Releasing the Magic!

Another week has flown by and my travels around the North of England have been brought alive by so many extraordinary people in so many different settings releasing an extraordinary magic. I was talking to Mick Waters again on Sheffield Station and it is not a surprise that it's people who make the difference but depressing how little understanding there is at the DfE that you don't change anything by simply changing structures. Those people who believe that Academies, Free Schools or Teaching Schools are going to sort out the fundamental issues facing us in terms of underperformance are failing the thousands of young people who need us most! We need 'beautiful systems' but more importantly we need a cultural change that trusts, empowers and releases the extraordinary potential dormant in so many places. We need a new curriculum that develops life skills, basic skills and employability skills. We need to build character alongside academic and vocational excellence. And, from the earliest opportunity we must develop passion, persistence, determination, self-discipline, self-control, emotional intelligence, gratitude, optimism, curiosity and enterprise as we educate our children and young people. I am working on a new curriculum model and would welcome feedback from those who are searching for the way to release potential and magic in every school, every colleague and every young person... whatever it takes! Chris