Joining the dots beats colouring in. | Jon Platten | TEDxNorwichED

[Applause]

[Applause] today I want to share the secret of

today I want to share the secret of

today I want to share the secret of doing great things in small

doing great things in small

doing great things in small organizations and to do this I want to

organizations and to do this I want to

organizations and to do this I want to consider the link between school

consider the link between school

consider the link between school improvement and moldy bread growing up

improvement and moldy bread growing up

improvement and moldy bread growing up in a seaside town I spent most of my

in a seaside town I spent most of my

in a seaside town I spent most of my school holidays working in the catering

school holidays working in the catering

school holidays working in the catering industry and I vividly recall the

industry and I vividly recall the

industry and I vividly recall the practice in one hotel kitchen of

practice in one hotel kitchen of

practice in one hotel kitchen of scraping the mold off the bread before

scraping the mold off the bread before

scraping the mold off the bread before it was toasted cut into nice triangles

it was toasted cut into nice triangles

it was toasted cut into nice triangles and taken through into the restaurants

and taken through into the restaurants

and taken through into the restaurants it was only many years later that I

it was only many years later that I

it was only many years later that I pondered how such a thing could happen

pondered how such a thing could happen

pondered how such a thing could happen the part of the kitchen where the toast

the part of the kitchen where the toast

the part of the kitchen where the toast was made was beyond the headteacher

was made was beyond the headteacher

was made was beyond the headteacher teachers head chefs line of vision and

teachers head chefs line of vision and

teachers head chefs line of vision and the teenage lad making the toast didn’t

the teenage lad making the toast didn’t

the teenage lad making the toast didn’t care so this inadequate treatment of the

care so this inadequate treatment of the

care so this inadequate treatment of the mold problem was caused partly by lack

mold problem was caused partly by lack

mold problem was caused partly by lack of oversight by management and partly

of oversight by management and partly

of oversight by management and partly because the employees did not care for

because the employees did not care for

because the employees did not care for skills to improve it’s vital everyone

skills to improve it’s vital everyone

skills to improve it’s vital everyone does care and sees school improvement as

does care and sees school improvement as

does care and sees school improvement as part of their role in other words

part of their role in other words

part of their role in other words everyone needs to ask themselves what

everyone needs to ask themselves what

everyone needs to ask themselves what are my moldy bits school leadership is

are my moldy bits school leadership is

are my moldy bits school leadership is it about engaging everyone in the total

it about engaging everyone in the total

it about engaging everyone in the total elimination of moldy bits it’s about

elimination of moldy bits it’s about

elimination of moldy bits it’s about creating the conditions for improvement

creating the conditions for improvement

creating the conditions for improvement typically these focus on teaching

typically these focus on teaching

typically these focus on teaching behavior finance but there’s one more

behavior finance but there’s one more

behavior finance but there’s one more condition which can make the difference

condition which can make the difference

condition which can make the difference between becoming goods and becoming

between becoming goods and becoming

between becoming goods and becoming great between flash in the pan and

great between flash in the pan and

great between flash in the pan and sustainable transformation that secret

sustainable transformation that secret

sustainable transformation that secret of school improvement is difficult to do

of school improvement is difficult to do

of school improvement is difficult to do in the current climate that secret is

in the current climate that secret is

in the current climate that secret is the unspeakable c-word that secret is

the unspeakable c-word that secret is

the unspeakable c-word that secret is connection school leaders at every level

connection school leaders at every level

connection school leaders at every level need to seek out opportunities to

need to seek out opportunities to

need to seek out opportunities to connect but with all the external

connect but with all the external

connect but with all the external pressures towards competition

pressures towards competition

pressures towards competition balkanization and disruption this takes

balkanization and disruption this takes

balkanization and disruption this takes courage creativity determination this is

courage creativity determination this is

courage creativity determination this is because we work in a culture where we

because we work in a culture where we

because we work in a culture where we have zero tolerance of failure sounds

have zero tolerance of failure sounds

have zero tolerance of failure sounds great doesn’t it there’s just one small

great doesn’t it there’s just one small

great doesn’t it there’s just one small problem of that

problem of that

problem of that it’s rubbish the problem is zero

it’s rubbish the problem is zero

it’s rubbish the problem is zero tolerance of failure is that at some

tolerance of failure is that at some

tolerance of failure is that at some point everyone fails so we are in fact

point everyone fails so we are in fact

point everyone fails so we are in fact building in an expectation of

building in an expectation of

building in an expectation of intolerance we label schools school

intolerance we label schools school

intolerance we label schools school leaders and children we forget that

leaders and children we forget that

leaders and children we forget that labels are for jars not for people we’re

labels are for jars not for people we’re

labels are for jars not for people we’re forever raising the bar yet labeling and

forever raising the bar yet labeling and

forever raising the bar yet labeling and raising the stakes do not inspire they

raising the stakes do not inspire they

raising the stakes do not inspire they demotivate this mindset was clearly on

demotivate this mindset was clearly on

demotivate this mindset was clearly on view in a flyer I saw for my local paper

view in a flyer I saw for my local paper

view in a flyer I saw for my local paper recently and has your school gone up or

recently and has your school gone up or

recently and has your school gone up or down well yes I thought but there’s not

down well yes I thought but there’s not

down well yes I thought but there’s not much you can do about subsidence maybe

much you can do about subsidence maybe

much you can do about subsidence maybe this is why I feel so nausea some

this is why I feel so nausea some

this is why I feel so nausea some mornings when I’m going into work my

mornings when I’m going into work my

mornings when I’m going into work my school is going up and down but but on a

school is going up and down but but on a

school is going up and down but but on a serious note this unbalanced competitive

serious note this unbalanced competitive

serious note this unbalanced competitive analogy can leave you scaring the papers

analogy can leave you scaring the papers

analogy can leave you scaring the papers on exam results day looking for schools

on exam results day looking for schools

on exam results day looking for schools where young people have done less well

where young people have done less well

where young people have done less well than your own this cannot be healthy

than your own this cannot be healthy

than your own this cannot be healthy because in some cases you are willing

because in some cases you are willing

because in some cases you are willing young people in the same town in the

young people in the same town in the

young people in the same town in the same street sometimes even the same

same street sometimes even the same

same street sometimes even the same family to do less well than your own

family to do less well than your own

family to do less well than your own just so that your school looks better

just so that your school looks better

just so that your school looks better and you postpone your sacking for

and you postpone your sacking for

and you postpone your sacking for another 12 months the only way that we

another 12 months the only way that we

another 12 months the only way that we are going to improve our education

are going to improve our education

are going to improve our education system is by working together to create

system is by working together to create

system is by working together to create a love of learning in all our young

a love of learning in all our young

a love of learning in all our young people we need to work together to

people we need to work together to

people we need to work together to create a love of learning in all our

create a love of learning in all our

create a love of learning in all our young people so let me share a few

young people so let me share a few

young people so let me share a few thoughts about connection within a few

thoughts about connection within a few

thoughts about connection within a few weeks of my first headship I received

weeks of my first headship I received

weeks of my first headship I received this note from a parent’s Kieran will

this note from a parent’s Kieran will

this note from a parent’s Kieran will not be doing his French homework this

not be doing his French homework this

not be doing his French homework this week here if you want him to do it can

week here if you want him to do it can

week here if you want him to do it can do it in your time not his we believe in

do it in your time not his we believe in

do it in your time not his we believe in real life learning real life a France

real life learning real life a France

real life learning real life a France obviously doesn’t exist in the words of

obviously doesn’t exist in the words of

obviously doesn’t exist in the words of Tom Stoppard it’s some kind of

Tom Stoppard it’s some kind of

Tom Stoppard it’s some kind of conspiracy of cartographers the first

conspiracy of cartographers the first

conspiracy of cartographers the first thing that we do to help overcome this

thing that we do to help overcome this

thing that we do to help overcome this barrier which exists between some

barrier which exists between some

barrier which exists between some families and schools is to hold a

families and schools is to hold a

families and schools is to hold a three-way conversation with the child

three-way conversation with the child

three-way conversation with the child perrin

perrin

perrin and a school leader before the child

and a school leader before the child

and a school leader before the child actually starts out the school this

actually starts out the school this

actually starts out the school this enables the young person to share

enables the young person to share

enables the young person to share something about themselves it helps

something about themselves it helps

something about themselves it helps parents whose experience of school may

parents whose experience of school may

parents whose experience of school may not have been that great and it enables

not have been that great and it enables

not have been that great and it enables the school to share something of the

the school to share something of the

the school to share something of the ethos and ambitions that it has for that

ethos and ambitions that it has for that

ethos and ambitions that it has for that young person sitting around a circular

young person sitting around a circular

young person sitting around a circular table is the physical expression of the

table is the physical expression of the

table is the physical expression of the fact that we are all working together

fact that we are all working together

fact that we are all working together for the good of that young person as for

for the good of that young person as for

for the good of that young person as for internationalism it’s important to take

internationalism it’s important to take

internationalism it’s important to take advantage of all the opportunities which

advantage of all the opportunities which

advantage of all the opportunities which come your way we have hosted Algerian

come your way we have hosted Algerian

come your way we have hosted Algerian curriculum leaders whose central

curriculum leaders whose central

curriculum leaders whose central question in redesigning the education

question in redesigning the education

question in redesigning the education system was what kind of citizens are we

system was what kind of citizens are we

system was what kind of citizens are we trying to create what a great question

trying to create what a great question

trying to create what a great question what a great way of looking at education

what a great way of looking at education

what a great way of looking at education is also intriguing to meet with

is also intriguing to meet with

is also intriguing to meet with education leaders from South Korea

education leaders from South Korea

education leaders from South Korea strangely they were not crowing about

strangely they were not crowing about

strangely they were not crowing about their position in the international

their position in the international

their position in the international league tables instead they were really

league tables instead they were really

league tables instead they were really concerned about the long hours their

concerned about the long hours their

concerned about the long hours their young people were working setting what

young people were working setting what

young people were working setting what you do in a global context enables you

you do in a global context enables you

you do in a global context enables you to take a broader perspective and modify

to take a broader perspective and modify

to take a broader perspective and modify your own efforts in the light of what

your own efforts in the light of what

your own efforts in the light of what others have learned it’s also important

others have learned it’s also important

others have learned it’s also important to promote connection internally we have

to promote connection internally we have

to promote connection internally we have a blend of vertical and horizontal

a blend of vertical and horizontal

a blend of vertical and horizontal structures although I have to say that

structures although I have to say that

structures although I have to say that having introduced more such structures I

having introduced more such structures I

having introduced more such structures I was a little bit alarmed to see on the

was a little bit alarmed to see on the

was a little bit alarmed to see on the school calendar the words horizontal

school calendar the words horizontal

school calendar the words horizontal meetings was it wasn’t sure about the

meetings was it wasn’t sure about the

meetings was it wasn’t sure about the sound of that could be misconstrued but

sound of that could be misconstrued but

sound of that could be misconstrued but it is important one way or another to

it is important one way or another to

it is important one way or another to take people out of their silos which

take people out of their silos which

take people out of their silos which otherwise can replicate a very insolent

otherwise can replicate a very insolent

otherwise can replicate a very insolent view of the world and it’s also

view of the world and it’s also

view of the world and it’s also important to fossil eggs with business

important to fossil eggs with business

important to fossil eggs with business research tells us that if young people

research tells us that if young people

research tells us that if young people have for meaningful encounters with the

have for meaningful encounters with the

have for meaningful encounters with the world of work there are five times more

world of work there are five times more

world of work there are five times more likely to go into education or

likely to go into education or

likely to go into education or employment with training when they leave

employment with training when they leave

employment with training when they leave school this requires us to take the

school this requires us to take the

school this requires us to take the school into the real world and bring the

school into the real world and bring the

school into the real world and bring the real world into the school and this

real world into the school and this

real world into the school and this takes vision and by vision I don’t mean

takes vision and by vision I don’t mean

takes vision and by vision I don’t mean some kind of misty eyed staring into the

some kind of misty eyed staring into the

some kind of misty eyed staring into the middle distance I mean proactively

middle distance I mean proactively

middle distance I mean proactively looking for

looking for

looking for opportunities to connect and businesses

opportunities to connect and businesses

opportunities to connect and businesses are very keen to connect at the moment

are very keen to connect at the moment

are very keen to connect at the moment to help mold the future workforce and to

to help mold the future workforce and to

to help mold the future workforce and to develop their own workforce through

develop their own workforce through

develop their own workforce through activities such as business mentoring

activities such as business mentoring

activities such as business mentoring this way we are working together to

this way we are working together to

this way we are working together to improve our country and this joint

improve our country and this joint

improve our country and this joint mission is not served by international

mission is not served by international

mission is not served by international league tables or selective international

league tables or selective international

league tables or selective international tests what I think are that the

tests what I think are that the

tests what I think are that the overweening power of Pisa we we are told

overweening power of Pisa we we are told

overweening power of Pisa we we are told not to compare apples with oranges and

not to compare apples with oranges and

not to compare apples with oranges and yet we erroneously try to make

yet we erroneously try to make

yet we erroneously try to make comparisons between Cox’s orange Pippins

comparisons between Cox’s orange Pippins

comparisons between Cox’s orange Pippins and chicken chow mein this matter

and chicken chow mein this matter

and chicken chow mein this matter neurosis was clearly on display at a

neurosis was clearly on display at a

neurosis was clearly on display at a hostings at the last election where I

hostings at the last election where I

hostings at the last election where I asked all of the candidates my

asked all of the candidates my

asked all of the candidates my constituency the following question how

constituency the following question how

constituency the following question how can we raise our educational standards

can we raise our educational standards

can we raise our educational standards so that we catch up with countries like

so that we catch up with countries like

so that we catch up with countries like China and South Korea this is an

China and South Korea this is an

China and South Korea this is an important question yet not one of the

important question yet not one of the

important question yet not one of the candidates challenge the assumptions in

candidates challenge the assumptions in

candidates challenge the assumptions in the question we are doing well

the question we are doing well

the question we are doing well internationally at the time ask the

internationally at the time ask the

internationally at the time ask the question the Pearson report ranked 26 in

question the Pearson report ranked 26 in

question the Pearson report ranked 26 in the world as for China while some cities

the world as for China while some cities

the world as for China while some cities are doing very well the country as a

are doing very well the country as a

are doing very well the country as a whole is a completely different matter

whole is a completely different matter

whole is a completely different matter but this minor geographical

but this minor geographical

but this minor geographical inconvenience is often glossed over as

inconvenience is often glossed over as

inconvenience is often glossed over as is the fact that if you have a one-child

is the fact that if you have a one-child

is the fact that if you have a one-child policy education is going to be

policy education is going to be

policy education is going to be incredibly highly valued because the

incredibly highly valued because the

incredibly highly valued because the stakes are so much higher but instead

stakes are so much higher but instead

stakes are so much higher but instead all the while we are left feeling

all the while we are left feeling

all the while we are left feeling suitably chastised uninspired

suitably chastised uninspired

suitably chastised uninspired demotivated finally it’s important to

demotivated finally it’s important to

demotivated finally it’s important to promote connection among students I once

promote connection among students I once

promote connection among students I once it also lad let’s call him Dale they’ll

it also lad let’s call him Dale they’ll

it also lad let’s call him Dale they’ll was dyspraxia Critch meant that he

was dyspraxia Critch meant that he

was dyspraxia Critch meant that he struggled with basic hand-eye

struggled with basic hand-eye

struggled with basic hand-eye coordination he was also a little

coordination he was also a little

coordination he was also a little Hendrick the first word that he ever

Hendrick the first word that he ever

Hendrick the first word that he ever said to me was fossils although in

said to me was fossils although in

said to me was fossils although in fairness I had just asked the class how

fairness I had just asked the class how

fairness I had just asked the class how can we find out about the past he didn’t

can we find out about the past he didn’t

can we find out about the past he didn’t just walk up to us in the staff room

just walk up to us in the staff room

just walk up to us in the staff room inside fossils that would have been rude

inside fossils that would have been rude

inside fossils that would have been rude um

perceptive but rude one of the most

perceptive but rude one of the most moving sites that I’ve seen in education

moving sites that I’ve seen in education

moving sites that I’ve seen in education was a Dale making his way up a climbing

was a Dale making his way up a climbing

was a Dale making his way up a climbing wall well with his dyspraxia for Dale

wall well with his dyspraxia for Dale

wall well with his dyspraxia for Dale that climbing wall was a psychological

that climbing wall was a psychological

that climbing wall was a psychological as well as a physical challenge yet

as well as a physical challenge yet

as well as a physical challenge yet step-by-step hold by holes and

step-by-step hold by holes and

step-by-step hold by holes and encouraged by the kind words of his

encouraged by the kind words of his

encouraged by the kind words of his peers Dale made it halfway up where he

peers Dale made it halfway up where he

peers Dale made it halfway up where he was applauded by his fellow students

was applauded by his fellow students

was applauded by his fellow students what a beautiful example of connection

what a beautiful example of connection

what a beautiful example of connection of course the obvious question that

of course the obvious question that

of course the obvious question that inspectors would ask such a scene is how

inspectors would ask such a scene is how

inspectors would ask such a scene is how do you measure that well I think that if

do you measure that well I think that if

do you measure that well I think that if you give it enough thought you can

you give it enough thought you can

you give it enough thought you can measure what you value and I’d like to

measure what you value and I’d like to

measure what you value and I’d like to illustrate this from the wonderful world

illustrate this from the wonderful world

illustrate this from the wonderful world of shopping now apparently for some

of shopping now apparently for some

of shopping now apparently for some shopping is regarded as a leisure

shopping is regarded as a leisure

shopping is regarded as a leisure activity for me if I’m measuring what I

activity for me if I’m measuring what I

activity for me if I’m measuring what I value I value being able to get out of a

value I value being able to get out of a

value I value being able to get out of a shop as quickly as I possibly can and to

shop as quickly as I possibly can and to

shop as quickly as I possibly can and to this end have devised a simple formula

this end have devised a simple formula

this end have devised a simple formula to devise which check out or till to go

to devise which check out or till to go

to devise which check out or till to go to l times d / PE + R equals cute where

to l times d / PE + R equals cute where

to l times d / PE + R equals cute where so you’re looking for Q which is the cue

so you’re looking for Q which is the cue

so you’re looking for Q which is the cue to go into L is the length of the cube

to go into L is the length of the cube

to go into L is the length of the cube but it’s not as simple as that is it

but it’s not as simple as that is it

but it’s not as simple as that is it because you have to factor in D which is

because you have to factor in D which is

because you have to factor in D which is the depth of items in the trolley your

the depth of items in the trolley your

the depth of items in the trolley your basket then you have to factor in PE so

basket then you have to factor in PE so

basket then you have to factor in PE so you divide all of this by PE the

you divide all of this by PE the

you divide all of this by PE the perceived effectiveness of the checkout

perceived effectiveness of the checkout

perceived effectiveness of the checkout operative

you all know what I’m thinking so this

you all know what I’m thinking so this is fine you’re making your way to the

is fine you’re making your way to the

is fine you’re making your way to the front of the queue and then along comes

front of the queue and then along comes

front of the queue and then along comes our art is the random object which is

our art is the random object which is

our art is the random object which is not recognized and requires requires the

not recognized and requires requires the

not recognized and requires requires the checkout operative to summon managerial

checkout operative to summon managerial

checkout operative to summon managerial assistance in this country we are

assistance in this country we are

assistance in this country we are reframing our assessment system we are

reframing our assessment system we are

reframing our assessment system we are trying better to measure what we value

trying better to measure what we value

trying better to measure what we value yet even what we have now contains what

yet even what we have now contains what

yet even what we have now contains what experts describe as complications and

experts describe as complications and

experts describe as complications and that’s because assessment is being used

that’s because assessment is being used

that’s because assessment is being used to divide our national education system

to divide our national education system

to divide our national education system is neither national nor educational nor

is neither national nor educational nor

is neither national nor educational nor a system exam results yes they’re

a system exam results yes they’re

a system exam results yes they’re important but as we’ve seen today

important but as we’ve seen today

important but as we’ve seen today education is something much much richer

education is something much much richer

education is something much much richer we need to re civilized that part of the

we need to re civilized that part of the

we need to re civilized that part of the system over which we have control

system over which we have control

system over which we have control there’s a classroom a school or a group

there’s a classroom a school or a group

there’s a classroom a school or a group of schools some of our earliest learning

of schools some of our earliest learning

of schools some of our earliest learning experiences involved coloring in

experiences involved coloring in

experiences involved coloring in although for geography students this

although for geography students this

although for geography students this phase lasts a very long time

but I also remember from my youth those

but I also remember from my youth those magical books with mysterious numbered

magical books with mysterious numbered

magical books with mysterious numbered dots which if you join them up would

dots which if you join them up would

dots which if you join them up would bring an unseen image to life too much

bring an unseen image to life too much

bring an unseen image to life too much of what we do is about keeping within

of what we do is about keeping within

of what we do is about keeping within the boundaries set by government and

the boundaries set by government and

the boundaries set by government and inspectors to make a difference let’s

inspectors to make a difference let’s

inspectors to make a difference let’s seek out connection let’s transform our

seek out connection let’s transform our

seek out connection let’s transform our schools let’s join the dots thank you

schools let’s join the dots thank you

schools let’s join the dots thank you [Applause]