BE HAPPY!

The University of California's professor of psychology Sonja Lyubomirsky has pioneered a detailed yet easy-to-follow plan to increase happiness in our day-to-day lives — in the short term and over the long term. Nothing new here but great that her research supports the approach I've been working on over the last twenty odd years.

AN INTRODUCTION TO BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS AT SAINT PIUS X CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

I was at Saint Pius X Catholic High School this afternoon working with their wonderful group of Cutlers’ ‘Better Learners, Better Workers: Made in Rotherham' NHS Ambassadors. This programme is led by the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and is a consistent and coherent, employer-led approach that will develop, in this very special group of young people, the skills needed for employability and the world of the NHS.

BALBY CARR COMMUNITY ACADEMY 'BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS' AMBASSADORS

I had a great morning at Balby Carr Community Academy yesterday and met and interviewed some wonderful young people who were a brilliant advert for the academy.

OUTWOOD ACADEMY SHAFTON PARENTS AND CARERS FIND OUT ABOUT "BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS: MADE IN BARNSLEY'!

I was at Outwood Academy Shafton on Monday night to talk to the parents and carers of our new 'Better Learners, Better Workers: Made in Barnsley' ambassadors. Kelly Drury, who leads the programme for the Barnsley Healthcare Federation, and I were supported Jayne Carr, Additional Leader, Deep Experience and Head of Vocational/Life Subjects, who had helped us to recruit a wonderful group of 'Made in Barnsley' ambassadors!! We were there to explain the programme and the roles and responsibilities that come with being selected as a Cutlers' Ambassador. 

AN INTRODUCTION TO BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS AT OAKWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

I was at Oakwood High School on Monday morning working with their new Cutlers’ ‘Better Learners, Better Workers: Made in Rotherham' NHS Ambassadors. This programme is led by the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and is a consistent and coherent, employer-led approach that will develop, in this very special group of young people, the skills needed for employability and the world of the NHS.

SETTING TARGETS AND GOALS!

“Do you want to accomplish something that many people dream about, but few people ever actually accomplish? Unless you make it a goal for yourself and work everyday towards achieving it, why would you ever believe that you could accomplish it? Unless you see yourself slowly making progress, your dreams and aspirations are nothing more than vague notions floating around in your imagination.”

INTRODUCTION TO 'BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS' AT WESTFIELD SCHOOL!

I was at Westfield School this morning with my colleague Sarah Ward, Business Champion for the engineering ambassadors at the school.

We were working with the Year 9 ambassadors as part of their WOW Factor Programme; where Sarah and I explain how the 'Better Learners, Better Workers' programme works, stress the ambassadors roles and responsibilities and work with the ambassadors to set targets and goals for next term. Sarah and I will be working with the ambassadors on three more sessions as part of their WOW Factor Programme: 'Why skills Matter in the World of Work', 'Teamwork in the World of Work' and 'Careers and Opportunities in the World of Work'.

OUTWOOD ACADEMY CARLTON PARENTS AND CARERS FIND OUT ABOUT "BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS: MADE IN BARNSLEY'!

I was at the brilliant Outwood Academy Carlton last night to talk to the parents and carers of our new 'Better Learners, Better Workers: Made in Barnsley' ambassadors. Kelly Drury, who leads the programme for the Barnsley Healthcare Federation, and I were supported by wonderful colleagues from the academy to explain the programme and the roles and responsibilities that come with being selected as a Cutlers' Ambassador. 

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH... DIG IN!

CREATIVITY MATTERS!

We need young people with ideas helping to tackle the problems we face.

'BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS' COMES TO OUTWOOD ACADEMY DANUM!

My colleague Tina Slater, from Doncaster Skills Academy,  and I were at Outwood Academy Danum this afternoon launching the 'Better Learners, Better Workers' scheme in our second Doncaster school. It was great to have Nigel Roberson, Assistant Principal at the academy, with us. Nigel's care and commitment to his students was very obvious at the end of a long day.

WOW MATTERS!

If it's true that four or five high quality experiences of the World of Work makes such a difference to young people's ambition, aspiration and attitudes to learning why aren't we making it an entitlement for all young people?

SKILLS MATTER!

GREAT NEWS: 'BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS' LAUNCHED IN DONCASTER!!

My colleague Sarah Ward and I were at Balby Carr Community Academy yesterday morning launching the 'Better Learners, Better Workers' scheme in our first Doncaster school. It was great to have John Innes, the headteacher, with us, since John was part of the original team who developed the Cutlers' 'Made in Sheffield' scheme. John's passion and commitment to his students shone through the session.

WHAT IS GRIT?

BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS

The Cutlers’ ‘Better Learners, Better Workers’ programme is a consistent and coherent, employer-led approach that develops, in young people, the skills needed for employability and the world of work. It reconnects schools and business/employers through Business Champions and builds relationships and an understanding of the world of work in schools. In simple terms, it provides: 

·      Businesses with home grown talent which will allow them to grow; and 

·      Young people with the skills they need to gain employment and be the best they can be!

BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS: MADE IN BARNSLEY!

 I was at The Dearne ALC again this morning with the steering group for the 'Better Learners, Better Workers: Made in Barnsley' programme which is rapidly growing...

BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS!

Character, skills and attributes lie at the heart of the Cutlers' 'Better Learners, Better Workers'' approach and there is a growing body of research that suggests that there are a set of 'soft' skills, attributes and character traits that, while not easy to measure, lie at the heart of success at school, at work and in life in general. 

THE ARTS MATTER!

There are so many of us who passionately believe that every child matters, and that those who are the hardest to reach and the hardest to teach matter more. Increasingly experience tells us that for young people generally, and for those harder to reach young people, the arts matter and it is encouraging that 'Better Learners, Better Workers' has received some funding from the Arts Council to develop the arts and culture strand of this great programme...

OUTWOOD ACADEMY SHAFTON SELECT THEIR 'MADE IN BARNSLEY' AMBASSADORS!

I had a great morning at Outwood Academy Shafton today and met and interviewed some really special young people who were a wonderful advert for the academy.

Kelly Drury and I worked with Jayne Carr, Additional Leader, Deep Experience and Head of Vocational/Life Subjects, to recruit a wonderful group of 'Made in Barnsley' ambassadors!! We interviewed for most of the morning and we selected an excellent group of girls and boys who will really add value to the Cutlers' 'Better Learners, Better Workers: Made in Barnsley' programme. We were all impressed with the way the students interviewed and performed. Fantastic to have Jayne and the Outwood Academy Shafton team and their ambassadors on board... Kelly and I are really looking forward to working with them!

GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE THE EDGE!

Working with young people makes you realise that we are living in digital times and that change is happening at an exponential rate. What is encouraging is meeting and working with the young people  on the new 'Made in Barnsley' programmes at Horizon Community College, Holy Trinity Catholic and Church of England School, The Dearne ALC, Outwood Academy Carlton and Outwood Academy Shafton. I have met so many young people who are creative, imaginative and passionate. They want to develop their understanding of the world of work;  finding out about engineering, construction and healthcare and developing the skills that matter; the skills that will give them the edge.

CBI LIFELONG LEARNING POLICY REPORT

Another important piece of reading is the CBI's 'Lifelong Learning Policy Report'

"The UK education system began to take shape in 1858, and featured mass public examinations based on pupils’ ability to recall information and apply standardised methods. This remains essentially the same way we educate today. Schools must refocus on the application of knowledge rather than simply the acquisition of it, to boost the level of soft skills in future generations.

Multiple, high-quality work experiences should become compulsory for all students from the age of 13 onwards so that young people can learn from employers and be better informed and equipped to make the right choices to help achieve their future career aspirations."

GREAT MORNING WITH THE SOUTH YORKSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE!

I was at the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service's Handsworth Training Centre this morning...

The South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is working with some wonderful young ambassadors from Outwood Academy City and a great morning was had by all!

OUTWOOD ACADEMY CARLTON SELECT THEIR 'MADE IN BARNSLEY' AMBASSADORS!

I had a great day at Outwood Academy Carlton today and met and interviewed some wonderful young people who were a great advert for the academy.

Working with Suzie Day, Assistant Principal, Kelly Drury and I recruited a wonderful group of 'Made in Barnsley' ambassadors!! We interviewed all morning and into the afternoon, and we selected an excellent group of girls and boys who will really add value to the Cutlers' 'Better Learners, Better Workers: Made in Barnsley' programme. We were all impressed with the way the students interviewed and performed. Fantastic to have Suzie and the Outwood Academy Carlton team and their ambassadors on board... Kelly and I are really looking forward to working with them!

'OVERLOOKED AND LEFT BEHIND'

I have been re-reading the House of Lords Select Committee report 'Overlooked and Left Behind' and it is important reading for anyone who is passionate about helping young people develop the skills and attributes needed for the world of work. 

SAINT PIUS X CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL NHS AMBASSADORS

I had a great day at Saint Pius X Catholic High School today and met and interviewed some wonderful young people who were an amazing advert for the school.

James Short, from Rotherham Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and I recruited an amazing group of NHS ambassadors!! We interviewed with Sue Smith, Headteacher, for most of the afternoon, and we have selected an excellent group of girls and boys who will really add value to the Cutlers' 'Better Learners, Better Workers: Made in Rotherham' programme. We were all impressed with the way the students interviewed and performed. Fantastic to have the Saint Pius X team and their brilliant ambassadors on board... they are going to be some of the stars of this year's Y9 NHS programme!

WINGFIELD ACADEMY ENGINEERING AMBASSADORS

I had a great day at Wingfield Academy today and met and interviewed some wonderful young people who were an amazing advert for the academy.

Janice Richardson, from Workwise, and I have recruited an amazing group of engineering ambassadors!! After interviewing for most of the day, we have selected an excellent group of girls and boys who will really add value to the Cutlers' 'Better Learners, Better Workers' engineering programme. Bryan Picton and Jo Sorby worked with us on the selection and they were delighted with the day and the way their students interviewed and performed. Fantastic to have the Wingfield Academy team and their brilliant ambassadors on board... they are going to be some of the stars of this year's Y9 programme!