This week Neil is taking a few days out with Jane to experience the beauty of the Alps in Winter. He writes, “Being surrounded by natural beauty helps me to focus on what is important in my life. The stunning beauty of the Alps reminds me that Values Education begins by the valuing of the self in all its unique wonder including its challenges. Only then, am I enabled to value others and the world’s environment. The key for me is to be connected to my soul, that part of me which contains all the positive values that can help me to live my life in harmony with me, others and the world.” Are you focussing your thoughts on you?

A Partnership of Headteachers have decided that they are all going to work to develop Values Education. This was their decision following Neil’s Training Day with them in Cumbria last Friday. Values Education has really taken opff in the North West of England!

The Meads Primary School in Luton was awarded the Quality Mark as an excellent Values-based School by Neil. Staff and pupil relationships are excellent and the curriculum is values focussed.

See http://www.coleby.lincs.sch.uk/Values%2DEducation%2DQuality%2Dmark/
You will see how this Lincolnshire Primary School has gained the Quality Mark for being a Values-based School. It is proud to link its school to this website too.

Wow! About 80 members of the Ramridge School community joined Neil at the school to experience the main principles of becoming a values-based school. Neil said that what he had seen in the school, in terms of relationships and pedagogy, demonstrated that Ramridge has the capacity and dedication to become an outstanding school.

Neil – your minutes silence! When I was teaching physics to 5th years including my twin sons about 12 years ago, for one lesson only I got the whole class to sit up straight, hands on knees, eyes closed and took them through deep breathing and relaxing technique for the lesson. These were highly motivated students but all of them saw the benefit and their studies did not suffer for that one class. So keep up your minutes silence. It has been very beneficial to me in my 4 years as Principal. I’m a lot calmer person than I was 20 years ago and a lot less stressed.
Great to have met you and keep up the positivity and the smiling eyes.
Anthony
NAPD Conference Ireland

Dear Neil
The staff are buzzing about what they learnt yesterday and are very positive about building values into our everyday work at St Johns, already staff are
taking just a minute for themselves and with their classes.
Our work in spreading values through the school will begin with the
children but I am looking forward to sharing the vision with parents
and other key staff groups. Thank you for your inspirational input
yesterday and the reassurinig offer of support along the way.
Very best wishes
Liz

Wow! Government is hearing about our Movement:

Lord Janner of Braunstone (Labour)
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the values-based approach in education as taught in schools such the Chantry Primary School in Luton.
Lord Hill of Oareford (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Education; Conservative)
The department does not, as a rule, assess different approaches to education. All state schools are required to provide a balanced and broadly based curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.
Schools are free to adopt a values-based education, such as the one used by Chantry Primary School, to develop an ethos of care and respect for themselves and others.
Chantry school is to be congratulated on its latest Ofsted report.

Fantastic today Neil, inspirational as ever. The quiet revolution has begun in Witney….
Tracey Smith
Headteacher

Yesterday, Neil worked with Headteachers and teachers at Coed Eva School, near Newport in Wales. He outlined the principles and practice of being a values-based school. Neil was thrilled with the enthusiasm given to the day by all who attended. A significant number of schools in South Wales are now embracing Values Education and creating wonderful schools.