[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
in 1904 Taunton school debated the
in 1904 Taunton school debated the following motion this house believes
following motion this house believes
following motion this house believes that exams are a poor judge of a man’s
that exams are a poor judge of a man’s
that exams are a poor judge of a man’s ability that motion was passed by a
ability that motion was passed by a
ability that motion was passed by a significant majority I’m not convinced
significant majority I’m not convinced
significant majority I’m not convinced that over a hundred years later we’ve
that over a hundred years later we’ve
that over a hundred years later we’ve really worked out for ourselves how best
really worked out for ourselves how best
really worked out for ourselves how best to really assess what schools are for
to really assess what schools are for
to really assess what schools are for and how they generate success in 1992
and how they generate success in 1992
and how they generate success in 1992 under John Major the Conservatives
under John Major the Conservatives
under John Major the Conservatives introduced league tables these league
introduced league tables these league
introduced league tables these league tables focus on attainment and for the
tables focus on attainment and for the
tables focus on attainment and for the last 25 years again they have dominated
last 25 years again they have dominated
last 25 years again they have dominated what schools are for and more
what schools are for and more
what schools are for and more importantly what parents believe is
importantly what parents believe is
importantly what parents believe is important we spend our lives often
important we spend our lives often
important we spend our lives often focused between those difficult balances
focused between those difficult balances
focused between those difficult balances between happiness and yet we’re
between happiness and yet we’re
between happiness and yet we’re demanding the a grades and the B grades
demanding the a grades and the B grades
demanding the a grades and the B grades but what does success really feel like
but what does success really feel like
but what does success really feel like today 15% of working people suffer from
today 15% of working people suffer from
today 15% of working people suffer from a mental health illness that currently
a mental health illness that currently
a mental health illness that currently costs the UK economy 8 billion pounds
costs the UK economy 8 billion pounds
costs the UK economy 8 billion pounds the second thought Richard Riley and
the second thought Richard Riley and
the second thought Richard Riley and it’s a much used quote education has to
it’s a much used quote education has to
it’s a much used quote education has to prepare young people for jobs which do
prepare young people for jobs which do
prepare young people for jobs which do not exist using technologies that we
not exist using technologies that we
not exist using technologies that we haven’t invented and possibly solving
haven’t invented and possibly solving
haven’t invented and possibly solving problems that we don’t even know exist
problems that we don’t even know exist
problems that we don’t even know exist I suppose the third thought is how we’ve
I suppose the third thought is how we’ve
I suppose the third thought is how we’ve got this fundamentally wrong
got this fundamentally wrong
got this fundamentally wrong what if attainments is not actually very
what if attainments is not actually very
what if attainments is not actually very useful when it comes to being successful
useful when it comes to being successful
useful when it comes to being successful what if we actually should be looking at
what if we actually should be looking at
what if we actually should be looking at something completely different if we
something completely different if we
something completely different if we really want to help young people go into
really want to help young people go into
really want to help young people go into a world which Richard Riley talks of I’d
a world which Richard Riley talks of I’d
a world which Richard Riley talks of I’d like to talk about four seminal moments
like to talk about four seminal moments
like to talk about four seminal moments in my own life when I was eight years
in my own life when I was eight years
in my own life when I was eight years old I was very fortunate that my parents
old I was very fortunate that my parents
old I was very fortunate that my parents sent me to
sent me to
sent me to a private prep school by the time I was
a private prep school by the time I was
a private prep school by the time I was 11
11
11 art appeared in Gilbert in Sullivan
art appeared in Gilbert in Sullivan
art appeared in Gilbert in Sullivan Pirates of Penzance I was in the school
Pirates of Penzance I was in the school
Pirates of Penzance I was in the school choir I’d learnt to musical instruments
choir I’d learnt to musical instruments
choir I’d learnt to musical instruments I love Latin I played sports all the
I love Latin I played sports all the
I love Latin I played sports all the time and I felt incredibly happy now my
time and I felt incredibly happy now my
time and I felt incredibly happy now my parents at the age of 11 wanted me to
parents at the age of 11 wanted me to
parents at the age of 11 wanted me to sit the exam for the local grammar
sit the exam for the local grammar
sit the exam for the local grammar school the Free State School and the
school the Free State School and the
school the Free State School and the tests that I had to sit was one of IQ
tests that I had to sit was one of IQ
tests that I had to sit was one of IQ was I good at maths was I good at verbal
was I good at maths was I good at verbal
was I good at maths was I good at verbal reasoning so I sat down along with
reasoning so I sat down along with
reasoning so I sat down along with everyone else in each Kent and I sat the
everyone else in each Kent and I sat the
everyone else in each Kent and I sat the test the test would determine whether I
test the test would determine whether I
test the test would determine whether I went to the grammar school or whether I
went to the grammar school or whether I
went to the grammar school or whether I went to the Secondary Modern and you
went to the Secondary Modern and you
went to the Secondary Modern and you always knew you’d pass because the
always knew you’d pass because the
always knew you’d pass because the postman would have to ring the doorbell
postman would have to ring the doorbell
postman would have to ring the doorbell for those who pass because the envelope
for those who pass because the envelope
for those who pass because the envelope was so big presumably because they
was so big presumably because they
was so big presumably because they thought we could read the information if
thought we could read the information if
thought we could read the information if you went to the Secondary Modern you’ve
you went to the Secondary Modern you’ve
you went to the Secondary Modern you’ve got a small envelope when that day came
got a small envelope when that day came
got a small envelope when that day came and the postman rang the doorbell a huge
and the postman rang the doorbell a huge
and the postman rang the doorbell a huge sense of relief for me because I’ve been
sense of relief for me because I’ve been
sense of relief for me because I’ve been told as going to be successful that very
told as going to be successful that very
told as going to be successful that very first moments in which IQ was put across
first moments in which IQ was put across
first moments in which IQ was put across to me as the only thing that really
to me as the only thing that really
to me as the only thing that really matters so off I went to secondary
matters so off I went to secondary
matters so off I went to secondary school I went to the grammar school I
school I went to the grammar school I
school I went to the grammar school I did very well
did very well
did very well academically I went to a very good
academically I went to a very good
academically I went to a very good university but IQ as a funny one IQ
university but IQ as a funny one IQ
university but IQ as a funny one IQ entertainments have become the things
entertainments have become the things
entertainments have become the things that have really formed the landscape of
that have really formed the landscape of
that have really formed the landscape of our educational system over the last 25
our educational system over the last 25
our educational system over the last 25 years even to the extent now but that’s
years even to the extent now but that’s
years even to the extent now but that’s really all that matters in schools to
really all that matters in schools to
really all that matters in schools to the extent now that that’s all that
the extent now that that’s all that
the extent now that that’s all that parents are looking for when they’re
parents are looking for when they’re
parents are looking for when they’re considering the options for their
considering the options for their
considering the options for their children and in the independent sector I
children and in the independent sector I
children and in the independent sector I think it’s getting even worse because
think it’s getting even worse because
think it’s getting even worse because certainly in and around London we’re
certainly in and around London we’re
certainly in and around London we’re having the pretest for the tests for the
having the pretest for the tests for the
having the pretest for the tests for the child to go to secondary school the last
child to go to secondary school the last
child to go to secondary school the last thing really in this is twofold really
thing really in this is twofold really
thing really in this is twofold really the one one thing when I reflect is
the one one thing when I reflect is
the one one thing when I reflect is about color
about color
about color when I was at prep school the colours in
when I was at prep school the colours in
when I was at prep school the colours in my own mind in my own imagination a
my own mind in my own imagination a
my own mind in my own imagination a vibrant
vibrant
vibrant the color when I was a secondary school
the color when I was a secondary school
the color when I was a secondary school was monochrome I didn’t do singing I
was monochrome I didn’t do singing I
was monochrome I didn’t do singing I didn’t do music grammar school life was
didn’t do music grammar school life was
didn’t do music grammar school life was about doing well in exams that was the
about doing well in exams that was the
about doing well in exams that was the focus when I went for my first job into
focus when I went for my first job into
focus when I went for my first job into the after university that was really all
the after university that was really all
the after university that was really all I had in my head so I went to my first
I had in my head so I went to my first
I had in my head so I went to my first job interview in there I remember the
job interview in there I remember the
job interview in there I remember the lady asking me so what can you offer
lady asking me so what can you offer
lady asking me so what can you offer this company and it was at that moment I
this company and it was at that moment I
this company and it was at that moment I had a bit of a thought I don’t really
had a bit of a thought I don’t really
had a bit of a thought I don’t really know actually well what do you mean I’ve
know actually well what do you mean I’ve
know actually well what do you mean I’ve got good a-levels I’ve got a good degree
got good a-levels I’ve got a good degree
got good a-levels I’ve got a good degree what more do you want when I finally did
what more do you want when I finally did
what more do you want when I finally did find a decent job in London it really
find a decent job in London it really
find a decent job in London it really dawned on me even worse because I
dawned on me even worse because I
dawned on me even worse because I suddenly started to work with people who
suddenly started to work with people who
suddenly started to work with people who when they’re 11 failed 11 plus or maybe
when they’re 11 failed 11 plus or maybe
when they’re 11 failed 11 plus or maybe I was working with people who got 3 C
I was working with people who got 3 C
I was working with people who got 3 C grades and yet though much better than I
grades and yet though much better than I
grades and yet though much better than I was at the job and I really started to
was at the job and I really started to
was at the job and I really started to make me frame my thoughts maybe that’s
make me frame my thoughts maybe that’s
make me frame my thoughts maybe that’s just being naive but the point is maybe
just being naive but the point is maybe
just being naive but the point is maybe my education didn’t challenge me to
my education didn’t challenge me to
my education didn’t challenge me to think about the right things
the last thing really that’s quite
the last thing really that’s quite seminal for me have been three TED Talks
seminal for me have been three TED Talks
seminal for me have been three TED Talks the first one has been the first to
the first one has been the first to
the first one has been the first to being viewed by over 60 million people
being viewed by over 60 million people
being viewed by over 60 million people so Ken Robinson’s talk about creativity
so Ken Robinson’s talk about creativity
so Ken Robinson’s talk about creativity in schools is something which really
in schools is something which really
in schools is something which really hits back at this for whole focus on
hits back at this for whole focus on
hits back at this for whole focus on attainment hits back at this focus on
attainment hits back at this focus on
attainment hits back at this focus on science and maths being the only things
science and maths being the only things
science and maths being the only things that matter within our education system
that matter within our education system
that matter within our education system and hits back at this belief that
and hits back at this belief that
and hits back at this belief that everything has been measured for it to
everything has been measured for it to
everything has been measured for it to be a value the second one is and reduc
be a value the second one is and reduc
be a value the second one is and reduc was talk on grit I mentioned you about
was talk on grit I mentioned you about
was talk on grit I mentioned you about being fundamentally wrong well what if
being fundamentally wrong well what if
being fundamentally wrong well what if we were fundamentally wrong that
we were fundamentally wrong that
we were fundamentally wrong that actually attainment is the thing that’s
actually attainment is the thing that’s
actually attainment is the thing that’s important her talk is incredibly
important her talk is incredibly
important her talk is incredibly persuasive is there’s actually the most
persuasive is there’s actually the most
persuasive is there’s actually the most important thing in young people is they
important thing in young people is they
important thing in young people is they learn how to cope with the diversity
learn how to cope with the diversity
learn how to cope with the diversity that’s the most important predictor for
that’s the most important predictor for
that’s the most important predictor for whether they go on and succeed later on
whether they go on and succeed later on
whether they go on and succeed later on in life and the last one is a talk by
in life and the last one is a talk by
in life and the last one is a talk by Martin Seligman around positive
Martin Seligman around positive
Martin Seligman around positive psychology now as I stand here as the
psychology now as I stand here as the
psychology now as I stand here as the deputy head of this wonderful school I
deputy head of this wonderful school I
deputy head of this wonderful school I tried to package all of these thoughts
tried to package all of these thoughts
tried to package all of these thoughts up into something over the summer and
up into something over the summer and
up into something over the summer and it’s work that I’ve been doing with
it’s work that I’ve been doing with
it’s work that I’ve been doing with other colleagues
other colleagues
other colleagues and we’ve come up with a very simple
and we’ve come up with a very simple
and we’ve come up with a very simple idea that success is as easy as ABC but
idea that success is as easy as ABC but
idea that success is as easy as ABC but before I do that I want to just share
before I do that I want to just share
before I do that I want to just share with you why am i tractor to even work
with you why am i tractor to even work
with you why am i tractor to even work at this school what is it about a school
at this school what is it about a school
at this school what is it about a school like this that has color well for me an
like this that has color well for me an
like this that has color well for me an outstanding school is one which is like
outstanding school is one which is like
outstanding school is one which is like family when we look at the school
family when we look at the school
family when we look at the school refusal rates amongst young people it’s
refusal rates amongst young people it’s
refusal rates amongst young people it’s because school doesn’t feel as good as
because school doesn’t feel as good as
because school doesn’t feel as good as home school should feel like a place
home school should feel like a place
home school should feel like a place where you fit in where you feel valued
where you fit in where you feel valued
where you fit in where you feel valued where you feel you can be yourself the
where you feel you can be yourself the
where you feel you can be yourself the second thing that I loved about the
second thing that I loved about the
second thing that I loved about the school is that creativity is at the
school is that creativity is at the
school is that creativity is at the heart of what we do whether it’s in
heart of what we do whether it’s in
heart of what we do whether it’s in drama or in music or students love of
drama or in music or students love of
drama or in music or students love of their liberal arts subjects or dare I
their liberal arts subjects or dare I
their liberal arts subjects or dare I say just the students love of setting up
say just the students love of setting up
say just the students love of setting up their own societies and being creative
their own societies and being creative
their own societies and being creative in the way that they express themselves
in the way that they express themselves
in the way that they express themselves which brings me to ABC really ABC is
which brings me to ABC really ABC is
which brings me to ABC really ABC is just a fundamental idea that young
just a fundamental idea that young
just a fundamental idea that young people if we’re going to give them the
people if we’re going to give them the
people if we’re going to give them the very best education are going to come
very best education are going to come
very best education are going to come across adversity every day and that’s
across adversity every day and that’s
across adversity every day and that’s something that’s okay that’s something
something that’s okay that’s something
something that’s okay that’s something really that we must celebrate after all
really that we must celebrate after all
really that we must celebrate after all you can’t fern if you didn’t bother to
you can’t fern if you didn’t bother to
you can’t fern if you didn’t bother to try in the first place and once you
try in the first place and once you
try in the first place and once you tried in you show commitments you’ll
tried in you show commitments you’ll
tried in you show commitments you’ll learn something about yourself that
learn something about yourself that
learn something about yourself that perhaps you would never have done if all
perhaps you would never have done if all
perhaps you would never have done if all you thought the school is about was
you thought the school is about was
you thought the school is about was getting a good math school the second
getting a good math school the second
getting a good math school the second thing that’d be about building a system
thing that’d be about building a system
thing that’d be about building a system of beliefs am i principled to actually
of beliefs am i principled to actually
of beliefs am i principled to actually know the difference between right and
know the difference between right and
know the difference between right and wrong am I able to actually show
wrong am I able to actually show
wrong am I able to actually show judgment about what I should be putting
judgment about what I should be putting
judgment about what I should be putting my energy into and perhaps what I
my energy into and perhaps what I
my energy into and perhaps what I shouldn’t be putting manage into even
shouldn’t be putting manage into even
shouldn’t be putting manage into even more fundamentally is my thought process
more fundamentally is my thought process
more fundamentally is my thought process about other people or is it about me
about other people or is it about me
about other people or is it about me because kindness and gratitude are
because kindness and gratitude are
because kindness and gratitude are things which are incredibly important in
things which are incredibly important in
things which are incredibly important in any workplace whether it’s a workplace
any workplace whether it’s a workplace
any workplace whether it’s a workplace in 20 years time or the workplace today
in 20 years time or the workplace today
in 20 years time or the workplace today and the final thing C is about
and the final thing C is about
and the final thing C is about consequence I’m actually able to work
consequence I’m actually able to work
consequence I’m actually able to work out what the end game is going to be
out what the end game is going to be
out what the end game is going to be here for me because I hadn’t done that
here for me because I hadn’t done that
here for me because I hadn’t done that when I sat there having my interview I
when I sat there having my interview I
when I sat there having my interview I hadn’t really worked out what education
hadn’t really worked out what education
hadn’t really worked out what education had really done for me other than I
had really done for me other than I
had really done for me other than I simply done what was put in front of me
simply done what was put in front of me
simply done what was put in front of me they had
they had
they had two exams I did them I did well so ABC
two exams I did them I did well so ABC
two exams I did them I did well so ABC really is a focus on what enables young
really is a focus on what enables young
really is a focus on what enables young people we feel very strongly to move
people we feel very strongly to move
people we feel very strongly to move from this environment into the next
from this environment into the next
from this environment into the next environment in cope because we have to
environment in cope because we have to
environment in cope because we have to be honest when we think about what
be honest when we think about what
be honest when we think about what school is really going to do for these
school is really going to do for these
school is really going to do for these young people we must be measuring
young people we must be measuring
young people we must be measuring something that is not simply attainment
something that is not simply attainment
something that is not simply attainment I think we’ve got to measure achievement
I think we’ve got to measure achievement
I think we’ve got to measure achievement and they’re two very very different
and they’re two very very different
and they’re two very very different things
things
things achievement is about where I started and
achievement is about where I started and
achievement is about where I started and where I ended up it’s about measuring
where I ended up it’s about measuring
where I ended up it’s about measuring the journey that a young person went on
the journey that a young person went on
the journey that a young person went on and what they achieved along the way and
and what they achieved along the way and
and what they achieved along the way and we had the ability to do that now we
we had the ability to do that now we
we had the ability to do that now we have the ability to measure their
have the ability to measure their
have the ability to measure their ability to commit their ability to be
ability to commit their ability to be
ability to commit their ability to be creative and if we’re not measuring
creative and if we’re not measuring
creative and if we’re not measuring those things and we’re not actually
those things and we’re not actually
those things and we’re not actually talking about those things we’re sending
talking about those things we’re sending
talking about those things we’re sending out the wrong messages to young people I
out the wrong messages to young people I
out the wrong messages to young people I want to leave you with maybe three
want to leave you with maybe three
want to leave you with maybe three thoughts the first thoughts and it comes
thoughts the first thoughts and it comes
thoughts the first thoughts and it comes out of the Angela Duckworth video she’s
out of the Angela Duckworth video she’s
out of the Angela Duckworth video she’s art she was asked the hypothetical
art she was asked the hypothetical
art she was asked the hypothetical question can I learn grit she said I
question can I learn grit she said I
question can I learn grit she said I don’t know the answer to that I think we
don’t know the answer to that I think we
don’t know the answer to that I think we have the answer at this school you can
have the answer at this school you can
have the answer at this school you can learn grit if your reward system
learn grit if your reward system
learn grit if your reward system reflects it you can learn grit if the
reflects it you can learn grit if the
reflects it you can learn grit if the role models that you put in front of
role models that you put in front of
role models that you put in front of young people display those qualities you
young people display those qualities you
young people display those qualities you can learn grit if every tutorial that
can learn grit if every tutorial that
can learn grit if every tutorial that you have focuses on how we’re helping
you have focuses on how we’re helping
you have focuses on how we’re helping and nurturing and supporting young
and nurturing and supporting young
and nurturing and supporting young people to get through their difficulties
people to get through their difficulties
people to get through their difficulties and move on to the next stage in their
and move on to the next stage in their
and move on to the next stage in their lives you can show grit if the language
lives you can show grit if the language
lives you can show grit if the language in every lesson is one which is
in every lesson is one which is
in every lesson is one which is inclusive it’s caring and brings out the
inclusive it’s caring and brings out the
inclusive it’s caring and brings out the best in every individual the second
best in every individual the second
best in every individual the second thought is what’s the word of work going
thought is what’s the word of work going
thought is what’s the word of work going to be like now I admit that these
to be like now I admit that these
to be like now I admit that these figures can change and a balance sheet
figures can change and a balance sheet
figures can change and a balance sheet is only a snapshot but at the moment the
is only a snapshot but at the moment the
is only a snapshot but at the moment the Hilton Hotel group is worth an estimated
Hilton Hotel group is worth an estimated
Hilton Hotel group is worth an estimated twenty billion dollars it employs
twenty billion dollars it employs
twenty billion dollars it employs 170,000 people air B&B where thirty
170,000 people air B&B where thirty
170,000 people air B&B where thirty billion dollars employs 130 Walmart
billion dollars employs 130 Walmart
billion dollars employs 130 Walmart two hundred and forty four billion
two hundred and forty four billion
two hundred and forty four billion dollars employing 2.3 million people
dollars employing 2.3 million people
dollars employing 2.3 million people amazon 450 million billion sorry
amazon 450 million billion sorry
amazon 450 million billion sorry employing 350,000 i think the world of
employing 350,000 i think the world of
employing 350,000 i think the world of work for our young people will be more
work for our young people will be more
work for our young people will be more binary it might well end up being even
binary it might well end up being even
binary it might well end up being even more haves and have-nots that therefore
more haves and have-nots that therefore
more haves and have-nots that therefore means that our young people will have to
means that our young people will have to
means that our young people will have to be even more creative than we had to be
be even more creative than we had to be
be even more creative than we had to be they’re gonna have to be even more
they’re gonna have to be even more
they’re gonna have to be even more resilient to cope in other words they’re
resilient to cope in other words they’re
resilient to cope in other words they’re going to have to see the world through
going to have to see the world through
going to have to see the world through the prism of opportunity rather than
the prism of opportunity rather than
the prism of opportunity rather than through the prism of negativity and that
through the prism of negativity and that
through the prism of negativity and that means that just because they did well
means that just because they did well
means that just because they did well academically at school they’re gonna
academically at school they’re gonna
academically at school they’re gonna probably have to reinvent themselves at
probably have to reinvent themselves at
probably have to reinvent themselves at the age of 30 at the age of 40 at the
the age of 30 at the age of 40 at the
the age of 30 at the age of 40 at the age of 50 they might end up having to go
age of 50 they might end up having to go
age of 50 they might end up having to go back to university and affect three four
back to university and affect three four
back to university and affect three four or five times and we want the teal to
or five times and we want the teal to
or five times and we want the teal to embrace that welcome to have felt it’s a
embrace that welcome to have felt it’s a
embrace that welcome to have felt it’s a really positive thing rather than
really positive thing rather than
really positive thing rather than something which is negative so they’re
something which is negative so they’re
something which is negative so they’re really the final points i hope that i
really the final points i hope that i
really the final points i hope that i can put across today is i hope that what
can put across today is i hope that what
can put across today is i hope that what we do at this school can be mirrored far
we do at this school can be mirrored far
we do at this school can be mirrored far greater within the whole of the united
greater within the whole of the united
greater within the whole of the united kingdom and we can move away from a
kingdom and we can move away from a
kingdom and we can move away from a focus on attainment and instead we
focus on attainment and instead we
focus on attainment and instead we actually start to believe that success
actually start to believe that success
actually start to believe that success is as easy as a b and c thank you
is as easy as a b and c thank you
is as easy as a b and c thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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