Latest thinking

No more dogsbodies?

Blog

07 Feb 2013

Matthew Taylor

There is a subtle but important link between two of today’s depressing news headlines: the scandal at Mid Staffs Hospital and the confirmation by the IFS that economic sluggishness means the worst of public sector austerity is still to come.

National Curriculum behold, here come the Grand Curriculum Designers!

Blog

07 Feb 2013

It’s more than the national curriculum, more than lesson planning and bigger than building knowledge! Let’s design a curriculum by first asking Why...

The Wit and Wisdom of Jules Evans

Blog

06 Feb 2013

Jonathan Rowson

I first met Jules Evans at a Franco-British council's conference on the measurement of well-being. That's him with the microphone, and yours truly listening intently.

Understanding your values - a group exercise (+ new UK values report)

Blog

05 Feb 2013

An invitation from leadership coach Lee Chalmers FRSA enticed me to a very enjoyable launch event for an interesting research report by the Office for National Statistics and the Barrett Values Centre on the UK’s national and community values - including the UK’s very high - 59% - level of ‘cultural entropy’, a measure of dysfunctional values. [pullquote]what would a private detective think about your values if they followed you around for six months?[/pullquote]

Soap dodging: Would you shower less to save the planet?

Blog

05 Feb 2013

Do you care about climate change? Do you think you have a role to play in helping to reduce carbon emissions? Would you make small changes if you knew they would make a difference? What’s stopping you?

Every cloud has a stormy lining

Blog

05 Feb 2013

Matthew Taylor

Economics, to me, is like art; I can appreciate it, I can discuss it, even argue about it but I can’t really do it; as the following paragraphs will probably go to show.

The Power of Fellowship Connections

Blog

05 Feb 2013

Richard Pickford

I was struck by just how powerful the work of a few individuals can be to create and sustain an idea following a meeting recently with Ian Jamie, a Fellow and School Governor at Whitley Academy.  Through personal experience and insight of the local situation he has begun to work with the Academy to help support Year 12 students as they begin to consider their next steps.  Having experienced the power of support from a network of alumni and family friends as he developed his career he has seen the value of connectivity.  Ian and the staff that are working with the 6th form are keen to take the best from their experiences to offer similar opportunities for 6th form students at Whitley Academy.

Select Committees are becoming the ugly face of Parliament: it’s time to rein them in.

Blog

04 Feb 2013

I have attended a few Select Committees in my time.  In most cases, they have been friendly if rather sedate affairs.  However, I’ve also experienced their harsher side.

The key to eternal happiness

Blog

04 Feb 2013

Nathalie Spencer

I recently came across an interesting blog post on a psychology website, written by Raj Raghunathan.  The title alone, Happiness Now, or Happiness Later?, evokes a series of questions:  Which is better?  Can we choose?  Can’t we have both?