"The desire to do something because you find it deeply satisfying AND personally challenging inspires the highest levels of creativity whether its in the arts, sciences or business."

Teresa Amabile

It's always been true that to get the best out of work and life you must love what you do and also stretch yourself to achieve your personal goals. Passion, persistence, practice and hard work leads to great performances whether you are Sylvie Guillem, Usain Bolt or Chris Edwards. 

Chris

Mick Waters

I spent a couple of hours this evening with my colleague and friend Mick Waters...

Mick used to be Chief Education Officer in Manchester and before that worked with Tim Brighouse in Birmingham. Mick also led the QCA work on revising the curriculum in Key Stage 2 and 3 before Michael Gove decided to go back to basics. It was wonderful to be able to share ideas and listen to what Mick is doing. He is working on the Black Country Challenge, chairing the Curriculum Foundation and very busy working with schools across the country. We agreed that we need to continue to work on:

• inspiring teaching and learning;
• an engaging curriculum;
• a coaching culture;
• developing brilliant learning places;
• alternative approaches to accountability.

It was great spending time with Mick and reassuring that we are thinking in very similar ways about the challenges we face to build world class provision and secure world class outcomes.

Chris

Brilliant colleagues!

I had coffee and lunch with two of my colleagues today...

It was great to catch up on the news; especially Simon Flowers appointment as Strategic Leader for Education Integration within Nigel Richardson's new team. Clearly a really good appointment which will build trust with schools and encourage buy in from headteachers. I hope to be able to see more colleagues and visit some schools next week.
Chris

Leeds City Museum!

I visited the Leeds City Museum this morning...

It's another of the hidden jewels in this amazing city! and it's free! The museum is the starting point for journeys into the heritage of Leeds and for visits to the other museums across the city.
Chris

Drive!

"One cannot lead a life that is truly excellent without feeling that one 

belongs to something greater and more permanent than oneself."

When I caught up with my colleague Dee Reid she reminded me about Dan Pink's book Drive...

It's a great short read and again reinforces all the key messages about the journey to outstanding. Dan Pink argues that there are simply three keys; autonomy, mastery and purpose! He also argues that the carrot and stick approach has seven deadly flaws; it extinguishes motivation, it diminishes performance, it crushes creativity, it crowds out good behaviour, it encourages short cuts and cheating, it becomes addictive and it fosters short-term thinking.
Chris

Keep it simple!

I saw Professor Brian Cox on the BBC this morning talking about science...

tHe was arguing that there still is a perception that a scientific career is only an option for the brightest students. Young people and parents need to know that youngsters do not have to be "Stephen Hawking or Einstein" to become a scientist. A new survey of 3,000 parents, conducted by The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair, found that almost a third (31%) have no idea about the jobs available in science and engineering and nearly one in five (19%) find science and engineering too difficult to understand.

The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair was launched in 2009  and is the UK’s biggest single celebration of science and engineering for young people and aims to celebrate and inspire them. The Big Bang 2010 took place in Manchester over three days in March, attracting 22,500 people, including over 15,000 children and young people and 4,000 of their teachers, parents and guardians and involving over 110 organisations from across the private, public and voluntary sectors, and reaching out to schools and students across the country. The Big Bang 2011 will take place at ICC London ExCeL from 10 – 12 March, when 25,000 people are expected to attend.  The headline shows will include Sky 1’s Brainiac Live!,  BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory, and The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust’s Alphabeat show.  The Fair will also feature BBC’s Wallace & Gromit ‘World of Invention’ roadshow. The website for the Big Bang is www.thebigbangfair.co.uk.
Chris

Leeds again!

I am in Leeds again today catching up with some colleagues and friends before I go to Mansfield for a meeting...

It is strange not being part of a team any more and I am catching up with some special people today to check that they are OK. I'll also be over in Leeds next Monday for a conference and next Tuesday when I hope to visit some schools to recharge the system and connect with what is really important.
Chris

Share, co-operate, collaborate, learn and practice!

"The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn."
Alvin Toffler


If our young people are going to achieve world class outcomes they need to see the magic in this photograph...

If we are going to help young people "to get a foothold on the walls of information, climb the mountains of content and reach the summits of knowledge' we must use all the tools, techniques and tricks we have at our disposal and use them better! We must convince our young people that hard work, persistence and determination conquers all. That things that are hard are good for us and help us grow and learn and develop. We must craft our journeys, create our stories and work with passion, enthusiasm and commitment because it really matters that we get this right. If you need any help with this please let me know.
Chris

Share with a friend!

I am amazed at the number of people who look at the blog...

If you are a regular visitor please share it with your friends.
Please also let me know what else I should put on it!
THANKS
Chris

Opinions and perspectives... facts and truths!

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact.
Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
Marcus Aurelius


I was searching on the internet and if like me you like optical illusions you'll love these two...

It isn't moving... really!

Just move your head and see what happens to the blurry spots. It's true what they say; the brain is such an amazing thing and what we see is not what we get and things are not fixed and unchanging. Always remember that everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth!
Chris

Anyone need any help?

I have some spare time at the moment and as you know I like to be busy...

I am going to be very busy after Easter but does any one want me to run a session for them, their staff or cluster or group over the next few weeks. I'd be happy to discuss how I might help especially if you are a follower of the blog!

Chris

Wordle!

I discovered this wonderful programme called 'Windle' that creates a word cloud from a selected piece of text...

This is the word cloud from a selection of great quotes... brilliant!

Chris

CLC’s Produce film for The Pacific Institute

My colleague Andrew McGlen sent me this which I have taken from the CLC website...

'The City Learning Centres were approached to make a short film for the Pacific institute to document their work with Education Leeds over the years and show how their training courses had changed communities in Leeds for the better.

                                

Working with Chris Bennet and Val Cain of Education Leeds and Joe Askew of The Pacific Institute, Chris Boylan produced the 10 minute film. The video is now being used worldwide to showcase the partnerships successes.

“Our organisation, The Pacific Institute, recently worked with Chris Boylan of the Derek Fatchett City Learning Centre to produce a video testimonial of the work we have been doing with parents in Leeds for the last 10 years through Education Leeds. From the initial contact and supply of a brief of what we wanted to completion of the project, we found working with Chris and the CLC an absolute pleasure. The product we received was of exceptional quality and truly captured the spirit of the initial request. Chris displayed an innate understanding of what we were looking for and really went the extra mile to ensure the video was not merely a display of a series of talking heads, but instead was a distillation of the human stories we were hoping to show. We have had a fantastic response to the video when we have shown it to clients, both existing and prospective, and from international colleagues as well. Our thanks to Chris and the CLC for a fantastic effort.”  Joe Askew: The Pacific Institute'

The Pacific Institute works with Chris Bennett and Val Cain from Education Leeds to provide, support and manage STEPS training courses in Leeds. There are around 400 trained STEPS facilitators in Leeds and these courses have reached over 4000 parents and carers. The courses change lives and are designed to help individuals, parents and carers realise and release their enormous potential. If anyone wants to find out more about STEPS and how you can change your life please let me know.
Chris