VERSA VOICE: Q&A with Anna Wright
October 2009

Versa Voice recently met with Anna Wright, Director of Education and Children's Services at Reading Borough Council, who was more than a little surprised when the Ofsted inspector came to call.

What have you got in your briefcase today?
A laptop and a typical day's reading matter: two different views of future Government policy depending on which party gets in, the papers for the meeting I'm attending tomorrow, the results of a survey we’ve just commissioned on staff morale and motivation, and two letters from MPs raising issues about constituents.

What's the most embarrassing (work!) mistake you've made?
Forgetting the name of a keynote speaker I was about to introduce at a major headteachers' conference...

What would you say to your 18-year old self if you met them today?
Pay less attention to what your parents want you to do and more on what you want. Go on and follow a career that will really bring out your creativity.

What’s the most important thing you've learned in this job?
Not to make any assumptions; make sure that you have the evidence about the quality of what people are doing rather than take what they say at face value.

How do you keep sane and focused?
I adore travelling. We've recently bought an apartment in Gozo in Malta, and I love going there. I also take exercise pretty seriously - I try to get at least three hours good work-out every week.

When was the last time you felt genuinely surprised at work?
While I was away this summer, the team had an unexpected Ofsted inspection. I knew nothing about it until I got back, but I was doubly pleased that they were confident enough not to tell me and also of course that the outcome was very positive.

Have you ever said 'I'll get back to you on that' and not meant it?
No, I'm usually very honest with making it clear to people if I'm not going to get back to them, though occasionally I've said it and then completely forgotten to follow up!

What would you do with an extra £25 million in your budget?
Three things, I think. I'd invest in early intervention services which can support families and help them to give their children the best possible start. I'd provide all of my schools with a worker with the aim of increasing the amount of peer to peer learning. And I'd give every child in Reading a wireless laptop with 3G connectivity.

In your view, will your sector notice a difference with a change of government?
I think we'd see a massive difference. There's clear blue water between the parties when it comes to what schools are meant to be focusing on. Under Labour there's been a move to seeing education and learning as having a role in influencing communities and the wider development of children. With the Conservatives, the emphasis would be on a more traditional curriculum, on knowledge. With Labour it's been about teaching skills and competencies that can be deployed more widely.

You wake up in a parallel universe where you never took this career and life path. What is your best hope for what you'd be doing instead?
Something creative in social marketing, using all the knowledge and understanding that's been gained about how to persuade people to buy things and applying it to issues. Getting people to do things differently to benefit their children.

What do you look for most from a partner company or service provider?
They have to be willing to invest time to properly understand our business. You find yourself drinking in a late-night bar with the Secretary of State. What would you say to him? I'd tell him to reduce the number of initiatives by 50%; that way he'll get a better purchase on real change.