MATHEMATICS... IT AIN'T WHAT YOU DO, IT'S THE WAY THAT YOU DO IT. THAT'S WHAT GETS RESULTS!

WHAT PISA TELLS US ABOUT GREAT PROVISION!

The more I read the PISA results the more I see that there are some really important messages which we need to use to help us guide and shape future provision. 

ANOTHER TUESDAY, ANOTHER ENGINEERING INDUCTION EVENT!

I attended the last of our three Engineering Induction Sessions yesterday at the Advanced Manufacturing Centre's Training Centre in Sheffield for the Cutlers' Ambassadors from Firth Park Academy and Outwood Academy City.

ENGINEERING INDUCTION SESSIONS!

Earlier this week, I attended the Induction Sessions at the Advanced Manufacturing Centre's Training Centre in Sheffield for the Cutlers' Engineering Ambassadors from Bradfield School, Handsworth Grange Sports College, Stocksbridge High School and Westfield School.

IT AIN'T WHAT YOU DO IT'S THE WAY THAT YOU DO IT!

Acadamisation and take overs are not the answer! We need to find another way! The keys to success lie in recognising that the vast majority of the workforce in our schools have the ability to be outstanding and simply need to find themselves in a supportive, developmental culture which nurtures excellence, expect high standards and has high expectations.

HOW DO WE CREATE AND SUPPORT GREAT SCHOOLS?

Visiting schools in Sheffield over the last week has reminded me if I had ever forgotten that building great schools and great provision requires strong and highly effective learning leadership, powerful governance, an organisational infrastructure with beautiful systems, financial resources and autonomy, professional excellence at all levels, intelligent accountability and brilliant, responsive and flexible support... and most of all it requires teamwork.

WE ALL WANT TO BE WINNERS!

In 'Winners; and how they succeed' Alastair Campbell sets out the things he knows about winning. As Tony Blair's spokesman and strategist Campbell helped guide the Labour Party to victory in three successive general elections, and he's worked with an astonishing range of talented people - from elite athletes to top managers, from rulers of countries to rulers of global business empires.

OUTWARD ACADEMY CITY INTERVIEWS!

My colleague John Barber and I were at Outwood Academy City today to interview and select the academy's Cutlers 'Made in Sheffield' Engineering ambassadors. 

GOLD AMBASSADORS DINNER AT THE CUTLERS HALL!

I spent Friday evening with an amazing group of young people at the Cutlers Hall.

SWITCH THEM ON!

The scary thing isn’t what we have achieved, but our potential to achieve so much more if only we can release the magic and switch on those people who are currently switched off. Switched off by a lack of interest, a lack of motivation, a lack of enthusiasm, a lack of energy and drive.

ENGINEERING AMBASSADORS

I was over in Sheffield again yesterday with colleagues from the schools working on the engineering/advanced manufacturing strand of the Cutlers’ “Made in Sheffield’ Programme. These schools are Bradfield School, Firth Park Academy,  Handsworth Grange Community Sports College, Stocksbridge High School, Westfield School and Outwood Academy City.

ARTS, CULTURE AND SPORT AMBASSADORS

I was at Firth Park Academy in Sheffield again this week to plan the new programme for the Arts, Culture ands Sports ambassadors.

HOW THE UK DOES IN KEY AREAS IN THE GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2014 - 2015!

HOW DO WE DO IN THE GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS REPORT 2014 - 2015

WHY INTELLIGENT ACCOUNTABILITY MATTERS!

What is it that is driving this uncompromising and relentlessly critical approach to standards, behaviour and provision by DfE  and OFSTED?

BACK TO SCHOOL AND INTERESTING TIMES AHEAD!

Back to school and back to interesting times! But don't despair because what I have learned over the last forty years and through working with extraordinary colleagues and extraordinary schools in Leicestershire, Merton, Wolverhampton, North Yorkshire, York, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield and Lincoln provides us with a framework for delivering brilliant schools and brilliant outcomes for every child and young person and every community!

THE NEW LEARNING LANDSCAPE!

We are moving from the old hierarchical, command and control school improvement structure rooted in the local authority which I lived with for about twenty years, into an emerging, chaotic and fragmented, landscape of academies, trusts, chains, federations and partnerships.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."

John Maxwell

OUTWARD CITY ACADEMY JOIN 'MADE IN SHEFFIELD'!

I was at Outwood City Academy yesterday with my colleague Mike Garnock-Jones. We were there to see Richard Brooke, the academy principal, and his senior team to discuss how the academy might join the 'Made in Sheffield' scheme. 

BACK TO SCHOOL AND BUILDING THE FUTURE, TOGETHER!

It's funny how quickly we have got to the beginning of yet another academic year and another year where we need to focus on collaboration, teamwork, leadership, teaching, data, outcomes and progress. We need to ask ourselves, what is our vision for our children and young people and how do we continue to build brilliant learning, in brilliant learning places to serve brilliant learning communities? What does the perfect school system look like and what would be it's defining features?