[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] my dearest education forgive me for
my dearest education forgive me for
my dearest education forgive me for writing in such formal tones but some
writing in such formal tones but some
writing in such formal tones but some things can’t be captured in 140
things can’t be captured in 140
things can’t be captured in 140 characters or a selfie and what I’ve got
characters or a selfie and what I’ve got
characters or a selfie and what I’ve got to say feels more important to me than
to say feels more important to me than
to say feels more important to me than an update status so the problem is our
an update status so the problem is our
an update status so the problem is our relationship isn’t going too well these
relationship isn’t going too well these
relationship isn’t going too well these days in fact it’s because you’ve changed
days in fact it’s because you’ve changed
days in fact it’s because you’ve changed it might have taken a few stades but
it might have taken a few stades but
it might have taken a few stades but really if you look back over the
really if you look back over the
really if you look back over the centuries you now stand for something
centuries you now stand for something
centuries you now stand for something completely different it’s fair to say
completely different it’s fair to say
completely different it’s fair to say over the last few years particularly
over the last few years particularly
over the last few years particularly been hanging out and entirely the wrong
been hanging out and entirely the wrong
been hanging out and entirely the wrong crowd now those in Whitehall may mock
crowd now those in Whitehall may mock
crowd now those in Whitehall may mock but perhaps we could just take a few
but perhaps we could just take a few
but perhaps we could just take a few moments and pause and reflect and think
moments and pause and reflect and think
moments and pause and reflect and think about what is it we really want what is
about what is it we really want what is
about what is it we really want what is the purpose of Education what if the
the purpose of Education what if the
the purpose of Education what if the main not sold but main purpose of
main not sold but main purpose of
main not sold but main purpose of Education was to improve happiness
Education was to improve happiness
Education was to improve happiness develop resilience and build well-being
develop resilience and build well-being
develop resilience and build well-being what if the more time we spent thinking
what if the more time we spent thinking
what if the more time we spent thinking about some of these human skills that
about some of these human skills that
about some of these human skills that maybe we could just simply accept that
maybe we could just simply accept that
maybe we could just simply accept that academic success would follow this is
academic success would follow this is
academic success would follow this is not a breakup letter but it is a letter
not a breakup letter but it is a letter
not a breakup letter but it is a letter to call for change why well simply
to call for change why well simply
to call for change why well simply English young people are sitting once
English young people are sitting once
English young people are sitting once again low down the league tables but
again low down the league tables but
again low down the league tables but this in terms of happiness and despite
this in terms of happiness and despite
this in terms of happiness and despite prosperity getting better in England
prosperity getting better in England
prosperity getting better in England over the last 50 years happiness has
over the last 50 years happiness has
over the last 50 years happiness has barely improved at all 16 year olds are
barely improved at all 16 year olds are
barely improved at all 16 year olds are told around half of them that they’ve
told around half of them that they’ve
told around half of them that they’ve failed despite the system in which they
failed despite the system in which they
failed despite the system in which they have failed is one-dimensional only
have failed is one-dimensional only
have failed is one-dimensional only measures one type of intelligence and
measures one type of intelligence and
measures one type of intelligence and one type of academic attainment I’ve
one type of academic attainment I’ve
one type of academic attainment I’ve worked for years as a business coach and
worked for years as a business coach and
worked for years as a business coach and an educationalist where thousands of
an educationalist where thousands of
an educationalist where thousands of people have watched hundreds including
people have watched hundreds including
people have watched hundreds including myself fail why well it’s not because of
myself fail why well it’s not because of
myself fail why well it’s not because of insufficient talent or technical ability
insufficient talent or technical ability
insufficient talent or technical ability boffin it’s because of the lack of depth
boffin it’s because of the lack of depth
boffin it’s because of the lack of depth of motional resilience
of motional resilience
of motional resilience being in a position to understand your
being in a position to understand your
being in a position to understand your own purpose and being ready to thrive
own purpose and being ready to thrive
own purpose and being ready to thrive and if we don’t deal with this through
and if we don’t deal with this through
and if we don’t deal with this through practical ways then it leads us to a
practical ways then it leads us to a
practical ways then it leads us to a fairly sad and depressing place
fairly sad and depressing place
fairly sad and depressing place depressive action social isolation
depressive action social isolation
depressive action social isolation depression stress anxiety he’s not great
depression stress anxiety he’s not great
depression stress anxiety he’s not great things and yet they sadly missing from
things and yet they sadly missing from
things and yet they sadly missing from our curricula when people suffer will
our curricula when people suffer will
our curricula when people suffer will unnecessarily physically and emotionally
unnecessarily physically and emotionally
unnecessarily physically and emotionally with these actually they don’t suffer on
with these actually they don’t suffer on
with these actually they don’t suffer on their own today but they suffer with
their own today but they suffer with
their own today but they suffer with their families and the future business
their families and the future business
their families and the future business employers suffer with them the scenario
employers suffer with them the scenario
employers suffer with them the scenario no one feels like the winning at all we
no one feels like the winning at all we
no one feels like the winning at all we know that wanting for people will suffer
know that wanting for people will suffer
know that wanting for people will suffer mental health difficulty so why are not
mental health difficulty so why are not
mental health difficulty so why are not preparing people what we know they’re
preparing people what we know they’re
preparing people what we know they’re going to need which is self possession
going to need which is self possession
going to need which is self possession and an emotional security now there’s no
and an emotional security now there’s no
and an emotional security now there’s no silver bullet to deal with this and
silver bullet to deal with this and
silver bullet to deal with this and we’ve got to acknowledge that starting a
we’ve got to acknowledge that starting a
we’ve got to acknowledge that starting a conversation surely is the right
conversation surely is the right
conversation surely is the right starting point for us now qualifications
starting point for us now qualifications
starting point for us now qualifications are important but the far from
are important but the far from
are important but the far from sufficient for helping people live happy
sufficient for helping people live happy
sufficient for helping people live happy human lives in the world in which we’ve
human lives in the world in which we’ve
human lives in the world in which we’ve created there’s an obsession by regional
created there’s an obsession by regional
created there’s an obsession by regional national government of measuring
national government of measuring
national government of measuring economic impact there is endless talk
economic impact there is endless talk
economic impact there is endless talk about skill shortages and skills gaps
about skill shortages and skills gaps
about skill shortages and skills gaps and the need to solely meet the needs of
and the need to solely meet the needs of
and the need to solely meet the needs of employers in order to drive up
employers in order to drive up
employers in order to drive up productivity standards the necessity of
productivity standards the necessity of
productivity standards the necessity of growth is always economic and rarely
growth is always economic and rarely
growth is always economic and rarely human my dear education in the system
human my dear education in the system
human my dear education in the system you created you simply a valuing the
you created you simply a valuing the
you created you simply a valuing the wrong things feels like the right time
wrong things feels like the right time
wrong things feels like the right time to have the conversation feels like the
to have the conversation feels like the
to have the conversation feels like the right time a change the conditions
right time a change the conditions
right time a change the conditions should seriously and simply be better so
should seriously and simply be better so
should seriously and simply be better so what might a great system look like well
what might a great system look like well
what might a great system look like well firstly to start acknowledging that we
firstly to start acknowledging that we
firstly to start acknowledging that we need to teach well-being and well-being
need to teach well-being and well-being
need to teach well-being and well-being is a valid educational outcome feels
is a valid educational outcome feels
is a valid educational outcome feels like a great place to start and also the
like a great place to start and also the
like a great place to start and also the development of character william
development of character william
development of character william challeng wrote that the actual birth of
challeng wrote that the actual birth of
challeng wrote that the actual birth of society sits with an individual
society sits with an individual
society sits with an individual character
character
character and i believe the character we
and i believe the character we
and i believe the character we developing colleges and higher education
developing colleges and higher education
developing colleges and higher education institutions and schools is of massive
institutions and schools is of massive
institutions and schools is of massive societal importance it has a huge effect
societal importance it has a huge effect
societal importance it has a huge effect and whilst technical education is
and whilst technical education is
and whilst technical education is something that’s going to get you a job
something that’s going to get you a job
something that’s going to get you a job its character that’s going to keep it
its character that’s going to keep it
its character that’s going to keep it there we all know this it also helps you
there we all know this it also helps you
there we all know this it also helps you become a better brother a sister a
become a better brother a sister a
become a better brother a sister a neighbor community leader people we need
neighbor community leader people we need
neighbor community leader people we need to live next door to in the future it’s
to live next door to in the future it’s
to live next door to in the future it’s not just about character development but
not just about character development but
not just about character development but it’s about emotional literacy if you
it’s about emotional literacy if you
it’s about emotional literacy if you look to the economist richard Laird and
look to the economist richard Laird and
look to the economist richard Laird and his book thrive he often reports that
his book thrive he often reports that
his book thrive he often reports that people who’ve got strong levels of
people who’ve got strong levels of
people who’ve got strong levels of emotional literacy also correlates with
emotional literacy also correlates with
emotional literacy also correlates with their overall high levels of life
their overall high levels of life
their overall high levels of life satisfaction so it feels like this
satisfaction so it feels like this
satisfaction so it feels like this becomes increasingly important to the
becomes increasingly important to the
becomes increasingly important to the franco Bulgarian philosopher called
franco Bulgarian philosopher called
franco Bulgarian philosopher called taught off who actually talks in an
taught off who actually talks in an
taught off who actually talks in an extension essential way about the modern
extension essential way about the modern
extension essential way about the modern condition being trapped between the two
condition being trapped between the two
condition being trapped between the two pillars of freedom and responsibility
pillars of freedom and responsibility
pillars of freedom and responsibility and that actually we need to make
and that actually we need to make
and that actually we need to make choices in our lives what sort of life
choices in our lives what sort of life
choices in our lives what sort of life we want to lead surely a great
we want to lead surely a great
we want to lead surely a great educational system as educators we would
educational system as educators we would
educational system as educators we would scaffold some of those choices scaffold
scaffold some of those choices scaffold
scaffold some of those choices scaffold some of that thinking people would find
some of that thinking people would find
some of that thinking people would find a place to trial and error to find their
a place to trial and error to find their
a place to trial and error to find their passions to find their purpose to
passions to find their purpose to
passions to find their purpose to experiment and actually different
experiment and actually different
experiment and actually different passions would be valued in the same
passions would be valued in the same
passions would be valued in the same same way the wood craftsman with a
same way the wood craftsman with a
same way the wood craftsman with a science graduate young people would be
science graduate young people would be
science graduate young people would be allowed to explore their values and
allowed to explore their values and
allowed to explore their values and understand how they connect with the
understand how they connect with the
understand how they connect with the society in which they live it feels like
society in which they live it feels like
society in which they live it feels like it’s something missing from right now
it’s something missing from right now
it’s something missing from right now but we have got hope because generation
but we have got hope because generation
but we have got hope because generation Zed the ones coming through right now so
Zed the ones coming through right now so
Zed the ones coming through right now so really believing themselves and that’s a
really believing themselves and that’s a
really believing themselves and that’s a superb thing the thing they’re equipped
superb thing the thing they’re equipped
superb thing the thing they’re equipped with all of the things they need to find
with all of the things they need to find
with all of the things they need to find and actually they’re carrying around in
and actually they’re carrying around in
and actually they’re carrying around in their pockets most of the time so
their pockets most of the time so
their pockets most of the time so perhaps all we need to do as educators
perhaps all we need to do as educators
perhaps all we need to do as educators and business leaders is to facilitate
and business leaders is to facilitate
and business leaders is to facilitate them they’re joining us of discovery
them they’re joining us of discovery
them they’re joining us of discovery they’re just journeys
they’re just journeys
they’re just journeys finding their passions and occasionally
finding their passions and occasionally
finding their passions and occasionally they might need help in understanding
they might need help in understanding
they might need help in understanding what means makes perseverance and how it
what means makes perseverance and how it
what means makes perseverance and how it deal with setbacks in life that we’re
deal with setbacks in life that we’re
deal with setbacks in life that we’re all necessarily going to get perhaps we
all necessarily going to get perhaps we
all necessarily going to get perhaps we occasionally might need to help them
occasionally might need to help them
occasionally might need to help them unshackle themselves from their digital
unshackle themselves from their digital
unshackle themselves from their digital world and work out what emotions mean in
world and work out what emotions mean in
world and work out what emotions mean in the offline or sometimes I call it real
the offline or sometimes I call it real
the offline or sometimes I call it real world so this is what I’m writing to you
world so this is what I’m writing to you
world so this is what I’m writing to you about this is my idea now I know my dear
about this is my idea now I know my dear
about this is my idea now I know my dear education you don’t like radical ideas
education you don’t like radical ideas
education you don’t like radical ideas you and your friends don’t really like
you and your friends don’t really like
you and your friends don’t really like that so actually let’s go back some old
that so actually let’s go back some old
that so actually let’s go back some old ideas some old thinking some old wisdom
ideas some old thinking some old wisdom
ideas some old thinking some old wisdom I’d actually call upon the ancient
I’d actually call upon the ancient
I’d actually call upon the ancient Greeks and these than philosophies to
Greeks and these than philosophies to
Greeks and these than philosophies to give us some help in guidance at this
give us some help in guidance at this
give us some help in guidance at this stage in Aristotle said there was a sign
stage in Aristotle said there was a sign
stage in Aristotle said there was a sign of an educated mind that can entertain a
of an educated mind that can entertain a
of an educated mind that can entertain a thought without accepting it so let’s
thought without accepting it so let’s
thought without accepting it so let’s for a few moments see if we can
for a few moments see if we can
for a few moments see if we can entertain some thoughts I turn to the
entertain some thoughts I turn to the
entertain some thoughts I turn to the ancient Greeks and try and rediscover a
ancient Greeks and try and rediscover a
ancient Greeks and try and rediscover a concept to a ret a ret to fascinating
concept to a ret a ret to fascinating
concept to a ret a ret to fascinating idea in ancient Greece the concept of a
idea in ancient Greece the concept of a
idea in ancient Greece the concept of a rare was the fulfillment of potential
rare was the fulfillment of potential
rare was the fulfillment of potential people have a ret were not only brave
people have a ret were not only brave
people have a ret were not only brave but they are the highest levels of
but they are the highest levels of
but they are the highest levels of effectiveness and the Homeric poems they
effectiveness and the Homeric poems they
effectiveness and the Homeric poems they had to use these heroes of men and women
had to use these heroes of men and women
had to use these heroes of men and women of a ret how to use a bravery there wit
of a ret how to use a bravery there wit
of a ret how to use a bravery there wit their strength and all of their
their strength and all of their
their strength and all of their intelligence and character in order to
intelligence and character in order to
intelligence and character in order to make the world a better place let’s
make the world a better place let’s
make the world a better place let’s rediscover ret let’s help people find
rediscover ret let’s help people find
rediscover ret let’s help people find their potentials in that Henry through
their potentials in that Henry through
their potentials in that Henry through is often misquoted but I like it anyway
is often misquoted but I like it anyway
is often misquoted but I like it anyway saying the most men lead lives of quiet
saying the most men lead lives of quiet
saying the most men lead lives of quiet desperation and die with their songs
desperation and die with their songs
desperation and die with their songs still inside them surely our challenge
still inside them surely our challenge
still inside them surely our challenge now is to not only inspire a generation
now is to not only inspire a generation
now is to not only inspire a generation but inspire them to sink as well from
but inspire them to sink as well from
but inspire them to sink as well from the Buddhist philosophy the mantra of
the Buddhist philosophy the mantra of
the Buddhist philosophy the mantra of all life is suffering is well
all life is suffering is well
all life is suffering is well established but in that philosophy it’s
established but in that philosophy it’s
established but in that philosophy it’s ameliorated easily through teaching
ameliorated easily through teaching
ameliorated easily through teaching let’s bring humanism and compassion back
let’s bring humanism and compassion back
let’s bring humanism and compassion back into our classrooms through our teaching
into our classrooms through our teaching
into our classrooms through our teaching let’s deal with people and help them
let’s deal with people and help them
let’s deal with people and help them become
become
become capacity in dealing with the ups and
capacity in dealing with the ups and
capacity in dealing with the ups and downs that life which are inevitable in
downs that life which are inevitable in
downs that life which are inevitable in fact more than inevitable they’re
fact more than inevitable they’re
fact more than inevitable they’re essential to help us grow let’s help
essential to help us grow let’s help
essential to help us grow let’s help them find peace in the world that we
them find peace in the world that we
them find peace in the world that we know they’re going to have to live in so
know they’re going to have to live in so
know they’re going to have to live in so before we’re seduced by rhetoric perhaps
before we’re seduced by rhetoric perhaps
before we’re seduced by rhetoric perhaps we can pause and think what is it we
we can pause and think what is it we
we can pause and think what is it we want to take away what am I really
want to take away what am I really
want to take away what am I really asking you to do in this love letter and
asking you to do in this love letter and
asking you to do in this love letter and call a change well actually I’m asking
call a change well actually I’m asking
call a change well actually I’m asking for three things firstly I’m asking for
for three things firstly I’m asking for
for three things firstly I’m asking for us to start a collective and urgent
us to start a collective and urgent
us to start a collective and urgent conversation but all of us need to
conversation but all of us need to
conversation but all of us need to participate in both sides of what are
participate in both sides of what are
participate in both sides of what are seemingly as a divided line to really
seemingly as a divided line to really
seemingly as a divided line to really think about what the purpose of
think about what the purpose of
think about what the purpose of education is and what is it young people
education is and what is it young people
education is and what is it young people really need rather than replicating what
really need rather than replicating what
really need rather than replicating what we often have always done second let
we often have always done second let
we often have always done second let straight take some time to rebalance our
straight take some time to rebalance our
straight take some time to rebalance our system between academic attainment but
system between academic attainment but
system between academic attainment but using concepts of positive psychology
using concepts of positive psychology
using concepts of positive psychology and well-being and perhaps some of the
and well-being and perhaps some of the
and well-being and perhaps some of the old philosophies in order to improve the
old philosophies in order to improve the
old philosophies in order to improve the outcomes of young people in terms of
outcomes of young people in terms of
outcomes of young people in terms of building their resilience and their
building their resilience and their
building their resilience and their happiness and finally let’s credit the
happiness and finally let’s credit the
happiness and finally let’s credit the skills of young people in more than just
skills of young people in more than just
skills of young people in more than just academic attainment qualifications are
academic attainment qualifications are
academic attainment qualifications are important there are current
important there are current
important there are current understanding of portable currency but
understanding of portable currency but
understanding of portable currency but they’re not enough and we know they’re
they’re not enough and we know they’re
they’re not enough and we know they’re not enough deep down so let’s try and
not enough deep down so let’s try and
not enough deep down so let’s try and rebalance what we’re trying to do
rebalance what we’re trying to do
rebalance what we’re trying to do Madonna education I love you and I
Madonna education I love you and I
Madonna education I love you and I always will right back soon because i’d
always will right back soon because i’d
always will right back soon because i’d love to don’t you think your’s always
love to don’t you think your’s always
love to don’t you think your’s always thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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