If, as the research suggests, learning is ‘state dependent’ - that the way we feel and the environment we are in will determine how well we learn more than anything else - what can we do to make sure that we have the best possible climate for learning in our schools?
The answer to this challenge is something that Julie Duckworth has been working on for many years (even when she was Worcester City Football Club’s Under 11s football coach) and with ‘Values Education’ it looks like she has found what she has been looking for.
As headteacher of a primary school experiencing all the challenges of a deprived rural area, the Values Education approach she has brought to the school, something that originated in Oxfordshire, has radically transformed the quality of life for both children and staff.
Even Chief Inspector David Bell couldn’t help but notice when he visited, commenting:
“I would pay particular tribute to the staff for creating such a positive atmosphere in which the children can flourish and learn.”
For a month at a time the school focuses on one of a range of 22 distinct values such as trust, responsibility, courage and, yes, even love, in a way that goes far beyond the normal lip service we give these important factors, where an assembly and a ‘Thought for the Day’ on the school newsletter means we can tick ‘Tolerance’ off our list and whose turn is it to do ‘Humility’ this year…? .
(For a full run down of these values please see the article below for a copy of the school’s Policy Statement’.)
Through this approach, Julie’s school ensures that these values are embodied in word and deed by children and all staff – including dinner ladies and the receptionist – and in a way that is real, tangible and transformational. In fact, three key elements of Values Education are modelling, leadership and what is called 'The Art of Personal Consistency', so these values are demonstrated daily, consistently and throughout the school.
One added benefit of her work is that she only had one day of staff absence for illness throughout the entire school year last year!
She is regularly asked to speak to other LEAs, heads and teachers about her work and also advises secondary schools, where her work has been shown to help create that all elusive ideal learning climate.
There’s a poster in Julie’s school that sums up very simply why it is so important for all schools to work towards what that school has achieved and why we are so pleased to have her working with us as an Independent Thinking Associate. It says, quite simply:
‘The School is a microcosm of the world. What is created in our School today can provide a glimpse of how our world can be tomorrow.’
- For Julie's prices click here
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To make contact with Julie and explore how she may be able to help you in this important work please call the Independent Thinking office on 0709 239 9617 or e-mail us at learn@independentthinking.co.uk
The future of the world depends on it.
Articles by Julie Duckworth: