LEARNING MATTERS... PASS IT ON!

I'Ve spent time with a lot of old friends and great colleagues recently and I had forgotten how invigorating it can be.

DIRK GILLEARD

I saw my friend and colleague Dirk Gilleard this week and he reminded me that we mustn't let anyone tell us or tell our children and young people that we are not bright, not clever and not full of potential. It was great to simply talk to Dirk about the things that really matter and remember how great it was to work with him in Leeds!

ENTRUST AND THE KEYS TO SUCCESS!

I was with Sharon Kelly, Director of Educational Services with Entrust, today talking about ‘the keys to success’ and how to nurture, support and build on the brilliant provision in Staffordshire.

THE FIVE WAYS TO WELL-BEING... PASS IT ON!

 

CUTLERS 'MADE IN SHEFFIELD' AT THE INDEPENDENT STATE SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIPS FORUM

I was with Lord Nash, the Schools Minister, at the Department for Education in London today, at the Independent State Schools Partnerships Forum talking about the Cutlers' 'Made in Sheffield' programme; this radically different and unique programme developed in Sheffield by businesses and schools working together.

EVERY SCHOOL A GREAT SCHOOL... WHATEVER IT TAKES!

Interestingly, reading Michael Gove's speech to the Policy Exchange event, listening to Tristram Hunt, hearing Mary Bousted and a raft of others, it seems that we all want the same thing: great schools with great teaching and young people achieving world-class outcomes and it seems that the only argument is who you do it for and how you do it.

THE £20 NOTE STORY... PASS IT ON!

"A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a £20 note. In the room full of people, he asked. "Who would like this £20 note?"

HAPPY SUNDAY FROM WIMPOLE HALL!

Smile and the world smiles with you...

So keep smiling!

ANOTHER WEEKEND... WHERE DO THE WEEKS GO?

Time is such a strange thing and I seem to have spent most of the week on motorways travelling between York, Sheffield and Leicester. You can get bogged down by the challenges life throws at you, but I hope, this week, this will remind you how you can be happy and stay happy!

THE PROFESSIONAL SECTOR!

I attended a great meeting yesterday morning chaired by Tony Peddar, the current Master Cutler,  to look at how we might extend the Cutlers' 'Made in Sheffield' scheme to the professional services sector and how Workwise could support companies in the sector by helping deliver their ambassador programmes.

TEACHING THE ELEPHANT TO DANCE!

A colleague asked me recently how she should start with the challenges she was facing  and I told her she should read a great book by James Belasco...

OFSTED IS SIMPLISTIC AND DAMAGING!

I suppose I have been a critical, reflective learner all my life. All the best colleagues I know, reflect on the quality of their work. They do this as professionals who are responsible for the quality of their work and for the achievements and the personal and social development of the young people they teach, and as members of a team, which is responsible for the overall quality of educational provision.

HAPPY SUNNY SUNDAY!