Rick Edwards

Today was a sad day at @totteridgeacad as we said goodbye to our Principal, Chris Fairbairn. Chris has been a presence in my life since I joined seven years ago, and it's difficult to overstate what an inspiration he has been to me personally and professionally. Chris is the antidote to a lot of the things that worry me about education. Where others talk a good game and have no track record to back it up, Chris has close to no online or public presence. He doesn't do keynotes, panels, blogs, podcasts, interviews or anything. You've probably never heard of him, but you should have. Why: Ten years ago, Chris and his team took over The Totteridge Academy. At the time, it had the worst outcomes in the borough. It was half empty because nobody wanted to be there. Its sixth form had closed. The building was crumbling and uninspiring. It was about as close to rock-bottom as a school can get. Now, ten years on, it's completely transformed. The school is full and there are hundreds of children on the waiting list. Behaviour is excellent. Results place us in the top 20 in the country. The sixth form has reopened, and staff are happy. Ofsted awarded us - a turnaround! - five exceptionals and two strong standards. We host hundreds of visitors a year who come to learn from the school. It is a joyous place to work. There are many things I could say about Chris's leadership, but to pick just one: a few years ago as our roll increased, the % of students on free school meals decreased accordingly. Chris didn't want that, and wrote new admissions policies that prioritise the most disadvantaged students. This move, almost guaranteed to reduce headline metrics, showed that it's possible to do turnarounds inclusively and with a deep sense of humanity and justice. I visit a LOT of schools. I'm lucky in that. I see a lot of places and talk to a lot of people, and I can say with confidence: Chris and his team have built the best school in the country. It's been an honour and a privilege to work for him.