THIS ELECTION... SCHOOLS MATTER!

Another Easter, another election and sadly we are still focusing attention on additional accountability, school choice and competition, short-term outcomes, and data-driven decision-making despite the evidence that any high performing countries and systems are re-examining their structures and policies to move towards learning leadership, beautiful systems and intelligent accountability.

SKILLS MATTER: FUTURE WORK SKILLS 2020!

Everyone seems to be waking up to the fact that young people need skills to thrive and succeed at school, in the workplace and simply as adults in a complex and changing world. That we need to place emphasis on developing critical thinking, problem solving, insight and analysis. That we need to help young people develop the ability to collaborate, work in groups, read, respond and adapt.

REMEMBER THAT KINDNESS MATTERS....PASS IT ON!

I don't know about you but everywhere I look the news is depressing and the world seems such a sad and unhappy place. And yet this term spending time with young people, colleagues and friends you realise how much great stuff is out there and how many extraordinary people are doing things to make a difference. We can all help. We can all make a difference. We can... just think what a better community you would live in and what a better world it would be, if we all did one of these things everyday!

LONGLEY PARK SIXTH FORM COLLEGE CELEBRATION EVENING

I was in Sheffield this evening at Longley Park Sixth Form College to attend their celebration evening with guest speakers David Blunkett MP and Councillor Harry Harpham.

A MESSAGE... PASS IT ON!

WITH HARD WORK THERE ARE NO LIMITS... PASS IT ON!

SKILLS MATTER: SO WHAT WORKS?

The findings from this review of 94 studies of programmes implemented across the school and out-of-school settings in the UK shows that well-designed and well-implemented social and emotional skills development programmes can lead to a range of positive educational, health and social and emotional wellbeing outcomes for children and adolescents. 

SKILLS FOR LIFE AND WORK: THE EVIDENCE!

This review by the early Intervention Foundation looks at the evidence of links between social and emotional skills in children and how they fare as adults. It find that there are many programmes across the UK that have set out to improve social and emotional skills; we also find that some of them have rigorous evidence to prove their effectiveness, and that many do not.

FIRTH PARK ACADEMY CULTURAL AMBASSADORS

I was at Firth Park Academy very early this morning for a meeting with Zeena Rashid and colleagues who have been developing the Cultural Ambassador programme at the school. It was great to work with Zeena, Matt Bray Social Inclusion Manager at Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme, Sophie Lejeune, Neighbourhood partnerships manager from  Sanctuary Care and Graham Moore, Youth Partnership Coordinator at Sheffield Museums.

SOLAR ECLIPSE

Amazing picture from the plane over the Faroe Islands...

SOLAR ECLIPSE!

It's amazing how the sunlight levels have fallen as the eclipse develops although the clouds are still obscuring the sun's disc. It is like evening here in York.

THE SECOND CUTLERS' 'MADE IN SHEFFIELD' AMBASSADORS GRADUATE!

We held the second passport ceremony for the Cutlers 'Made in Sheffield' programme yesterday evening at the Cutlers Hall in Sheffield! 152 young ambassadors received their passports from David Grey, the current Master Cutler in front of an packed audience of parents and carers and guests. The highlight of the evening was the contribution by Abbey Metcalfe, a retail ambassador from Westfield School, and Mbachi Kambele, an engineering ambasssador from Firth Park Academy. These two young ambassadors talked passionately about the programme and the impact it has had on their skills, attitude to work and school work.

FAMILIES MATTER ... PASS IT ON!

“Families are the compasses that guide us. 

They are the inspiration to reach great heights,

and our comfort when we occasionally falter.” 

Brad Henry (Governor of Oklahoma)

THE SECOND CUTLERS' AMBASSADOR PASSPORT CEREMONY!

I am looking forward to the second passport ceremony for the Cutlers 'Made in Sheffield' Ambassadors on Wednesday evening! This year 165 ambassadors are due to receive their passports from David Grey, the current Master Cutler in front of an audience of parents and carers and guests.