A footballer-turned-deputy headteacher who played forSir Alex Ferguson has told how the legendary manager influenced his career in school leadership.
Lee Gardner was a football player during Sir Alex’s trophy-laden time at Aberdeen in the 1980s. After his football days, he turned to teaching and is nowdeputyheadteacher at North Ayrshire’s Garnock Academy. He sayshis former manageris “probably the biggest influence” on his career.
The clarity of purpose shown by Sir Alex has stayed with Mr Gardner, who went on to play for many other clubs. Whiletraining might normally involve endless running or players battering shots indiscriminately at a goalkeeper, Sir Alex would put players into twos or threes, so that they could work on highly specific parts of their game.
“The expectations that Sir Alex set were incredible, and you strived to meet them”, he says.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s lessons for teachers and school leaders, according to his former player Lee Gardner:
- Set very clear goals, uncluttered by jargon
- Admit it when you get things wrong
- Do not set the same work for every student; tailor learning to personal strengths and needs.
- Know who needs encouragement and who requires sterner treatment.
- Allow no idle moments.
- Keep parents involved.
This is an edited version of an article from the 18 December edition of TES and the TESS.To download the digital edition, Android users canand iOS users can.Or pick it up inall good newsagents.
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