REMEMBER!

"Man is not the creature of circumstances.

Circumstances are the creatures of men."

Benjamin Disraeli

HAPPY SUNDAY!

"That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest."

Henry David Thoreau

TEACHING MATTERS BUT LEARNING COUNTS!

Interestingly, John Hattie's research suggests that only 30% of what makes a difference is in the hands of teachers.

ALWAYS REMEMBER, IN THESE CHALLENGING 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 ANSWER IS "DOLLOPS OF FEEDBACK"!

It's sad that so few colleagues, leaders, managers and politicians simply don't get it.

AESSEAL

I spent the afternoon at AESSEAL where colleagues from B&E South Yorkshire were delivering the latest element of the Cutlers' "Made in Sheffield" Ambassadors programme.

Risk... 

..more than others think is safe. 

Care... 

..more than others think is wise. 

Dream... 

..more than others think is practical. 

Expect.. 

..more than others think is possible. 

Cadet Maxim

Leeds Schools Music Association's Christmas Festival Concert

I finished the day yesterday at the Town Hall for the Leeds Schools Music Association's Christmas Festival Concert 2012.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

"In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves

beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists." 

Eric Hoffer 

I constantly ask myself what is it that makes a school. a council or any organisation a brilliant learning place and what can we learn from what talented colleagues are doing in schools, councils and organisations across the country and across the world.

BRILLIANT COLLEAGUES!

I was in Leeds this lunchtime to meet up with some wonderful old friends and brilliant colleagues. It's strange after two years that I still miss these incredible people, with whom I spent an amazing ten years of my life. They reminded me what we achieved together; the importance of distributed leadership, trust, respect and empowering people to get on and do whatever it takes.

ONE MAGIC DAY!

I have had many magic days in my life... days when everything goes brilliantly and I have also spent the last twenty years wrestling with how we create great schools for every child, every young person and every community. Personally, I passionately believe that the answers lie in understanding what works and developing cooperative, collaborative, creative learning teams built on learning leadership, beautiful systems, deep research, intelligent accountability and the importance of discipline and character.

WE LEARN WHAT WE LIVE!

I was reading that wonderful piece 'A Child Learns What They Live' by Dorothy Law Nolte and the OFSTED Annual Report last night. I think OFSTED should reflect on those words of wisdom and recognise that they apply equally to little learners, big learners, children, parents and carers and should help us think through what we mean by brilliant learning places. This is my revised version for everyone feeling criticised, unloved and uncared for...

We Learn What We Live

(With apologies to Dorothy Law Nolte)

INDUCTION DAY!

Yesterday, I attended the Induction Day at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield for the Cutlers' Ambassadors who are working with the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.