whose job is it really to educate our children not teach but educate surely
children not teach but educate surely
children not teach but educate surely every local community have to take
every local community have to take
every local community have to take responsibility for providing an
responsibility for providing an
responsibility for providing an outstanding education for every single
outstanding education for every single
outstanding education for every single child within it after all doesn’t it
child within it after all doesn’t it
child within it after all doesn’t it take a village to raise a child if our
take a village to raise a child if our
take a village to raise a child if our youngest children spend less than 10
youngest children spend less than 10
youngest children spend less than 10 percent of their lives in a classroom
percent of their lives in a classroom
percent of their lives in a classroom that’s right
that’s right
that’s right less than 10 percent of their lives then
less than 10 percent of their lives then
less than 10 percent of their lives then all of us outside that classroom have to
all of us outside that classroom have to
all of us outside that classroom have to do more to help educate them now I can’t
do more to help educate them now I can’t
do more to help educate them now I can’t begin to imagine what skills and talents
begin to imagine what skills and talents
begin to imagine what skills and talents there are in this room today but I can
there are in this room today but I can
there are in this room today but I can imagine as all coming together and using
imagine as all coming together and using
imagine as all coming together and using our skills and talents and those of the
our skills and talents and those of the
our skills and talents and those of the organizations we belong to and the
organizations we belong to and the
organizations we belong to and the businesses we work for and the social
businesses we work for and the social
businesses we work for and the social circles we move in to develop the skills
circles we move in to develop the skills
circles we move in to develop the skills and talents and social and cultural
and talents and social and cultural
and talents and social and cultural capital of all our children in other
capital of all our children in other
capital of all our children in other words really educate them and imagine if
words really educate them and imagine if
words really educate them and imagine if we focused our skills and talents on
we focused our skills and talents on
we focused our skills and talents on those children who need this help most
those children who need this help most
those children who need this help most together we could tackle one of the
together we could tackle one of the
together we could tackle one of the greatest inequalities in our society
greatest inequalities in our society
greatest inequalities in our society today like many of you I’m a parent I’m
today like many of you I’m a parent I’m
today like many of you I’m a parent I’m very lucky I have three beautiful
very lucky I have three beautiful
very lucky I have three beautiful daughters and whilst I don’t want to
daughters and whilst I don’t want to
daughters and whilst I don’t want to embarrass my husband who’s in the room
embarrass my husband who’s in the room
embarrass my husband who’s in the room today I will share with you the fact
today I will share with you the fact
today I will share with you the fact that although we didn’t plan it we did
that although we didn’t plan it we did
that although we didn’t plan it we did end up with large age gaps between our
end up with large age gaps between our
end up with large age gaps between our three children and what that’s meant is
three children and what that’s meant is
three children and what that’s meant is that in addition to the 14 years that I
that in addition to the 14 years that I
that in addition to the 14 years that I personally spent in school I’ve also
personally spent in school I’ve also
personally spent in school I’ve also spent the last 19 years experiencing
spent the last 19 years experiencing
spent the last 19 years experiencing school through them and I still have
school through them and I still have
school through them and I still have about 12 years to go their formal
about 12 years to go their formal
about 12 years to go their formal schooling has been brilliant I have
schooling has been brilliant I have
schooling has been brilliant I have absolutely no complaints there and I
absolutely no complaints there and I
absolutely no complaints there and I genuinely believe that teaching in this
genuinely believe that teaching in this
genuinely believe that teaching in this country is very good indeed
country is very good indeed
country is very good indeed unfortunately though I’m convinced that
unfortunately though I’m convinced that
unfortunately though I’m convinced that education in this country it’s
education in this country it’s
education in this country it’s fundamentally flawed why well in my
fundamentally flawed why well in my
fundamentally flawed why well in my professional life I work for a charity
professional life I work for a charity
professional life I work for a charity it’s a charity that encourages all
it’s a charity that encourages all
it’s a charity that encourages all children regardless of their background
children regardless of their background
children regardless of their background to get out there and have a go at
to get out there and have a go at
to get out there and have a go at structured learning activities that take
structured learning activities that take
structured learning activities that take place beyond the school curriculum and
place beyond the school curriculum and
place beyond the school curriculum and outside of the school day so activities
outside of the school day so activities
outside of the school day so activities like after-school clubs that teach
like after-school clubs that teach
like after-school clubs that teach children to program computers to take
children to program computers to take
children to program computers to take part in team sports or even maybe to
part in team sports or even maybe to
part in team sports or even maybe to grow and cook their own food activities
grow and cook their own food activities
grow and cook their own food activities which encourage children to have fun
which encourage children to have fun
which encourage children to have fun make new friends and what we term learn
make new friends and what we term learn
make new friends and what we term learn by stealth we know from our work and
by stealth we know from our work and
by stealth we know from our work and from academic studies that if your child
from academic studies that if your child
from academic studies that if your child takes part in these sorts of activities
takes part in these sorts of activities
takes part in these sorts of activities by the time they reach the age of seven
by the time they reach the age of seven
by the time they reach the age of seven they will go on to perform better in
they will go on to perform better in
they will go on to perform better in their school tests at age 11 and we also
their school tests at age 11 and we also
their school tests at age 11 and we also know that these activities are directly
know that these activities are directly
know that these activities are directly connected to the development of social
connected to the development of social
connected to the development of social skills and future aspirations
skills and future aspirations
skills and future aspirations so I know that formal schooling doesn’t
so I know that formal schooling doesn’t
so I know that formal schooling doesn’t work in isolation and I think deep down
work in isolation and I think deep down
work in isolation and I think deep down we all know this as an example how many
we all know this as an example how many
we all know this as an example how many of you could put your hand on your heart
of you could put your hand on your heart
of you could put your hand on your heart and with total and complete honesty say
and with total and complete honesty say
and with total and complete honesty say I got where I am today as an adult
I got where I am today as an adult
I got where I am today as an adult purely and solely based on what I
purely and solely based on what I
purely and solely based on what I learned in school not many of you right
learned in school not many of you right
learned in school not many of you right let’s face it
let’s face it
let’s face it exam results will only ever get you so
exam results will only ever get you so
exam results will only ever get you so far they can open doors but they will
far they can open doors but they will
far they can open doors but they will never give you the skills and confidence
never give you the skills and confidence
never give you the skills and confidence to walk through them now I know I’m
to walk through them now I know I’m
to walk through them now I know I’m biased but not only am i daughter’s
biased but not only am i daughter’s
biased but not only am i daughter’s beautiful but they are turning into
beautiful but they are turning into
beautiful but they are turning into confident resilient sociable young women
confident resilient sociable young women
confident resilient sociable young women because their formal schooling has been
because their formal schooling has been
because their formal schooling has been coupled with out-of-school activities
coupled with out-of-school activities
coupled with out-of-school activities over the years they’ve done ballet
over the years they’ve done ballet
over the years they’ve done ballet athletics drama rugby army cadets the
athletics drama rugby army cadets the
athletics drama rugby army cadets the list could go on all great activities
list could go on all great activities
list could go on all great activities which have helped to develop their skill
which have helped to develop their skill
which have helped to develop their skill set but more importantly than that have
set but more importantly than that have
set but more importantly than that have given them the opportunity to get used
given them the opportunity to get used
given them the opportunity to get used to coping with unknown faces in
to coping with unknown faces in
to coping with unknown faces in unfamiliar places but all those
unfamiliar places but all those
unfamiliar places but all those activities cost money so what happens in
activities cost money so what happens in
activities cost money so what happens in our society is this those of us that can
our society is this those of us that can
our society is this those of us that can afford to encourage our children to do
afford to encourage our children to do
afford to encourage our children to do this stuff do but if your parents can’t
this stuff do but if your parents can’t
this stuff do but if your parents can’t afford to grant you access to those
afford to grant you access to those
afford to grant you access to those sorts of activities then generally you
sorts of activities then generally you
sorts of activities then generally you just don’t get the opportunity to do
just don’t get the opportunity to do
just don’t get the opportunity to do them at all and it’s those children who
them at all and it’s those children who
them at all and it’s those children who are denied those opportunities that
are denied those opportunities that
are denied those opportunities that to fall behind at school like
to fall behind at school like
to fall behind at school like self-confidence and failed to develop
self-confidence and failed to develop
self-confidence and failed to develop career aspirations generally they’re the
career aspirations generally they’re the
career aspirations generally they’re the ones that won’t fulfill their potential
ones that won’t fulfill their potential
ones that won’t fulfill their potential and they’re the least likely to go to
and they’re the least likely to go to
and they’re the least likely to go to university or access a skilled career
university or access a skilled career
university or access a skilled career there are about 900 thousand children in
there are about 900 thousand children in
there are about 900 thousand children in UK primary schools who are eligible for
UK primary schools who are eligible for
UK primary schools who are eligible for free school meals that means their
free school meals that means their
free school meals that means their parents are on really low incomes that’s
parents are on really low incomes that’s
parents are on really low incomes that’s a big number and it’s a difficult number
a big number and it’s a difficult number
a big number and it’s a difficult number to get your head around so visualize for
to get your head around so visualize for
to get your head around so visualize for me if you will
me if you will
me if you will Wembley Stadium it seats packed full of
Wembley Stadium it seats packed full of
Wembley Stadium it seats packed full of children under the age of 12 now picture
children under the age of 12 now picture
children under the age of 12 now picture for me 10 Wembley Stadium
for me 10 Wembley Stadium
for me 10 Wembley Stadium nine hundred thousand children that’s
nine hundred thousand children that’s
nine hundred thousand children that’s ten Wembley Stadium full of children
ten Wembley Stadium full of children
ten Wembley Stadium full of children under the age of 12 and now imagine that
under the age of 12 and now imagine that
under the age of 12 and now imagine that every single one of those children was
every single one of those children was
every single one of those children was likely to be lagging behind already
likely to be lagging behind already
likely to be lagging behind already educationally when they started school
educationally when they started school
educationally when they started school at the age of four and imagine every
at the age of four and imagine every
at the age of four and imagine every single one of them is quite likely to be
single one of them is quite likely to be
single one of them is quite likely to be in a school that doesn’t have great
in a school that doesn’t have great
in a school that doesn’t have great extracurricular provision and all of
extracurricular provision and all of
extracurricular provision and all of them so every single one is less likely
them so every single one is less likely
them so every single one is less likely than they’re better off friends to
than they’re better off friends to
than they’re better off friends to benefit from a rich learning environment
benefit from a rich learning environment
benefit from a rich learning environment at home what’s really worrying is
at home what’s really worrying is
at home what’s really worrying is experts predict that at current rates it
experts predict that at current rates it
experts predict that at current rates it will take 120 years before disadvantaged
will take 120 years before disadvantaged
will take 120 years before disadvantaged teenagers in this country can expect to
teenagers in this country can expect to
teenagers in this country can expect to achieve the same qualifications
achieve the same qualifications
achieve the same qualifications and therefore faithful same choices and
and therefore faithful same choices and
and therefore faithful same choices and chances in life as they’re better off
chances in life as they’re better off
chances in life as they’re better off peers in what sort of society is that’s
peers in what sort of society is that’s
peers in what sort of society is that’s okay it is totally unacceptable in this
okay it is totally unacceptable in this
okay it is totally unacceptable in this day and age the way you get to in life
day and age the way you get to in life
day and age the way you get to in life depends more on where you come from than
depends more on where you come from than
depends more on where you come from than where you aspire to go to so surely
where you aspire to go to so surely
where you aspire to go to so surely where you come from has to play a
where you come from has to play a
where you come from has to play a greater role in giving you the best
greater role in giving you the best
greater role in giving you the best start in life the reality is we’re not
start in life the reality is we’re not
start in life the reality is we’re not taking enough advantage of the massive
taking enough advantage of the massive
taking enough advantage of the massive amount of time our children spend
amount of time our children spend
amount of time our children spend outside a classroom all the assets we
outside a classroom all the assets we
outside a classroom all the assets we have in our communities to ensure that
have in our communities to ensure that
have in our communities to ensure that all our children benefit from informal
all our children benefit from informal
all our children benefit from informal learning time and we’re certainly not
learning time and we’re certainly not
learning time and we’re certainly not doing it for those children who really
doing it for those children who really
doing it for those children who really need it my youngest daughter Ava is six
need it my youngest daughter Ava is six
need it my youngest daughter Ava is six and before Ava started school we went to
and before Ava started school we went to
and before Ava started school we went to one of those new parents evenings that
one of those new parents evenings that
one of those new parents evenings that you get invited to at that event her
you get invited to at that event her
you get invited to at that event her headmaster stood up and he said this by
headmaster stood up and he said this by
headmaster stood up and he said this by the time your child leaves this school
the time your child leaves this school
the time your child leaves this school aged eleven they will have only spent
aged eleven they will have only spent
aged eleven they will have only spent nine percent of their life in school
nine percent of their life in school
nine percent of their life in school that means ninety one percent of their
that means ninety one percent of their
that means ninety one percent of their education is down to you ninety-one
education is down to you ninety-one
education is down to you ninety-one percent shocking isn’t it when you start
percent shocking isn’t it when you start
percent shocking isn’t it when you start to view your child’s education in those
to view your child’s education in those
to view your child’s education in those terms firstly as a parent you go cripes
terms firstly as a parent you go cripes
terms firstly as a parent you go cripes gosh I need to do more well this but
gosh I need to do more well this but
gosh I need to do more well this but secondly you start to think of the
secondly you start to think of the
secondly you start to think of the potential
potential
potential of that village I mentioned right back
of that village I mentioned right back
of that village I mentioned right back at the start to contribute sadly many
at the start to contribute sadly many
at the start to contribute sadly many parents don’t think learning exists
parents don’t think learning exists
parents don’t think learning exists outside a classroom
outside a classroom
outside a classroom so why would it be something that you do
so why would it be something that you do
so why would it be something that you do at the weekends or in the holidays yet
at the weekends or in the holidays yet
at the weekends or in the holidays yet there’s a very real thing called summer
there’s a very real thing called summer
there’s a very real thing called summer learning loss and it plays a significant
learning loss and it plays a significant
learning loss and it plays a significant role in widening the attainment gap
role in widening the attainment gap
role in widening the attainment gap between rich and poor of course all
between rich and poor of course all
between rich and poor of course all children forget lots of what they’ve
children forget lots of what they’ve
children forget lots of what they’ve learned in a classroom during the
learned in a classroom during the
learned in a classroom during the holidays but children from low-income
holidays but children from low-income
holidays but children from low-income families especially lose vast amounts of
families especially lose vast amounts of
families especially lose vast amounts of learning during the summer because they
learning during the summer because they
learning during the summer because they simply don’t get Fame and Richmond as
simply don’t get Fame and Richmond as
simply don’t get Fame and Richmond as other children so for example they might
other children so for example they might
other children so for example they might not go on holiday or get to visit a
not go on holiday or get to visit a
not go on holiday or get to visit a local museum or library it really is
local museum or library it really is
local museum or library it really is time that as communities as villages we
time that as communities as villages we
time that as communities as villages we tune into this challenge and we find
tune into this challenge and we find
tune into this challenge and we find more ways and better ways of partnering
more ways and better ways of partnering
more ways and better ways of partnering with schools and families to make sure
with schools and families to make sure
with schools and families to make sure that every child keeps learning when
that every child keeps learning when
that every child keeps learning when they’re not in school if we truly
they’re not in school if we truly
they’re not in school if we truly developed asset based community
developed asset based community
developed asset based community education with all of us filling that 91
education with all of us filling that 91
education with all of us filling that 91 percent with fun exciting inspirational
percent with fun exciting inspirational
percent with fun exciting inspirational and aspirational learning activities
and aspirational learning activities
and aspirational learning activities then not only would we lessen the burden
then not only would we lessen the burden
then not only would we lessen the burden on our schools because we’d send back
on our schools because we’d send back
on our schools because we’d send back into the classroom after every break
into the classroom after every break
into the classroom after every break better and more ready learners but we’d
better and more ready learners but we’d
better and more ready learners but we’d show off the brilliant assets our
show off the brilliant assets our
show off the brilliant assets our communities have in their people places
communities have in their people places
communities have in their people places and professions and we might just raise
and professions and we might just raise
and professions and we might just raise a generation that is so proud of where
a generation that is so proud of where
a generation that is so proud of where it comes from that it wants to stay
it comes from that it wants to stay
it comes from that it wants to stay there and ensure the next generation
there and ensure the next generation
there and ensure the next generation fulfills its potential – we all have
fulfills its potential – we all have
fulfills its potential – we all have skills and talents to offer so I
skills and talents to offer so I
skills and talents to offer so I challenge you to think about what you
challenge you to think about what you
challenge you to think about what you and how with the right support you could
and how with the right support you could
and how with the right support you could turn those into a learning experience
turn those into a learning experience
turn those into a learning experience for local children and imagine if that
for local children and imagine if that
for local children and imagine if that became something we all just did a
became something we all just did a
became something we all just did a natural part of the ethos of our village
natural part of the ethos of our village
natural part of the ethos of our village and imagine if we literally gave our
and imagine if we literally gave our
and imagine if we literally gave our skills and talents making them
skills and talents making them
skills and talents making them accessible to all families so that no
accessible to all families so that no
accessible to all families so that no child ever got left out or left behind
child ever got left out or left behind
child ever got left out or left behind maybe then learning outside the
maybe then learning outside the
maybe then learning outside the classroom and the edge that it gives you
classroom and the edge that it gives you
classroom and the edge that it gives you and believe you me it really does give
and believe you me it really does give
and believe you me it really does give you an edge in life wouldn’t remain the
you an edge in life wouldn’t remain the
you an edge in life wouldn’t remain the privilege of the better off view that it
privilege of the better off view that it
privilege of the better off view that it is today there is absolutely no evidence
is today there is absolutely no evidence
is today there is absolutely no evidence that suggests that these attainment and
that suggests that these attainment and
that suggests that these attainment and opportunity gaps that I’ve talked about
opportunity gaps that I’ve talked about
opportunity gaps that I’ve talked about can’t be closed for all children but the
can’t be closed for all children but the
can’t be closed for all children but the power to close them live with us so to
power to close them live with us so to
power to close them live with us so to end I challenge this very community here
end I challenge this very community here
end I challenge this very community here today this village if you like to step
today this village if you like to step
today this village if you like to step up to take responsibility and to provide
up to take responsibility and to provide
up to take responsibility and to provide the real education that’s needed to
the real education that’s needed to
the real education that’s needed to ensure that every single child
ensure that every single child
ensure that every single child we know succeeds thank you
”
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