Crisis management for school leaders

Given that we currently have a crisis on our hands in the shape of the coronavirus emergency, now seems like a good idea to discuss the handling of difficult situations.

Coronavirus is a bolt from the blue, something that no school risk assessment plan could have foreseen. This is one kind of crisis management situation – something unpredictable that emerges from a clear sky. The second kind is those potential pitfalls that we can prepare for and mitigate against.

So, what follows here is general advice, not all of which will be directly relevant to the current situation with coronavirus.

It is easy to become caught up in an emerging crisis and act before gaining a full understanding of what has happened. Indeed, the pressure will often be very great to do so because rumours may be circulating on social media, or journalists may be emailing to ask for a reaction (on a tight deadline).