Members Resources

Critical Response 

by Dr. Justin Matthews, Armidale Catholic Schools

Dr. Lyn Sharratt's incisive analysis of McKinsey & Company's Executive Summary, alongside her comprehensive 14 Parameter Notes (published in February 2024) highlights a troubling trend in the realm of educational reform: the pervasive failure of school improvement endeavours. Rather than merely attributing these shortcomings to logistical challenges, Sharratt provocatively identifies participant resistance as a central factor thwarting success. This revelation not only sheds light on the imbalance between failures and successes but also raises crucial questions about the sustainability of improvement efforts. By leveraging Sharratt's 14 Parameters (Sharratt & Fullan, 2012), a tantalising prospect emerges: not only the potential to ignite change but also to nurture its enduring vitality, akin to the transformative process elucidated in the concept of "spark and sustain”.

There are school systems, much like the Armidale Catholic Schools (ACS), that have been able to navigate these challenges more…

By Dr. Lyn Sharratt

Most of us came into education as practitioners – to teach, to learn, to change the life trajectory of our students, including those struggling the most. Along the way, many were introduced to Learning Organizations (LOs) and learned to lead within them. But do we really understand the LO research underlying “what matters most in learning, teaching and leading,” so that we can put into practice the goals of all students learning and all teachers teaching optimally in our schools? That is, an inclusive education policy designed to embrace equitable learning opportunities for all being firmly embedded in all K-12 classrooms.

Learning Organizations (LO) socially construct knowledge and understanding, enhancing the capacities of individuals and groups to solve problems and achieve the organization's purposes. LO research offers insights that can lead to individual and collective solutions for systems and schools (Sharratt,1996).

This article examines how one…