
are you schooled or are you educated it’s time to reflect
it’s time to reflect
it’s time to reflect is it the schooling or the education
is it the schooling or the education
is it the schooling or the education that shapes who you are good afternoon
that shapes who you are good afternoon
that shapes who you are good afternoon my name is Luis Smith I graduated here
my name is Luis Smith I graduated here
my name is Luis Smith I graduated here in Lincoln just up the hill for my
in Lincoln just up the hill for my
in Lincoln just up the hill for my undergraduate degree I specialized in
undergraduate degree I specialized in
undergraduate degree I specialized in education studies and special
education studies and special
education studies and special educational needs quite a wordy degree
educational needs quite a wordy degree
educational needs quite a wordy degree title when you’re explaining it to
title when you’re explaining it to
title when you’re explaining it to friends down the pub currently I’ve been
friends down the pub currently I’ve been
friends down the pub currently I’ve been offered the fantastic opportunity to
offered the fantastic opportunity to
offered the fantastic opportunity to conduct my teacher training in school it
conduct my teacher training in school it
conduct my teacher training in school it is a challenge every day it is daunting
is a challenge every day it is daunting
is a challenge every day it is daunting almost as daunting as the talk nearly
almost as daunting as the talk nearly
almost as daunting as the talk nearly hours ago but it’s something that I’m
hours ago but it’s something that I’m
hours ago but it’s something that I’m passionate about and it’s something that
passionate about and it’s something that
passionate about and it’s something that challenges me every day but most
challenges me every day but most
challenges me every day but most importantly it makes me think Germa
importantly it makes me think Germa
importantly it makes me think Germa studies I was always fascinated by the
studies I was always fascinated by the
studies I was always fascinated by the changing way of our society the way that
changing way of our society the way that
changing way of our society the way that in a space of five years we can change
in a space of five years we can change
in a space of five years we can change from something being unacceptable to
from something being unacceptable to
from something being unacceptable to something being acceptable if we look
something being acceptable if we look
something being acceptable if we look back through our history from the
back through our history from the
back through our history from the industrial the Industrial Revolution to
industrial the Industrial Revolution to
industrial the Industrial Revolution to today we can see this changing nature of
today we can see this changing nature of
today we can see this changing nature of education the beauty of being a teacher
education the beauty of being a teacher
education the beauty of being a teacher and being an educator is it is possible
and being an educator is it is possible
and being an educator is it is possible to examine the journeys that we have
to examine the journeys that we have
to examine the journeys that we have gone through as a society the teaching
gone through as a society the teaching
gone through as a society the teaching that we have had our parents our
that we have had our parents our
that we have had our parents our grandparents and in the future our
grandparents and in the future our
grandparents and in the future our children our grandchildren it makes us
children our grandchildren it makes us
children our grandchildren it makes us think what is the shape of Education in
think what is the shape of Education in
think what is the shape of Education in the 21st century where are we going it’s
the 21st century where are we going it’s
the 21st century where are we going it’s possible to argue that in a 21st century
possible to argue that in a 21st century
possible to argue that in a 21st century we are catered more towards schooling
we are catered more towards schooling
we are catered more towards schooling than education it’s important to break
than education it’s important to break
than education it’s important to break this down into two key concepts however
this down into two key concepts however
this down into two key concepts however number one schooling this relates to the
number one schooling this relates to the
number one schooling this relates to the qualifications we receive the formal
qualifications we receive the formal
qualifications we receive the formal academic behaviors that we learn such as
academic behaviors that we learn such as
academic behaviors that we learn such as grammar formal and informal tone and how
grammar formal and informal tone and how
grammar formal and informal tone and how to structure our writing to communicate
to structure our writing to communicate
to structure our writing to communicate between each other this is specifically
between each other this is specifically
between each other this is specifically the knowledge we have gained in school
the knowledge we have gained in school
the knowledge we have gained in school it’s our maths GCSEs our science GCSEs
it’s our maths GCSEs our science GCSEs
it’s our maths GCSEs our science GCSEs the Duke of Edinburgh Award
but what for education what is education
but what for education what is education I argue that it’s the skills we have the
I argue that it’s the skills we have the
I argue that it’s the skills we have the behavior and knowledge that we adopt as
behavior and knowledge that we adopt as
behavior and knowledge that we adopt as individuals this is regardless of the
individuals this is regardless of the
individuals this is regardless of the environment it’s unique it’s a social
environment it’s unique it’s a social
environment it’s unique it’s a social skills we have the morals the life
skills we have the morals the life
skills we have the morals the life skills and hobbies that we take for
skills and hobbies that we take for
skills and hobbies that we take for granted every single day in simple terms
granted every single day in simple terms
granted every single day in simple terms schooling relates to the qualifications
schooling relates to the qualifications
schooling relates to the qualifications and knowledge we gain within school
and knowledge we gain within school
and knowledge we gain within school education includes these aspects such as
education includes these aspects such as
education includes these aspects such as reading and writing but is also
reading and writing but is also
reading and writing but is also vocational and creative it’s possible to
vocational and creative it’s possible to
vocational and creative it’s possible to argue that education is what we have
argue that education is what we have
argue that education is what we have learnt as individuals on our own
learnt as individuals on our own
learnt as individuals on our own journeys but it contains aspects which
journeys but it contains aspects which
journeys but it contains aspects which are often neglected within school in our
are often neglected within school in our
are often neglected within school in our everyday lives
everyday lives
everyday lives we apply for jobs job applications often
we apply for jobs job applications often
we apply for jobs job applications often state their requirement for
state their requirement for
state their requirement for qualification quite often this precedes
qualification quite often this precedes
qualification quite often this precedes the optional inclusion of experience for
the optional inclusion of experience for
the optional inclusion of experience for some fields this is a benefit I am a
some fields this is a benefit I am a
some fields this is a benefit I am a teacher the qualifications and skills
teacher the qualifications and skills
teacher the qualifications and skills that I have learnt within schooling are
that I have learnt within schooling are
that I have learnt within schooling are vital to my industry we have standards
vital to my industry we have standards
vital to my industry we have standards we have a shared consensus on what we
we have a shared consensus on what we
we have a shared consensus on what we need to know however is this always the
need to know however is this always the
need to know however is this always the case
case
case when I was 16 I worked in retail it was
when I was 16 I worked in retail it was
when I was 16 I worked in retail it was a fascinating job that I did every
a fascinating job that I did every
a fascinating job that I did every single weekend I got the job I was told
single weekend I got the job I was told
single weekend I got the job I was told by my manager because of the GCSEs that
by my manager because of the GCSEs that
by my manager because of the GCSEs that I had in sociology and history putting
I had in sociology and history putting
I had in sociology and history putting me above other candidates but why should
me above other candidates but why should
me above other candidates but why should that be the case if I have never worn
that be the case if I have never worn
that be the case if I have never worn the clothing brand why should I get the
the clothing brand why should I get the
the clothing brand why should I get the job above someone who wears it every
job above someone who wears it every
job above someone who wears it every single day for many this is a strange
single day for many this is a strange
single day for many this is a strange concept looking at job qualifications it
concept looking at job qualifications it
concept looking at job qualifications it is the industry standard to go for the
is the industry standard to go for the
is the industry standard to go for the qualifications over experience we do not
qualifications over experience we do not
qualifications over experience we do not look at the knowledge of the individual
look at the knowledge of the individual
look at the knowledge of the individual but how qualified they are on paper in
but how qualified they are on paper in
but how qualified they are on paper in the 21st century these applications
the 21st century these applications
the 21st century these applications focus upon the attainment and
focus upon the attainment and
focus upon the attainment and classification of qualification not the
classification of qualification not the
classification of qualification not the nature of the qualification having the
nature of the qualification having the
nature of the qualification having the qualification this means that quite
qualification this means that quite
qualification this means that quite often we have individuals who are not
often we have individuals who are not
often we have individuals who are not qualified for the roles they have the
qualified for the roles they have the
qualified for the roles they have the paper but they do not have the knowledge
paper but they do not have the knowledge
paper but they do not have the knowledge the passion and the drive but this is
the passion and the drive but this is
the passion and the drive but this is not just the working world this is our
not just the working world this is our
not just the working world this is our extracurricular activities if we look at
extracurricular activities if we look at
extracurricular activities if we look at theater groups look at the pianist quite
theater groups look at the pianist quite
theater groups look at the pianist quite often they all have grades this neglects
often they all have grades this neglects
often they all have grades this neglects the individual who knows the piece off
the individual who knows the piece off
the individual who knows the piece off by heart for someone who may not even
by heart for someone who may not even
by heart for someone who may not even know that musical each of us will face
know that musical each of us will face
know that musical each of us will face this at one stage in our life we will do
this at one stage in our life we will do
this at one stage in our life we will do something that we do not have the formal
something that we do not have the formal
something that we do not have the formal schooling and qualifications to do I do
schooling and qualifications to do I do
schooling and qualifications to do I do not have a public speaking qualification
not have a public speaking qualification
not have a public speaking qualification but Here I am today it’s the passion and
but Here I am today it’s the passion and
but Here I am today it’s the passion and drive that I have which brought me here
drive that I have which brought me here
drive that I have which brought me here not a piece of paper but does this mean
not a piece of paper but does this mean
not a piece of paper but does this mean if you do not have a formal
if you do not have a formal
if you do not have a formal qualification you do not have knowledge
the changes in our society have become
the changes in our society have become more apparent if you look at education
more apparent if you look at education
more apparent if you look at education there is a pressure on academic test
there is a pressure on academic test
there is a pressure on academic test scores every year in July and August we
scores every year in July and August we
scores every year in July and August we hear about GCSE pass rates a2 sees how
hear about GCSE pass rates a2 sees how
hear about GCSE pass rates a2 sees how many a to sees as a percentage we’re at
many a to sees as a percentage we’re at
many a to sees as a percentage we’re at this school but this wasn’t always the
this school but this wasn’t always the
this school but this wasn’t always the case at the start of the 21st century
case at the start of the 21st century
case at the start of the 21st century there was an emphasis on vocational arts
there was an emphasis on vocational arts
there was an emphasis on vocational arts and creative practice now the focus has
and creative practice now the focus has
and creative practice now the focus has changed onto academics the result is
changed onto academics the result is
changed onto academics the result is that our vocation on creative subjects
that our vocation on creative subjects
that our vocation on creative subjects have been neglected the focus upon
have been neglected the focus upon
have been neglected the focus upon academic discipline and formal
academic discipline and formal
academic discipline and formal qualification is now the priority of
qualification is now the priority of
qualification is now the priority of many schools but the focus of our
many schools but the focus of our
many schools but the focus of our schooling is shaped by the societal
schooling is shaped by the societal
schooling is shaped by the societal values around us it is what we do as a
values around us it is what we do as a
values around us it is what we do as a society which shapes our schooling the
society which shapes our schooling the
society which shapes our schooling the focus of our society in the 21st century
focus of our society in the 21st century
focus of our society in the 21st century is on academic qualifications and what
is on academic qualifications and what
is on academic qualifications and what we have on our CV we promote school
we have on our CV we promote school
we have on our CV we promote school University to our children because it
University to our children because it
University to our children because it gets in the qualifications that gets
gets in the qualifications that gets
gets in the qualifications that gets them ahead that is the nature of the
them ahead that is the nature of the
them ahead that is the nature of the society we live in in my own
society we live in in my own
society we live in in my own professional environment however there
professional environment however there
professional environment however there is a disparity between this I work in a
is a disparity between this I work in a
is a disparity between this I work in a special-needs school we have children
special-needs school we have children
special-needs school we have children with a range of learning difficulties
with a range of learning difficulties
with a range of learning difficulties but primarily they are severe learning
but primarily they are severe learning
but primarily they are severe learning difficulties students we do not do GCSEs
difficulties students we do not do GCSEs
difficulties students we do not do GCSEs we’d not do not do a levels instead our
we’d not do not do a levels instead our
we’d not do not do a levels instead our children do entry level qualifications
children do entry level qualifications
children do entry level qualifications and functional skills cost whilst these
and functional skills cost whilst these
and functional skills cost whilst these are formal qualifications they are not
are formal qualifications they are not
are formal qualifications they are not regarded as a high level by employers
regarded as a high level by employers
regarded as a high level by employers and so many students are neglected but
and so many students are neglected but
and so many students are neglected but this is not just happening in special
this is not just happening in special
this is not just happening in special schools but for the students who go for
schools but for the students who go for
schools but for the students who go for vocational courses and envy queues while
vocational courses and envy queues while
vocational courses and envy queues while these courses hold their own merits and
these courses hold their own merits and
these courses hold their own merits and our formal qualifications are being
our formal qualifications are being
our formal qualifications are being neglected in favour of traditional
neglected in favour of traditional
neglected in favour of traditional schooling this does not need to be the
schooling this does not need to be the
schooling this does not need to be the case and it has not always been the case
case and it has not always been the case
case and it has not always been the case so Richard Branson is an individual we
so Richard Branson is an individual we
so Richard Branson is an individual we will all know in this room he is one of
will all know in this room he is one of
will all know in this room he is one of the most successful businessman of the
the most successful businessman of the
the most successful businessman of the 21st century however his schooling
21st century however his schooling
21st century however his schooling he was seen as underachieving failing it
he was seen as underachieving failing it
he was seen as underachieving failing it was down to his education the skills
was down to his education the skills
was down to his education the skills passion and drive that he obtained
passion and drive that he obtained
passion and drive that he obtained outside of schooling that made him the
outside of schooling that made him the
outside of schooling that made him the person he is today made him the person
person he is today made him the person
person he is today made him the person that runs the Virgin Group which runs
that runs the Virgin Group which runs
that runs the Virgin Group which runs over 400 businesses worldwide and has a
over 400 businesses worldwide and has a
over 400 businesses worldwide and has a net worth of over 1.5 billion dollars
net worth of over 1.5 billion dollars
net worth of over 1.5 billion dollars but there are similar stories
but there are similar stories
but there are similar stories Bill Gates Mark Zuckerberg Steve Jobs
Bill Gates Mark Zuckerberg Steve Jobs
Bill Gates Mark Zuckerberg Steve Jobs even Florence Nightingale had no formal
even Florence Nightingale had no formal
even Florence Nightingale had no formal schooling but was one of the pioneers of
schooling but was one of the pioneers of
schooling but was one of the pioneers of her time these individuals did not
her time these individuals did not
her time these individuals did not receive the highest level of formal
receive the highest level of formal
receive the highest level of formal schooling but they inspire us daily they
schooling but they inspire us daily they
schooling but they inspire us daily they impact our lives and change the way we
impact our lives and change the way we
impact our lives and change the way we think of the world based on this I ask
think of the world based on this I ask
think of the world based on this I ask one question does schooling and
one question does schooling and
one question does schooling and qualifications make us who we are or is
qualifications make us who we are or is
qualifications make us who we are or is it the education the development of
it the education the development of
it the education the development of knowledge which shapes who we are as
knowledge which shapes who we are as
knowledge which shapes who we are as individuals is it having a GCSE in PE
individuals is it having a GCSE in PE
individuals is it having a GCSE in PE that makes me a good football coach or
that makes me a good football coach or
that makes me a good football coach or is it the passion and drive I’ve had
is it the passion and drive I’ve had
is it the passion and drive I’ve had since I could walk that makes me a good
since I could walk that makes me a good
since I could walk that makes me a good coach I oppose the argument to your that
coach I oppose the argument to your that
coach I oppose the argument to your that schooling does not inform who we are
schooling does not inform who we are
schooling does not inform who we are it’s the education we have that informs
it’s the education we have that informs
it’s the education we have that informs the choices that we make in our lives
the choices that we make in our lives
the choices that we make in our lives it’s not the qualities it’s not the
it’s not the qualities it’s not the
it’s not the qualities it’s not the qualifications but the knowledge and
qualifications but the knowledge and
qualifications but the knowledge and experience from all aspects of our life
experience from all aspects of our life
experience from all aspects of our life which influences how we are it’s the
which influences how we are it’s the
which influences how we are it’s the teamwork and leadership we gained
teamwork and leadership we gained
teamwork and leadership we gained through being part of sports clubs when
through being part of sports clubs when
through being part of sports clubs when we were younger
we were younger
we were younger the discipline and dedication from
the discipline and dedication from
the discipline and dedication from theater groups in learning our lines in
theater groups in learning our lines in
theater groups in learning our lines in going the extra mile and it’s the care
going the extra mile and it’s the care
going the extra mile and it’s the care and empathy that we gained from looking
and empathy that we gained from looking
and empathy that we gained from looking after members of our own family which
after members of our own family which
after members of our own family which shapes our morals and our life skills
shapes our morals and our life skills
shapes our morals and our life skills but it’s not just this for those who
but it’s not just this for those who
but it’s not just this for those who went traveling what did you learn when
went traveling what did you learn when
went traveling what did you learn when you moved into the house that you now
you moved into the house that you now
you moved into the house that you now live in for the first time and that
live in for the first time and that
live in for the first time and that boiler wasn’t working quite right what
boiler wasn’t working quite right what
boiler wasn’t working quite right what did you learn these aspects shapers who
did you learn these aspects shapers who
did you learn these aspects shapers who shape who we are imagine after the event
shape who we are imagine after the event
shape who we are imagine after the event today we’re set having a coffee and I
today we’re set having a coffee and I
today we’re set having a coffee and I was to turn around go if I were to ask
was to turn around go if I were to ask
was to turn around go if I were to ask you to name your best qualities as a
you to name your best qualities as a
you to name your best qualities as a person which of these are done schooling
person which of these are done schooling
person which of these are done schooling on the other hand how many of these
on the other hand how many of these
on the other hand how many of these skills that you take for granted daily
skills that you take for granted daily
skills that you take for granted daily are down to the education you have for
are down to the education you have for
are down to the education you have for some schooling is a large proportion of
some schooling is a large proportion of
some schooling is a large proportion of their life as a teacher schooling has
their life as a teacher schooling has
their life as a teacher schooling has shaped my career and giving me the
shaped my career and giving me the
shaped my career and giving me the skills I require on a daily basis but
skills I require on a daily basis but
skills I require on a daily basis but that’s not just who I am
that’s not just who I am
that’s not just who I am that’s not just my life Society moving
that’s not just my life Society moving
that’s not just my life Society moving forward needs to reflect that this is
forward needs to reflect that this is
forward needs to reflect that this is not the case for everyone not everyone
not the case for everyone not everyone
not the case for everyone not everyone will be catered towards this formal
will be catered towards this formal
will be catered towards this formal qualifications some will be vocational
qualifications some will be vocational
qualifications some will be vocational creative have amazing stories which will
creative have amazing stories which will
creative have amazing stories which will inspire us to make change the national
inspire us to make change the national
inspire us to make change the national curriculum key legislative guidance that
curriculum key legislative guidance that
curriculum key legislative guidance that works to the benefit of all schools
works to the benefit of all schools
works to the benefit of all schools across the country states explicitly
across the country states explicitly
across the country states explicitly that the curriculum and schooling is
that the curriculum and schooling is
that the curriculum and schooling is just one element of the education of
just one element of the education of
just one element of the education of every child society will always need
every child society will always need
every child society will always need schooling and a positive impact that it
schooling and a positive impact that it
schooling and a positive impact that it has it works in collaboration as with so
has it works in collaboration as with so
has it works in collaboration as with so many aspects in our lives we need to
many aspects in our lives we need to
many aspects in our lives we need to open our eyes to a new perspective a
open our eyes to a new perspective a
open our eyes to a new perspective a perspective that many are educated
perspective that many are educated
perspective that many are educated outside of
outside of
outside of school and neglected for roles they
school and neglected for roles they
school and neglected for roles they would excel in this is those who do not
would excel in this is those who do not
would excel in this is those who do not have the formal qualifications but are
have the formal qualifications but are
have the formal qualifications but are passionate for a role think back to the
passionate for a role think back to the
passionate for a role think back to the theater group the pianists would you
theater group the pianists would you
theater group the pianists would you choose a pianist who is dedicated to the
choose a pianist who is dedicated to the
choose a pianist who is dedicated to the musical you are putting on and those
musical you are putting on and those
musical you are putting on and those every single song perfectly but because
every single song perfectly but because
every single song perfectly but because they don’t have a grade you start
they don’t have a grade you start
they don’t have a grade you start looking at the one with grade five piano
looking at the one with grade five piano
looking at the one with grade five piano who has never watched the musical what
who has never watched the musical what
who has never watched the musical what about the special-needs pupil who has no
about the special-needs pupil who has no
about the special-needs pupil who has no formal qualifications desired for the
formal qualifications desired for the
formal qualifications desired for the job that you have but they had the
job that you have but they had the
job that you have but they had the passion desire and practical skills to
passion desire and practical skills to
passion desire and practical skills to be a chef so how do we change this think
be a chef so how do we change this think
be a chef so how do we change this think back to the individuals who have
back to the individuals who have
back to the individuals who have achieved outside of schooling imagine no
achieved outside of schooling imagine no
achieved outside of schooling imagine no status quo imagine that as a business
status quo imagine that as a business
status quo imagine that as a business you accept those with formal
you accept those with formal
you accept those with formal qualifications and look at the
qualifications and look at the
qualifications and look at the individuals who have the experience the
individuals who have the experience the
individuals who have the experience the passion and the drive have a team where
passion and the drive have a team where
passion and the drive have a team where you have the formal knowledge alongside
you have the formal knowledge alongside
you have the formal knowledge alongside the passion and drive to take it to the
the passion and drive to take it to the
the passion and drive to take it to the next level combined your team and work
next level combined your team and work
next level combined your team and work collaboratively to build a better future
collaboratively to build a better future
collaboratively to build a better future thank you for having me today I hope
thank you for having me today I hope
thank you for having me today I hope that I’ve given you a new perspective on
that I’ve given you a new perspective on
that I’ve given you a new perspective on schooling to look at which you can
schooling to look at which you can
schooling to look at which you can discuss with your friends family and
discuss with your friends family and
discuss with your friends family and coworkers
coworkers
coworkers [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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