Thursday 29 January 2015

GRIT = PERSEVERENCE + PASSION... PASS IT ON!

Developing character is increasingly being seen as important alongside great academic results. Grit is a character trait that involves perseverance and passion to accomplish a long term goal no matter what challenges lie in the way.

Monday 26 January 2015

CUTLERS COMMITTEE MEETINGS.... PASS IT ON!

I was in Sheffield this morning meeting with the Cutlers' Education Committee which is guiding the Cutlers' Made in Sheffield scheme. 

Saturday 24 January 2015

CHARACTER SKILLS... PASS IT ON!

We need to develop skills, behaviours, character traits alongside knowledge and understanding if we want to help our children and young people compete and succeed.

CHARACTER COUNTS... PASS IT ON!

Behaviour, integrity and character should lie at the heart of everything we do with children and young people and should guide our provision and practice at every stage of a child's learning.

Friday 23 January 2015

MINDSET MATTERS... PASS IT ON!

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. Moreover, people with a 'fixed mindset' often generalize from their “failures” to conclusions such as, “I am a loser,” and “I will probably always fail. Therefore, they assume, there is no point in getting up and working at problems and issues. So they quit, they give up and they seek a more comfortable option such as eating, drinking, shopping whatever to avoid facing what they consider to be their personal failure.

Thursday 22 January 2015

THE HECKMAN EQUATION... PASS IT ON!

At the heart of the Cutlers' "Made in Sheffield" approach is a recognition that to be successful young people need skills, behaviours and character traits alongside knowledge and understanding and that we need to develop a curriculum entitlement that develops all of these.

Wednesday 21 January 2015

CHARACTER MATTERS... PASS IT ON!

I was re-reading Paul Tough's book 'How Children Succeed'. In this great read he highlights the qualities most likely to ensure a better job, a better degree and a better and more fulfilling life... grit, curiosity and character. 

Tuesday 20 January 2015

TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME BETTER LEARNERS... PASS IT ON!

The last two years, working in Sheffield on the Cutlers' Made in Sheffield programme, has helped me to better understand that developing better learners and better workers requires us to pay attention to students’ mindsets, skills, strategies, and behaviours as well as their content knowledge and academic skills. Interestingly, this approach is supported by something I have been reading...

Monday 19 January 2015

TOGETHER WE CAN... PASS IT ON!

I have visited some great schools over the last term and each visit makes me realise that leadership, teaching and teamwork are what matters.

Sunday 18 January 2015

HAPPY SUNDAY... PASS IT ON!

Another cold, frosty but sunny morning here in York...
...hope that the sun is shining where you are!

Thursday 15 January 2015

THE 'MADE IN SHEFFIELD' ENGINEERING STRAND.... PASS IT ON!

While I was in Sheffield today, I also met 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 Community College,  Handsworth Grange School, Stocksbridge High School, Westfield School and Yewlands Academy.

MADE IN SHEFFIELD HEADTEACHERS SESSION... PASS IT ON!

I was in Sheffield today for a breakfast meeting with headteachers, principals and colleagues from the schools involved in the Cutlers' Made in Sheffield scheme. We are meeting twice a year to review the progress we are making and to look at how we can continue to develop the work we have been doing. 

Wednesday 14 January 2015

TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING EVERYTHING... PASS IT ON!

We have come a very long way since I started out in this wonderful profession and together we have achieved so much with technology changing the learning landscape beyond anything I could have imagined. And by the way don't believe those miserable individuals who constantly run down what our schools and our young people are achieving… all the evidence suggests that our young people are smarter and cleverer than ever and so are our teachers!

Tuesday 13 January 2015

KINDNESS MATTERS... PASS IT ON!

While there is a lot wrong with it, at its brilliant best, the NHS is simply wonderful...

Monday 12 January 2015

CONNECTED LEARNERS MATTER... PASS IT ON!

What always surprises me is how much potential there is out there. Our job as leaders, as managers, as coaches, as teachers, as parents, as people who care, is to help individuals set their goals, realise their enormous potential and understand that this is not as good as it gets! And, I realise more and more as I get older that it is all about co-operation, teamwork, networking and partnering. 

Saturday 10 January 2015

PASSION MATTERS... PASS IT ON!

Education is a passionate enterprise built on the interaction between human beings: teachers, students and parents. 

Wednesday 7 January 2015

CUTLERS ENGINEERING AMBASSADORS

I had a great day today at Brindsworth Training in Rotherham with colleagues from Workwise who were working with Year 9 and 10 ambassadors from the five schools working together this year on the Cutlers 'Made in Sheffield' Project!

Tuesday 6 January 2015

DREAM AND DREAM BIG... PASS IT ON!

This year we all need to remember that exploring, sharing, connecting and contributing is what learning is all about.