Difficult Conversations

A Conversation About Going Back

A conversation about going back in primary, secondary and special schools with Independent Thinking Associates and school leaders Julie Rees and Dave Whitaker and Andy Greenhough, headteacher at Ralph Allen School.

55-minute watch

04 Jun 2020

Julie Rees, Difficult Conversations, Education, Leadership, Managing Stress and Mindfulness, Relationships, Schools, Teaching in Challenging Circumstances, What Now Week, Covid-19, Watch

A Conversation with Vic Goddard About Educational Leadership in Challenging Times

A conversation about the best job in a world that's been turned upside down with Associate and headteacher Vic Goddard.

52-minute watch

04 Jun 2020

Vic Goddard, Covid-19, Difficult Conversations, Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership, Managing Stress and Mindfulness, Personal Leadership, Poverty, Relationships, Resilience, Schools, Teachers, Teaching in Challenging Circumstances, Watch, What Now Week

A Conversation About Supporting Bereaved Children

A conversation about supporting children experiencing loss and bereavement with Julie Rees, Phoebe Gilbert and Fergus Crow, CEO of Winston's Wish.

55-minute watch

03 Jun 2020

Bereavement, Covid-19, Difficult Conversations, Leadership, Well-Being, Watch, What Now Week

A Conversation About Leadership, Bravery and Values in Challenging Times

A conversation about leadership, bravery and values in challenging times with Dave Harris, author of Brave Heads and Floyd Woodrow.

55-minute watch

02 Jun 2020

Dave Harris, Floyd Woodrow, Difficult Conversations, Education, Leadership, Personal Leadership, Relationships, School Improvement, Teachers, Teaching in Challenging Circumstances, Team Building, Watch, What Now Week, Values-based Education

A Conversation About Restorative Practice

A conversation about restorative practice, coaching, behaviour and achievement with Associate Mark Finnis and Simon Flowers, Headteacher of Carr Manor High School.

55-minute watch

01 Jun 2020

Mark Finnis, Behaviour, Motivation and Engagement, Difficult Conversations, Education, Improving Standards and Effectiveness, Leadership, Relationships, Restorative Practice, Schools, School Improvement, Teaching in Challenging Circumstances, Watch, What Now Week

Guest Blog - Rachel Tomlinson on Her Sanction-Free, Reward-Free School

A guest blog from Rachel Tomlinson, headteacher of the award-winning Barrowford Primary School in Lancashire, on why her school is a sanction-free and reward-free zone. Controversially.

Four-minute read

Posted by Guest on 01 May 2020

Education, Leadership, Relationships, Restorative Practice, Schools, Society, Behaviour, Motivation and Engagement, Teaching and Learning, Well-Being, Read, Difficult Conversations, Improving Standards and Effectiveness, Peace Building, Personal Leadership, Poverty, Teaching in Challenging Circumstances, Values-based Education

So You Want to Build a New School

We were asked a while back for our thoughts about building a new school from scratch. Drawing on his experience in schools and school systems around the world, these are Ian Gilbert's 32 surprising recommendations.

Four-minute read

Posted by Ian Gilbert on 18 Apr 2020

Ian Gilbert, Schools, Society, Activism, Creativity, Leadership, Teaching and Learning, Read, Complexity, Difficult Conversations, Diversity and Inclusion, Education, Governance, Improving Standards and Effectiveness, Learning Technologies, Outdoor Learning, Peace Building, Personal Leadership, Poverty, Relationships, School Improvement, Service Learning, Teachers, Values-based Education, Wonder, Well-Being

Fanfare Please

In which Independent Thinking founder Ian Gilbert suggests that, despite earlier promises, now is indeed the time for that fanfare for the common man and woman.

30-minute read and watch

Posted by Ian Gilbert on 09 Apr 2020

Ian Gilbert, Employability, Schools, Society, Covid-19, Activism, Teaching and Learning, Watch, Read, Charity, Complexity, Creativity, Difficult Conversations, Education, Personal Leadership, Poverty

Observations

We asked Associate and Restorative Practice guru Mark Finnis what lessons he had gleaned, heard or observed about relationships, people and communities during this current crisis. Here are 43 truisms he has picked up. So far...

Three-minute read

Posted by Mark Finnis on 06 Apr 2020

Mark Finnis, Restorative Practice, Society, Covid-19, Personal Leadership, Relationships, Read, Difficult Conversations, Behaviour, Motivation and Engagement, ACEs and Trauma Awareness, Coaching, Education, Managing Stress and Mindfulness, Peace Building, Resilience, Teaching in Challenging Circumstances, Values-based Education, Team Building

For What We Are About To Receive...

At a time when the whole country seems to be waiting, waiting... coach and Independent Thinking Associate Andy Vass shares a view on the important difference between anticipation and expectation.

One-minute read

Posted by Andy Vass on 28 Mar 2020

Andy Vass, Coaching, Covid-19, Relationships, Team Building, Read, Difficult Conversations, Growth Mindset, Resilience, Well-Being

Independent Thinking On Loss

A short video about bereavement and loss created for teachers and school leaders by Ian Gilbert with Phoebe Gilbert and Winston's Wish.

Five-minute watch

Posted by Ian Gilbert on 12 Mar 2020

Ian Gilbert, Bereavement, Covid-19, Difficult Conversations, Well-Being, Schools, Watch, ACEs and Trauma Awareness, Teachers, Resilience, Charity

Thunks on the Business of Learning

Ian Gilbert was recently asked to put together some Thunks linked to schools and schooling. Here are his 31 Thunks on the business of learning.

Three-minute read

Posted by Ian Gilbert on 02 Feb 2019

Education, Ian Gilbert, Creativity, Questioning and Thinking Skills, Thunks, Teaching and Learning, Read, Difficult Conversations, Improving Standards and Effectiveness, Leadership, Schools, Teachers

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