Page 30 - Sponsor Booklet

Learning Square Meetings

There will be at least five regular Learning Square Meetings. These are

held about every two months. They should last for about three hours
and, if possible, take place in different principal’s schools on a
rotational basis. It is the Sponsors responsibility to schedule and

organise the Learning Square Meetings.

During the first five blue skies programmes we found a tremendous
difference in the effectiveness of Learning Squares depending on a
number of factors. Below are some of our findings.

Effective Learning Square Meetings Ineffective Learning Square Meetings

 Had a definite purpose and structure.  Had no purpose or structure, were just
‘talk-fasts’.
 BPs arrived on time and were willing  BPs did not approach the meetings
to travel for meetings. They did not seriously, arrived late or made excuses
make excuses about why they could for why they could not attend.
not attend, they made it a
priority.
 All Learning Square members  One BP dominated discussion and was
contributed equally, but made insensitive to others’ problems.
allowances if a colleague faced a par-
ticular problem.
 BPs approached Learning Square  BPs approached the meetings as
Meetings enthusiastically and something they ‘had to do’.
consciously took new learning ‘away’
with them.
 BPs took the time to prepare for the  BPS did not prepare for the Learning
Learning Square Meetings. Square
Meetings.
 BPs looked forward to the meetings  BPs just went ‘through the motions’.
and what they could learn.
 BPs trusted the Sponsor and their  BPs did not feel particular close to their
colleagues, felt safe to talk openly and Sponsors or colleagues and were
believed their colleagues cared about reluctant to open up.
their problems and development.
 BPs made good things happen.  BPs simply let things happen.

30