"Life has two rules: 

Rule Number One: never quit!

Rule Number Two: always remember rule number one!"

Duke Ellington

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

So many people have told me over the years that we can't have EVERY SCHOOL A GREAT SCHOOL. Personally, after my experiences over the years and recently in Sheffield, Nottingham and Lincoln, I simply don't believe the siren voices that say it can't be done.

HAPPY LAST SUNDAY OF 2012!

and whatever you do...

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS... WHATEVER IT TAKES!

Just in case you were wondering, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow isn't going to help us out! No-one will be offering increased public expenditure over the next decade and the era of plenty that we experienced is over. But that doesn't mean we can't transform outcomes and release the magic!

BRILLIANT, EXCEPTIONAL AND DIFFERENT!

Another term, another Christmas and another brilliant year!

BE PASSIONATE!

Another year spent with great leaders and great colleagues in some amazing schools reminds you about the importance of leadership. Great leaders are great learners… by constantly questioning and asking why. Great leaders are great performers… by being confident and energetic. Great leaders are great storytellers… by bringing strategies and policies alive. Great leaders accept responsibility… for decisions and outcomes and focus on what really matters. And above all, great leaders are passionate.
Be passionate!
Chris

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO SHARE THIS CHRISTMAS!

A friend sent me this and I wanted to share it with you at Christmas because it reminds us all that we should 'never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion'.

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!

Another Christmas and for me 2012 has been another great year with more successes, more surprises, more brilliant stories, more shared adventures and, unlike a Puccini opera, no really sad ending!

WHO AM I TO BE BRILLIANT, GORGEOUS, HANDSOME, TALENTED AND FABULOUS?

THIS CHRISTMAS, REMEMBER...
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,

gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

STRESS MATTERS!

“I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.”

Albert Einstein

THIS CHRISTMAS, EAT CHOCOLATE!

Chocolate is made from the seeds of the tropical cacao tree. The Greek term means literally "food of the gods". Cacao beans were used by the Aztecs to prepare a hot, frothy drink with stimulant and restorative properties. Chocolate itself was reserved for warriors, nobility and priests because the Aztecs valued its ability to confer wisdom and vitality.

GREAT SCHOOLS FOR EVERYONE!

I have been arguing for ever that we must create great schools at the heart of every community so that everyone can have what people have told me is simply a dream; great outcomes for every child and young person...

... but, I really believe that it is possible to create GREAT SCHOOLS FOR EVERYONE!

NOT SOME SCHOOLS, EVERY SCHOOL A GREAT SCHOOL!

The challenge we face is to ensure that every school in every community strives and struggles to become a great school; not just the Free Schools, not just the Academies, but every school must become a great school delivering brilliant outcomes, learning from what works, wherever it is, and being uncompromising in the relentless pursuit of excellence! 

PASSIONATE LEADERSHIP!

We need to develop passionate learning leadership throughout the system starting from the premise that everyone is a learner, including students, teachers, headteachers, the school as a community, the wider educational system and the community the school serves.

PASSION MATTERS!

Education is a passionate enterprise built on the interaction between human beings: teachers, students and parents.

HOW TO LIVE LONG AND PROSPER: BE PERSISTENT, DETERMINED AND WORK HARD!

As another Christmas comes, and another year has flown by, it's important to remember that research suggests that we can change and become happier and healthier just by taking small steps which can change our lives for the better. So remember, in your New Year resolutions, that we need to be persistent, disciplined and work hard for as long as we possibly can. We need to stay connected with friends and colleagues. And we need to volunteer and give to others whenever and whatever we can.

CENTRE FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION AT SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY!

I visited Sheffield again yesterday to meet Denise Eaton, Project Manager at the Centre for Science Education. The Centre supports an incredible range of activities including primary and secondary professional development programmes and we were discussing how Denise and her colleagues can support the Cutlers' "Made in Sheffield" Ambassadors Programme.

BRILLIANT ICE SCULPTURES!

Amazing display of ice sculptures in the City of York today!

HAPPY SUNDAY!

To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower.

Hold infinity in the palms of your hand and eternity in an hour. 

William Blake

WHAT WORKS AND IMPORTANTLY WHAT DOESN'T!

This is important stuff since we spend so much time doing things that have little impact on learning and student outcomes. We need to be constantly reviewing what we do and asking ourselves questions about what works!

THERE ARE NO SUPER-HEROES!

In a world where OFSTED strikes fear into the hearts of headteachers and teachers it is important to remember that the current short-term, quick fix interventionist approach led by super-heroes might have it's appeal but it doesn't work.

The Children's University

I have just got back from the fifth national Children's University's annual conference at Shrigley Hall Hotel in Cheshire.

The Children's University!

I am going to the national Children's University's fifth annual conference at Shrigley Hall Hotel in Cheshire.

REMEMBER!

"Man is not the creature of circumstances.

Circumstances are the creatures of men."

Benjamin Disraeli

HAPPY SUNDAY!

"That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest."

Henry David Thoreau

TEACHING MATTERS BUT LEARNING COUNTS!

Interestingly, John Hattie's research suggests that only 30% of what makes a difference is in the hands of teachers.

ALWAYS REMEMBER, IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES!

"My creed is that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people with full recognition that every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration, that constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought, that smears are not only to be expected but fought, that honour is to be earned, not bought."

Margaret Chase Smith

THE ANSWER IS "DOLLOPS OF FEEDBACK"!

It's sad that so few colleagues, leaders, managers and politicians simply don't get it.

AESSEAL

I spent the afternoon at AESSEAL where colleagues from B&E South Yorkshire were delivering the latest element of the Cutlers' "Made in Sheffield" Ambassadors programme.

Risk... 

..more than others think is safe. 

Care... 

..more than others think is wise. 

Dream... 

..more than others think is practical. 

Expect.. 

..more than others think is possible. 

Cadet Maxim

Leeds Schools Music Association's Christmas Festival Concert

I finished the day yesterday at the Town Hall for the Leeds Schools Music Association's Christmas Festival Concert 2012.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

"In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves

beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists." 

Eric Hoffer 

I constantly ask myself what is it that makes a school. a council or any organisation a brilliant learning place and what can we learn from what talented colleagues are doing in schools, councils and organisations across the country and across the world.

BRILLIANT COLLEAGUES!

I was in Leeds this lunchtime to meet up with some wonderful old friends and brilliant colleagues. It's strange after two years that I still miss these incredible people, with whom I spent an amazing ten years of my life. They reminded me what we achieved together; the importance of distributed leadership, trust, respect and empowering people to get on and do whatever it takes.

ONE MAGIC DAY!

I have had many magic days in my life... days when everything goes brilliantly and I have also spent the last twenty years wrestling with how we create great schools for every child, every young person and every community. Personally, I passionately believe that the answers lie in understanding what works and developing cooperative, collaborative, creative learning teams built on learning leadership, beautiful systems, deep research, intelligent accountability and the importance of discipline and character.

WE LEARN WHAT WE LIVE!

I was reading that wonderful piece 'A Child Learns What They Live' by Dorothy Law Nolte and the OFSTED Annual Report last night. I think OFSTED should reflect on those words of wisdom and recognise that they apply equally to little learners, big learners, children, parents and carers and should help us think through what we mean by brilliant learning places. This is my revised version for everyone feeling criticised, unloved and uncared for...

We Learn What We Live

(With apologies to Dorothy Law Nolte)

INDUCTION DAY!

Yesterday, I attended the Induction Day at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield for the Cutlers' Ambassadors who are working with the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.