We are what we eat!

I am shocked at how fat the population is getting and wonder if exercise can be the answer since so many people at my gym are simply overweight or obese. I think that the problem is that people simply don't understand what they are eating and that we are what we eat. 

Victoria Primary School!

I visited Victoria Primary School in Leeds this morning to see Ali Carrick, the wonderful headteacher, who has been transforming the place and is doing a brilliant job. Over Easter the school entrance is being given a red makeover which will inject even more passion and WOW into the place!

What are the ingredients of resilience?

All children have abilities and strengths that can help them cope with everyday life. We can develop a young person's resilience by paying attention to those strengths and building on them.

'Entrepreneurship Education at School in Europe'

The European Commission recently published 'Entrepreneurship Education at School in Europe: National Strategies, Curricula and Learning Outcomes'.

SCRABTAGZ!

I met four amazing young people this morning when I visited Stocksbridge High School. The 'SCRABTAGZ' team from Year 9 were on a real high having won the Sheffield 'Big Challenge' last night. The prize being an all expenses paid trip to Dubai!

Cutlers 'Made in Sheffield' Initiative!

I had a great day today at Firth Park Community Arts College in Sheffield with the four schools who are working together on the Cutlers 'Made in Sheffield' Initiative!

Firth Park Community Arts College!

I spent most of the day at Firth Park Community Arts College in Sheffield.

More 21st Century Skills

High-performing countries like China, Finland, South Korea, and Singapore realise the global economic landscape has changed, and in response, they are re-imagining their education systems by focusing on developing 21st-century skills. We need to persuade the powers that be here that the future is only going to be secured if we develop a 21st Century Learning Framework to drive our learning landscape. A framework built on 21st Century Skills as well as subjects.

21st Century Learning Framework

We need to persuade the powers that be that the future is only going to be secured if we develop a 21st Century Learning Framework to drive our learning landscape. A framework built on 21st Century Skills as well as subjects.

Learning for Life!

I attended the Sheffield 'Learning for Life' group this afternoon at Peaks College, which is part of The Sheffield College.

Sheffield's Online College!

I spent the day in Sheffield meeting colleagues to further share and develop the Cutlers 'Made in Sheffield' Project! I had a great meeting with Julie Hooper who manages the on-line college at Sheffield City College.

Thanks for calling in!

It’s amazing that the blog has reached colleagues in the United States, Russia, Germany, France, New Zealand, India, China, Canada, Ireland, Singapore and Australia as well as colleagues all over the UK this week.

Bradfield School

I spent the morning today at Bradfield School in North Sheffield.

Play, Passion and Purpose!

Tony Wagner says that there are five practices that develop young people's capacities to innovate:

"Body and spirit I surrendered whole

to harsh instructors - and received a soul."

Rudyard Kipling

Faith, family and friends!

We should all remember that when it comes down to what really matters... it's faith, family and friends that make life worth living!

SAD NEWS: Andy Pickles!

I heard the tragic news about Andy Pickles. Andy died suddenly and unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, 4th March. He will be sorely missed!

"The competitive advantage for someone going out into the world

is what they can do with what they know."

Tony Wagner 

Bridgewater Hall!

Attended a wonderful concert at the Bridgewater Hall last night.

The Characteristics of Great Leadership!

I have been searching for the things that make great leaders special and everywhere I look I find these seven characteristics. Before you look write down your seven!

Brownhill Primary School!

I visited Brownhill Primary School in Leeds this morning to see Georgina Winterburn, the headteacher, who is obviously doing a brilliant job! 

The thing that has hit me on returning from Dubai is that everyone is in such a hurry.

Get the focus right and magic happens!

If we are really serious about building world class learning in this country we need to refocus, re-imagine and re-engineer. We need to shift the focus away from knowledge to concepts, from subjects to disciplines, from content to skills, from teaching to learning!

Yewlands Technology College!

I spent the day at Yewlands Technology College in Sheffield.

Work-wise!

I was over at Business Education South Yorkshire today talking to Jackie Freeborn and John Barber about how we can work together to support and develop the Cutlers 'Made in Sheffield' Project.

"We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. 

But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates

not only its own opportunities but its own talents."

Eric Hoffer

Northern Ballet's Madame Butterfly

I went to see Northern Ballet's Madame Butterfly at the Leeds Grand Theatre last night. 

International Leadership Conference

Just back home after an extraordinary week in Dubai at an International Leadership Conference. The theme of the conference was 'Educational Sustainability: To build capable generations to lead the future'. The conference was held at the Al Murooj Retana Hotel.

I am in Dubai speaking at a conference on leadership...

"Adversity is the school of heroism,

endurance the majesty of man, 

and hope the torch of high aspirations."

Albery Allson Whitman

Andrew Motion's 'WHAT IF'?

Andrew Motion poem 'What If?' is splashed across the side of Sheffield Hallam University's Owen Building on Howard Street.

I read it every time I visit Sheffield and perhaps we should all ask ourselves that question. What if?
Chris

People Matter!

Researchers say there are four steps companies can take to help employees thrive!

Leadership!

Working with colleagues like Dirk Gilleard I learned that leadership is both an art and a science.