My Week - Who would want my job? Well, I do

As my "national role" as past president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services draws to a close, I am plagued with comments about how hard it will be to focus exclusively again on the role of director, as if that brief is so narrow. On the other hand, the naysayers are suggesting recent events mean the children's services experiment has failed and the changes should be unravelled. So here's an actual single day for you as a genuine glimpse into the life of a director of children's services.

Most of the morning is spent at an induction session with a dozen of our new primary head teachers. I talk to them about the department's journey so far and about how much more is expected now of their roles as leaders across the system. We debate how we can manage those expectations and also how the measure of a successful school is increasingly about the child's general wellbeing as well as their academic attainment. They are thoughtful, enthusiastic and challenging - succession planning for Hampshire feels secure in their hands.