A REMINDER IN HARD TIMES!

"My creed is that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people with full recognition that every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration, that constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought, that smears are not only to be expected but fought, that honour is to be earned, not bought."

Margaret Chase Smith

THE 80:20 RULE!

The Pareto Principle is the origin of the 80:20 Rule. In 1906, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto created a mathematical formula to describe the unequal distribution of wealth in his country, observing that twenty percent of the people owned eighty percent of the wealth. In the late 1940s, Dr. Joseph M. Juran attributed the 80/20 Rule to Pareto, calling it Pareto's Principle.

TEN KEYS TO BRILLIANT!

We all know the ten keys to brilliant: people, leadership, teamwork, attitude, trust, determination, commitment, partnership, ownership and engagement. 

THERE IS ANOTHER WAY: DO THINGS TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL SPECIAL!

"Think, reflect, research, analyse and learn.

Be visible, accessible and available; 

Walk the talk and constantly connect with colleagues;

Tell stories; celebrate, praise and challenge;

Teach, coach and model behaviours you want to see;

Get a life... live, love and regularly escape;

Do things to make people feel special."

INTERESTING READING! The Annual Report of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills

I was reading 'The Annual Report of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills' today. "As things stand, the overall picture across Ofsted’s inspection remits is that broadly 70% of providers are good or better." I was also reading an OECD report that said that education in the UK was second best in Europe after Finland and a Pearson's report which said that education in the UK was sixth best in the world! So lots to shout about here then...

LEADING THE WAY! The Cutlers' Education Committee!

I was in Sheffield again yesterday meeting with the Cutlers' Education Committee to look at how we continue to develop the work we have been doing with Bradfield School, Firth Park Community Arts College, Stocksbriodge High School and Yewlands Technology College.

COOPERATIVE LEARNING!

I read this wonderful piece on my colleague Roel Rohner's Dalton page blog and it reminded me that all great learning is cooperative and collaborative where learners work together sharing ideas and thought you might like to read it. "Cooperative learning is a generic term for various small group interactive instructional procedures.'

PASSION MATTERS!

Watch this great Ken Robinson session and you'll understand why passion is one of the keys to success...

SUCCESS, LIKE EVERYTHING GOOD IN LIFE, IS ALL ABOUT HARD WORK!

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."

Thomas Edison

CBI FIRST STEPS!

“Getting the next generation on the escalator to achieve their potential is one of the most exciting challenges we face. Businesses have traditionally focused on education at 14 plus, but it’s clear we need to tackle problems earlier, instead of applying a sticking plaster later on. 

“We have some great teachers and average grades are rising, but we’ve been kidding ourselves about overall standards. By teaching to the test, too many young people’s individual needs are not being met, and they are being failed by the system.

“Government reforms are heading in the right direction, but are not sufficient on their own and must go further and faster. As well as academic rigour, we need schools to produce rounded and grounded young people who have the skills and behaviours that businesses want.”

John Cridland, CBI Director-General

KEY COMPETENCIES MATTER!

We need to work harder to get young people interested in mathematics and science because it is a strong determinant of their career choice in STEM- related fields. The European Commission's Eurydice Report "Developing Key Competencies at School in Europe' makes interesting reading.

THE KEYS TO SUCCESS!

Colleagues constantly ask me to write my story and since leaving Leeds I have been working on 'The Keys to Success'. If you are interested here's another page...

"Not everything that can be counted counts,

and not everything that counts can be counted."

Albert Einstein