We need to continue to be positive and optimistic and remember to...
"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said that it’d be easy, they just promised it would be worth it." Unknown
Sunday, 30 November 2014
Saturday, 29 November 2014
WHY ARE WE HERE... PASS IT ON!
It’s funny because I have been fortunate to "stand on the shoulders of giants" and at the sides of so many great leaders, teachers, educators, colleagues and friends…
Friday, 28 November 2014
WHY ARE WE HERE... PASS IT ON!
My parents brought me up to understand that whatever we did we should try to change the world for the better! But I struggled at school and everyone told me that I wasn’t that clever so, while my sister became a doctor and my brother a lawyer, I became a teacher.
Thursday, 27 November 2014
THE PIECE I READ AT THE ACADEMIES SHOW... PASS IT ON!
A lot of colleagues who attended my seminar, at The Academies Show yesterday at the NEC, asked about the piece I read. Here it is...
"All I really need to know about how to live and what
to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the
graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Friday, 21 November 2014
Thursday, 20 November 2014
QUICK FIXES DON'T WORK... PASS IT ON!
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 and interventionist approach is not based on in-depth understanding of the research evidence about what works or a detailed understanding of the context and culture of schools.
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
SET THE WORLD ON FIRE... PASS IT ON!
I am working in Sheffield to help young people learn the more complex and analytical skills they need for success in life and the world of work.
Tuesday, 18 November 2014
TEAMWORK MATTERS.. PASS IT ON!
We know what works, from the Sutton Trust and EEF toolkits, EPPI studies, John Hattie, Michael Fullan and Andy Hargreaves, and importantly we know what doesn’t work!
Monday, 17 November 2014
WHAT ALSO WORKS... PASS IT ON!
The Sutton Trust-EEF Teaching and Learning Toolkit is an accessible summary of educational research which provides guidance for teachers and schools on how to use their resources to improve the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.
The Toolkit currently covers 30 topics, each summarised in terms of their average impact on attainment, the strength of the evidence supporting them and their cost. These are the ones that also make a difference!
Sunday, 16 November 2014
HAPPY SUNDAY: CREATIVITY, INC.
I have just finished reading Creativity, Inc. It is a fascinating book; a book for anyone who wants to know how to lead their employees to release their extraordinary potential, a manual for anyone who strives for originality, ideas and innovation, a book that proves once again that you can achieve great things if you focus relentlessly on culture, leadership and people.
Friday, 14 November 2014
WHAT DOESN'T WORK... PASS IT ON!
The Sutton Trust-EEF Teaching and Learning Toolkit is an accessible summary of educational research which provides guidance for teachers and schools on how to use their resources to improve the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.
The Toolkit currently covers 30 topics, each summarised in terms of their average impact on attainment, the strength of the evidence supporting them and their cost. These are the ones that don't appear to make a difference!
The Toolkit currently covers 30 topics, each summarised in terms of their average impact on attainment, the strength of the evidence supporting them and their cost. These are the ones that don't appear to make a difference!
Thursday, 13 November 2014
WESTFIELD SCHOOL 'MADE IN SHEFFIELD' LAUNCH EVENT
I visited Westfield School in Sheffield again last night to attend the launch event for their 'Made in Sheffield' programme, which involves young people becoming ambassadors in five strands of the programme; engineering/advanced manufacturing, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, retail, sport, health and well-being and computer science.
Wednesday, 12 November 2014
WHAT WORKS... PASS IT ON!
The Sutton Trust-EEF Teaching and Learning Toolkit is an accessible summary of educational research which provides guidance for teachers and schools on how to use their resources to improve the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.
The Toolkit currently covers 30 topics, each summarised in terms of their average impact on attainment, the strength of the evidence supporting them and their cost. These are the ones that appear to make the biggest difference!
Tuesday, 11 November 2014
VISIBLE LEARNING... PASS IT ON!
The great thing about research is that it tells us what works and importantly what doesn't work!
The Sutton Trust - EEF Teaching and Learning Toolkit reinforces John Hattie's work.
The Sutton Trust - EEF Teaching and Learning Toolkit reinforces John Hattie's work.
Monday, 10 November 2014
A TOOLKIT OF STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE LEARNING... PASS IT ON!
I was re-reading the Sutton Trust's publication; ‘Toolkit of Strategies to Improve Learning’ which summarises research evidence on improving learning and attainment to help schools to make more informed choices about how to support their students.
Sunday, 9 November 2014
FEEDBACK MATTERS... PASS IT ON!
If we are serious about success for all, we need to further develop the systems and practices for reviewing and developing the work that goes on in our schools. We need to recognise and reward good teaching and great learning, and support the development of every teacher and the whole school workforce.
Saturday, 8 November 2014
WHERE DO THE WEEKS GO?
It has been another hectic week working on strategies and data, analysis and intelligence and case studies. Another week where people focus on the wrong things... like uniform, structures and management as the keys to success.