for primary teaching.  PrimaryRocks is not alone in this, with lots of other hashtags bringing together like-minded teachers. 

Where PrimaryRocks differs is it gives ordinary teachers a voice.  Those of use at the metaphorical chalk face, the ones struggling to make sense of the new assessment regimes post the abandonment of levels, the ones bringing the new curriculum to life while maintaining standards.  It doesn’t matter if you are a Head, SLT teacher or even a trainee, your voice and opinions are as valid and treated with the same respect.  To not put too fine a point on it we have governors and teaching assistants who join us.  Anyone with an interest in Education is welcome.

Although we are a predominantly primary focussed group, the contributions of secondary, SEND, HE and FE educators provide a vital insight into the needs of our pupils now and in the future.

As the title of the blog suggests we ARE greater than the sim of our parts.  That is not to diminish from the staggering talents of the community.  Together we are able to make in impact and influence.

Don’t believe me?

Well last year at the conference we had Lucy Powell the former shadow Education secretary.  She came and spoke to the delegates.  This year we have Sean Harford, the Chief Ofsted inspector for schools and myth-buster general.  TES are beginning to run blogs and articles about some of the issues raised during the Monday night chats. 

During a recent visit to the BETT show, I sneakily replaced the free lanyard for my one from PrimaryRocks live last year.  So many of the people and companies I spoke with over the weekend spotted it.  I was staggered at how far this small grassroots idea had spread.
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As a community we have never sought to self-promote.  We like to speak through our Ethos and actions.  We just want to do a good job and help our children to learn. 

As our charter says, “We bleed Education!  This is our true passion.”  We are first and foremost, Educators.  The chat allows us to innovate and share exciting practice.    Through the chat and we are able to access high quality CPD much quicker and cheaper than established routes.

Are we out to subvert Education?  Absolutely not, but does it mean we are going to allow it to stand still because “we have always done it that way”? The answer simply is NO.

We don’t always agree as a community and healthy debate helps us to question our own practice and expectations.  One thing I have always loved about PrimaryRocks is the lack of a pack mentality.  Every point is valid even if it is different to your own.

We Learn obsessively and share relentlessly.  None of us are the finished package, even as heads and consultants.  There is always something new to learn.

This for me is why we are greater than the sum of our parts.  As individuals, we are good, but as a community, WE ROCK!

Tim Head @MrHeadComputing
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