Perspectives
Catherine Andrews,
47, Chief Executive,
Learning Through Landscapes
When I started work I wish they’d told me that you can have fun, in fact you must have fun.
Don’t just look for satisfaction, look for opportunities to be yourself. Bring your whole self to the job, especially the bits that like to have fun.
I’d describe Learning Through Landscapes as: purposeful, creative, resourceful, unique, inspiring, practical and enthusiastic
I’m trying to make us more businesslike to ensure a viable and sustainable future
I want us to be taken seriously by the education mainstream. Learning in the grounds can make a big difference to children, particularly those that don’t succeed in the confines of the classroom.
Working in a hierarchy affects the way people behave. It’s easy to lose access to people’s rationale minds when they’re in unequal power relationships.
Right now I’m preoccupied by sustaining staff morale and confidence in a period of massive change, particularly as the finances are tight.
I took the agency on at a nadir in its fortunes. Over the last year I’ve been focussed on achieving a balanced budget.
My lowpoint so far has been having to lose staff, a very painful process for a close knit and committed team.
Today was quite good. We had a biggish contract confirmed. I gave a presentation to a cross departmental team at the DfES that was very enthusiastically received. I met with a high potential candidate for senior vacancy. I also met a key contact at a reception who can help us develop a new and exciting proposal. What more can you ask?
There are plenty of people whose negative example have influenced me. The most positive influence was the Chairman of my previous organisation who was challenging, insightful, independently thoughtful and left me to get on with things.
In ten years’ time, schools and early years settings will naturally use their outside spaces to deliver learning, and will recognise the value of investing in their whole sites for the formal and informal development of their children
To anyone starting work now I’d say cup half full, start with what you’ve got, count your blessings, its never as bad as you think.