DONCASTER SKILLS ACADEMY!

I visited the Doncaster Chamber offices at the Keepmoat Stadium this morning...

SKILLS MATTER!

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

Why is 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?

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."

Albert Einstein

IT's ALL ABOUT EXCELLENCE!

We need to create a culture of excellence based on teamwork, learning, character, persistence, determination and hard work.

THINK, SHARE AND PLAY... TEAMWORK MATTERS!

Everywhere I go colleagues, families, schools and businesses are facing relentless pressure, facing higher and higher expectations and facing increased and increasing demands to do things more efficiently and more effectively...

'WHAT I HAVE LEARNED'... MAKE SURE YOU READ THIS AND SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND!

HAVE A HAPPY EASTER AND EAT CHOCOLATE!

This Easter make sure that you eat lots of chocolate...

I have been talking about the benefits of eating chocolate for a long time and some people simply wouldn't believe that is makes you cleverer and asked me where is the research evidence.

WHEN THE GOING GET'S TOUGH!

WE ALL NEED PURPOSE AND MEANING!

"Devote yourself to loving others,

devote yourself to your community around you,

and devote yourself to creating something 

that gives you purpose and meaning."

Morrie Schwarz

I have been thinking this morning, dangerous I know, as I listened the news about all the schools in the country being converted to academies by September 2020.

TAKE TO THE OARS!

We need a curriculum for the future not the past. Every child needs to be taught what it takes to succeed but there is a profound gap between what most young people learn in school and what they need to become brilliant learners...

REMEMBER...

People keep asking me if I am OK...

...remember that "when the going gets tough, the tough get going."

LEARNING AND TEACHING!

CUTLERS' 'MADE IN SHEFFIELD' ENGINEERING AMBASSADORS VISIT THE LIFEWISE CENTRE!

I had a great morning today, at the Lifewise Centre just off the M18, working with the Cutlers' "Made in Sheffield" Engineering Ambassadors on their skills matter training day. The Lifewise Centre is an amazing place: an interactive learning centre for South Yorkshire communities, featuring a purpose-built film-set used to educate visitors about safety and citizenship with the ultimate aim of reducing crime and improving quality of life.

The Westfield Fabulous 50!

I was at Westfield School again this morning for the launch of the Fabulous 50! 

THE BIG CHALLENGE NINE AWARDS

I was at the Holiday Inn Royal Victoria for the Big Challenge Nine Awards hosted by David Grey MBE, Group Managing Director of OSL Group Holdings Ltd and Chair of the Big Challenge Steering Group.

The event was sponsored by Sheffield City Council, DLA Piper, Yorkshire Bank, Sheffield Hallam University, The University of Sheffield, Holiday Inn Royal Victoria, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, BHP Chartered Accountants, Henry Boot Construction, Panache Lingerie, SIV Ltd and Made in Sheffield.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR US ALL!

CUTLERS' ARTS AND CULTURE AMBASSADORS PERFORM AT PARK VIEW RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME

I visited Park View Residential Care Home this afternoon to watch a special performance by the Cutlers' Arts and Culture Ambassadors from Firth Park Academy...

THE CUTLERS’ ‘MADE IN SHEFFIELD’ SECTORS

The scheme now encompasses 10 Sectors including:

• Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing; 
• Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; 
• Sheffield Children’s Hospital; 
• The Retail Sector; 
• The Construction and Built Environment Sector; 
• Computer Science and Digital Industries; 
• HMRC; 
• The Arts and Cultural Sector; 
• The Care Sector; and 
• The Sport, Health and Well-being Sector. 

New sectors will be available from September:

• Emergency Services led by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service 
• Professional Services led by Capita

TRY SOMETHING HARDER!

THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT!

We need a policy framework that fosters a flexible and dynamic approach to skills and which enables people and businesses to build their capacity to innovate, compete and grow.

THE ROLE OF INDIVIDUALS!

We should focus on developing the skills and attributes that will be at a premium in future, including communication, confidence, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork and the core business skills required in the world of work. We need to work with young people to change their mind-set regarding the nature of work, as it becomes more network oriented, more project based and increasingly more technology-intensive. We need to help young people take greater personal responsibility for acquiring and continuously updating the skills and attributes needed to succeed in the world of work and also help them understand the increasing division between low and high-skill jobs. We need to ensure that young people are provided with relevant labour market information and careers advice and include skills and training opportunities as an integral part of their curriculum.

We are doing this in Sheffield with the Cutlers’ ‘Better Learners, Better Workers’ programmes which are demand driven, employer-led programmes focused on developing the skills employers are looking for in their employees. Students on the programmes are provided with a menu of activities to develop these skills. These student ‘Ambassadors’ promote the business sectors to peers and businesses get to see and help develop young people’s talents and abilities. Importantly, the programme has an employer endorsed Skills Passport awarded at the end of the programme.

THE ROLE OF SCHOOL, ACADEMIES AND COLLEGES!

Schools, academies and colleges need to work more closely with employers to support them in achieving their business and skills objectives and to ensure that young people are leaving education and training with the skills they need  in an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing world of work. They need to invest in new models and approaches which keep abreast of developments and understand the impact of technology on learning. We need programmes that support the critical importance of interdisciplinary approaches and innovation in the world of work and the influence of technology.

We are doing this in Sheffield with the Cutlers’ ‘Better Learners, Better Workers’ programmes which are demand driven, employer-led programmes focused on developing the skills employers are looking for in their employees. Students on the programmes are provided with a menu of activities to develop these skills. These student ‘Ambassadors’ promote the business sectors to peers and businesses get to see and help develop young people’s talents and abilities. Importantly, the programme has an employer endorsed Skills Passport awarded at the end of the programme.

THE ROLE OF EMPLOYERS!

Employers need to take more responsibility for developing the skills needed for businesses to succeed and to innovate in the face of competitive pressures and market volatility. We need collaborative approaches with sectors and companies working together with schools and colleges to address key skills challenges as part of sectoral and regional growth strategies. The ability to attract, develop and retain a skilful and talented workforce will only increase in importance and require even more collaboration and partnership working with schools and colleges to access critical skills.

We are doing this in Sheffield with the Cutlers’ ‘Better Learners, Better Workers’ programmes which are demand driven, employer-led programmes focused on developing the skills employers are looking for in their employees. Students on the programmes are provided with a menu of activities to develop these skills. These student ‘Ambassadors’ promote the business sectors to peers and businesses get to see and help develop young people’s talents and abilities. Importantly, the programme has an employer endorsed Skills Passport awarded at the end of the programme.

EXPERIENCE OF THE WORLD OF WORK MATTERS!

Young people are struggling to secure first-hand experiences of the world of work and too many have no real awareness or knowledge of the world of work, career pathways or future job prospects. Research, evidence and some innovative projects, in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, show that experiences of the world of work can be a major catalyst for change among young people, particularly those who are underachieving, disadvantaged and harder to reach.

TEAMWORK MATTERS!

Teamwork is at the heart of 'Made in Sheffield'