Will Ryan - 'Education's Michael Macintyre'as one delegate recently described him - has now been enthralling Independent Thinking audiences in Britain and overseas for many years, sharing his wealth of experience in primary education and leadership with passion, common sense and humour. His most recent book Inspirational Teachers Inspirational Learners was given a 10/10 review in the Times Educational Supplement and described as 'the inspirational text that should be on the reading list of all educational administrators and on the bedside table of all school leaders and classroom teachers'.
Or, to put it another way and in the words of a recent delegate from a heads conference:
'I found Will Ryan very moving, captivating and completely inspiring. I actually had tears in my eyes on several occasions, both from laughter and from being so moved.'
Will likes to keep it simple - if your horse drops dead dismount! The way he sees it, we too often end up either on a journey that is rapidly going nowhere or on a course set by the 'powers that be' with a government-issue horse that just isn't up to the job. (He also suggests that once you have dismounted, take a critical look around you and then choose the means and direction of travel most appropriate for you.)
He believes that for too long we have worked on an 'outside in' model of education where outside forces such as the government have provided 'one size fits all' school improvement strategies. He believes that our best schools do the exact opposite and turn themselves 'inside out'.
Through his work on 'Inside Out Schools' he urges school leaders to examine the 'moral purpose' that took them into the profession in the first place and then to consider the unique needs of their community, and then use their minds their hearts and their souls to create a truly personalised and superb learning community which provides a high quality memorable education.
He further argues that if the approach is followed with rigour it will produce high standards in literacy, numeracy, science and ICT as well as create emotionally intelligent enterprising pupils. (Will has a track record of helping schools get into HMCI's list of most effective schools.)
Will Ryan published his first book in 2008, Leadership with a Moral Purpose which has had glowing reviews from the likes of Mick Waters, John West Burnham, David Hopkins, Michael Fullan, Paul Ginnis and Brin Best. Many school leaders use it as a basis for their improvement plans.
'This unique book is a complete primary school leadership manual for the immediate future. It has its head in the skies and its feet on the ground. A fantastic combination - vision and pragmatism head and heart in equal measure'
Brand New Intensive Day Courses on Outstanding Primary Leadership with Will Ryan - for dates and how to book click here
Over the last five years Will has worked both on school leadership and developing a model of pupil creativity where inspirational teachers achieve inspirational responses from their learners. His training sessions on curriculum design and pupil creativity have been very well received. His work with schools in teaching and learning, often just prior to an OFSTED visit, carries with it the message that is loud and clear - Don't teach safe lessons in sterile environments! This is then followed with the powerful question, 'When did you last teach an inspirational lesson that led to inspirational learners?' Will then works with a school to provide frameworks and activities to help them deliver the goods, modeling the process of 'Excellence and Enjoyment' as he goes.
Brand New Intensive Day Courses on Inspirational Teaching Strategies with Will Ryan and Jonathan Lear - for dates and how to book click here
One of the critical questions in education today is how do you put an elephant into a refrigerator? Many are searching for a solution. The answer is to open the door and put the elephant in. To do anything else is over-complicating the issue. The challenge for school leaders is to keep it simple by turning their school inside out. Let Will Ryan show you how to lead with heart and soul and create a school that will make an Ofsted inspector tingle.
Recent comments from happy clients include;
- Thank you so much for the fantastc INSET that you took for us. Staff were all engaged throughout (despite it being at the end of a school day) and I feel that their horizons have been expanded and that they have been inspired to put the children's thinking and development at the centre of what they do at school. I know that your sessions will help us to move on as a school as we seek to provide the very best creative education that we can for our children
- The day was a real treat and we have had nothing but positive praise for Will's input - his professionalism, his educational insight and his ability to make us think - not to mention, make us laugh - made the conference memorable
- Brilliant presentation by Will Ryan - very inspirational, just what we need!
- An inspirational, child centred, speaker who spoke to us from the heart and with a philosophy that resonated
- Truly inspirational
- We were with him for three hours on a Saturday morning and the time flew
- The session was about vision, It worked - the cloud lifted and I could see clearly
- A marvellous blend of inspiration and practical tips
- A very inspiring, amusing speaker - loved the jokes!
- This inspirational day took us to new places in our thinking, my brain started to hurt with thinking and then he just got funnier and funnier
People who benefited from Will have also enjoyed Simon Cooper-Hind.
Articles written by Will Ryan:
Books written by Will Ryan:
For more information and to book Will to work with teachers, school leaders, parents or governors predominantly with the early years and primary phases (although there is resonance with the secondary phase too) please call us on 0844 589 0490 or e-mail us on learn@independentthinking.co.uk.
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Will's prices are as follows: |
| £1,650 |
Full Day INSET/Conference |
| £1,100 |
Half Day INSET/Conference |
| £725 |
1-Hour Conference Address |
| £450 |
Parents' Event |
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Travelling expenses, accommodation costs (if required), and VAT are also charged |
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For our other Associates' prices, corporate Event prices or further information on expenses please click here |
Will's CRB number is 001322468880 issued 13th May 2011.
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