I was delighted to attend the Compassionate Leadership event in Birmingham on Friday, with a group of like-minded, highly-committed and compassionate leaders. The purpose of the event was to look at how leaders can excel in education, but also what leaders can learn from each other across different sectors, not only in the field of education. 

In an increasingly insecure and troubled world, a kinder and more humane education system is a moral imperative and is worth striving for. The day was superbly planned and facilitated by the wonderful Maggie Farrar and Steve Elliott and was kick started by the brilliant Professor Michael West, whose work in the Health and Social care sector demonstrates the hugely significant impact compassionate leadership can have on patients.

In a world where we can be anything, we can choose to be kind, and show compassion to ourselves and to others. Compassionate leadership isn't about being 'soft and fluffy', it is about leading with honesty and integrity, and not shying away from those difficult conversations that need to take place. Compassionate leadership really is about doing the hard things, in a human way.

As Barack Obama once said, "Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?". Our young people get one start in life, and their education has the potential to make their future a great one. Providing a first-class education requires the very best staff and that's what our children deserve, the best. Our colleagues also deserve great working environments and to be part of fantastic, high-performing teams. Our role, as leaders, is to ensure that happens, and that we build compassionate cultures in our schools and the communities we serve.