RESILIENCE MATTERS!

There is a great difference between failing to achieve a result and the conclusion you draw about yourself. In Carol Dweck's book 'Mindset' she explains that those who stay down after a setback make a judgment that they have failed, not just that their attempt failed. On a small scale, being resilient enables us to raise our hand and risk "sounding stupid." On a bigger scale, it allows us to try something really hard whether or not we're sure we'll do well at it.

CHANGE NEEDED!

If we are really serious about building world class learning in this country we need to refocus, re-imagine and re-engineer.

We need to shift the focus away from knowledge to concepts, from subjects to disciplines, from content to skills, from teaching to learning!

REMEMBER THAT FAITH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS MATTER MOST!

It is't fame or celebrity or money that is most important in my life... it's faith, friends and family. I saw an old friend last week and she reminded me that when it comes down to what really matters, faith, family and friends make life worth living!

EAT CHOCOLATE AND DRINK RED WINE!

We know that research suggests that the keys to happiness are a good diet, exercise, sleep, sunlight, social interactions and fun and laughter. Nothing there I haven't been telling people for years, but my list would also include red wine and dark chocolate...

EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS REPORT!

I was sent this wonderful Mind Gym report this week and I wish I had read it when I started my career because everyone should read it...

DAN PINK ON THE ABILITIES THAT MATTER!

Drawing on research from around the advanced world, Daniel Pink, in his book 'A Whole New Mind', argues that everyone should be given opportunities to develop six fundamentally human abilities that are essential for professional success and personal fulfilment and reveals how to master them.

ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE WORKSHOPS!

My colleague Sarah Ward told me about another great day she spent with the Workwise team...

DOING THE RIGHT THING MATTERS!

Over the last forty years, working at all levels in education and business, I have learnt the hard way that knowledge rarely changes people's behaviour or their lives...

CHARACTER IS THE KEY!

Interestingly, people who work hard, persevere and have passion are more likely to be successful than those with high IQ or those who are simply conscientious. These qualities lie at the heart of the Cutlers' 'Better Learners, Better Workers' programme... 

WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!

We continue to sleepwalk into a future that requires brave, bold and creative solutions. We face problems wherever we look... productivity and investment are problems and Brexit is making everyone increasingly nervous. There isn't enough money and local authority services are increasingly under pressure, schools are facing increasing challenges and academisation clearly isn't the answer to life, the universe and everything!! Clearly we need to wake up and think differently...

BLBW 'WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT' CONFERENCE

John Barber and his Workwise colleagues organised another fantastic day over half-term for our Year 11 Cutlers' Engineering Ambassadors at the 'What Employers Want' Conference...

Great to see these young people being put through their paces by employer volunteers from Doncasters Bramah, Liberty Steel, Chimo Holdings and Cooper Brown Enterprises. These young people have come so far in the last 2 years and gave up a day's holiday to join John and the team at Jurys Inn.

BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH BLBW AT THE MAGNA SCIENCE CENTRE!

John Barber and his Workwise colleagues organised two fantastic days at the Magna Science Centre over the half-term break...

On the first day, Ken Cooke, the current Master Cutler, handed out 'Better Learners, Better Workers' badges to the new Year 9 students from Park Academy, Springs Academy, Mexborough Academy, Oakwood High School, Horizon Community College and The Dearne ALC. He also took one for himself which he said he will wear with pride.  On the second day Year 9 students came from from Penistone Grammar School, Darton College, Oakwood High School, King Edward VII School, Yewlands Academy, Stocksbridge High School and Don Valley Academy.