BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!

Working with another group of young people in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield this week reaffirmed my belief in people; their energy, passion, enthusiasm and commitment. It also made me realise how destructive the current accountability system is and the desperate need to develop learning leadership, beautiful systems and intelligent accountability as the drivers for change across the country.

TEAMWORK MATTERS!

"Team work is the ability to work together with others towards a common vision. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results."

COMMUNICATION MATTERS!

At the heart of any success is communication... our ability to tell our stories, to share our memories and to connect with other people.

THIS SUNDAY, SEND FLOWERS TO THOSE YOU LOVE AND CARE ABOUT!

"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

PROBLEM-SOLVING MATTERS!

RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS!

I always think it's interesting that so many people think that well-being is first and foremost a health issue to be dealt with by health professionals! Having spent so much of my time lately in hospitals it is clear that we all need to take responsibility for our own well being. Reading the research it is clear that there are five things we can all do to enhance our own well-being... so take responsibility and connect with these five ways to improve your well-being.

'BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS' MADE IN BARNSLEY' WINS AN AWARD!

 

RESILIENCE MATTERS!

I have been struggling with family illness and the challenges elderly care brings to us all and Martin Seligman, Carol Dweck and Alison Duckworth all stress that resilience is a key aspect of successfully managing the challenges life throws at us.

CREATIVITY MATTERS!

We know that creativity is an important foundation for learning, productivity, and success. 

Here are five reasons why.... 

CHARACTER MATTERS!

I was re-reading Paul Tough's book 'How Children Succeed'. In this great read he highlights the qualities most likely to ensure a better job, a better degree and a better and more fulfilling life... grit, curiosity and character. 

SKILLS MATTER IN THE WORLD OF WORK!

"The principal goal of education... 

should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things... 

men and women who are creative, inventive and discoverers."

How do we equip our young people with what they will need to thrive and succeed in a world of work where the landscape is changing so rapidly that many if not most of the jobs they will be doing are new or haven't been invented yet!

LEADERSHIP MATTERS!

In a world where we are surrounded by managers and management speak, research clearly shows that it is leadership that really matters...

KEEP IT SIMPLE!

Why is there is so much negativity, criticism and unpleasantness around? Education, schools, teachers and colleagues, some working in some of the most challenging contexts, are constantly criticised in the media, by OFSTED and by the DfE. We need to change the culture surrounding education and learning to create a more positive, reflective and supportive framework and critically we all need a rule book to help us live our lives. Interestingly, I re-read Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” recently. It’s a great book, first published in 1937, and things don’t get any clearer than this:

REMEMBER!

“Because knowledge is available on every internet-connected device, what you know matters far less than what you can do with what you know. The capacity to innovate — the ability to solve problems creatively or bring new possibilities to life — and skills like critical thinking, communication and collaboration are far more important than academic knowledge."
Professor Tony Wagner (Expert In Residence at Harvard University’s new Innovation Lab)

THINK TEAM!

BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS!

We are constantly looking to further develop this innovative employer led programme which targets, coaches, mentors and supports young people and gives them the skills needed for success in school, work and life generally.

LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT, SOFT SKILLS AND PEOPLE SKILLS MATTER!

THE FOURTH CUTLERS' 'BETTER LEARNERS, BETTER WORKERS' AMBASSADORS GRADUATE!

We held the fourth passport ceremony for the Cutlers' 'Better Learners, Better Workers' programme yesterday evening at the Cutlers' Hall in Sheffield! 123 young ambassadors received their Cutlers' Skills Passports from Richard Edwards, the current Master Cutler, in front of an packed audience of parents and carers and guests.

Amazingly, we now have over 500 young people who have achieved the skills passport. The highlight of the evening was the contribution by Kelsey Parker, an engineering ambassador from Westfield School, and Mhommad Rafique, an NHS ambasssador from Fir Vale School. These two young ambassadors talked passionately about the programme and the impact it has had on their skills, attitude to work and school work.

BUILD ON WHAT WORKS AND CONSTANTLY TEST, LEARN AND ADAPT!

The Cutlers' Better Learners, Better Workers' programme is built on the same principles as the Careers and Enterprise Company.... 'build on what works' and 'test, learn and adapt' and over the last four years the programme has reached over 500 young people who have achieved the Cutlers' Skills Passport and a further 1500 who are currently on programmes in schools across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

The research is very clear but the evidence is also incredibly powerful.

KINDNESS MATTERS!

YOU DON'T IMPROVE THE PIG BY CONTINUALLY WEIGHING IT!

Why does everyone say that our education system so poorly performing when compared to the best in Europe let alone the best in the world. My visits to Helsinki, Stockholm and Singapore suggest that colleagues elsewhere are no cleverer, no more skilful or talented than our colleagues. Perhaps we are measuring and doing the wrong things?