John Holland's Blog

Date: Tuesday, February 07, 2012

CLADA filming begins.

The first day of shooting for our toolkit DVD project has taken place at Titus Salt School.

A group of twenty one year 10 students spent a day engaged in co-operative learning exercises with John. The final hour was filmed by Martyn Stead who has taken the footage back to Bradford University where he will begin to edit it. This first session was a learning process for us all. The need to capture spontaneity and a documentary feel alongside the practical requirements for quality filming of an educational resource proved to be an interesting challenge. The resulting compromises will inform and improve future filming. The aim of producing a toolkit for practitioners is on course. 

Posted by john on 02/07 at 12:38 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Further links with Leeds EBP

John attended the recent conference at Pudsey looking at the provision for NEET students in Leeds. He was able to contribute from a position of great experience and took away useful ideas and resources. He is now signed up to be a mentor on a programme for 6th formers called ‘You’re Hired”. This looks at interview skills and particularly translating life experience and competences into business language for selling yourself to an employer.

Posted by john on 01/25 at 07:34 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Friday, May 27, 2011

School staff PD sessions attract bigger audiences.

John has been offering PD sessions for the staff at our partnership school in Yorkshire.

The recent workshop on speaking to large groups was well attended and received. The word is that very high numbers have chosen to try the final session on brain science.

Posted by john on 05/27 at 06:06 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Time to get suited and booted.

As a result of my role as a director of CLADA and previous collaborations with the Leeds EBP, I have been invited to join a team of local business people to conduct mock interviews at Royds High School in the city.

On a special interview day, the students have applied for various fictitious jobs and been coached in presenting themselves. My role is to give my seven interviewees a realistic experience, provide instant feedback and complete an assessment form. This may feed into examination coursework and I have no plans to employ Lord Sugar's style...

Posted by john on 01/18 at 02:45 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Video message

CLADA is planning to use video both to demonstrate techniques and as an internal and external evaluation tool. To date we have used our affiliate Martyn Stead to record major events but we have invested in technology which will enable us to make short videos of ongoing projects. We are on a learning curve.

A very short video of us on the eve of our recent work in Telford can be found here. We are still learning..

Posted by john on 12/14 at 09:33 AM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Monday, December 13, 2010

NEET SUCCESS STORY

Titus Salt School has achieved its target of having less than 1% of last year's leavers without further education, employment or training.

I have worked independently, alongside the strong school team and Connexions, to assist in this great achievement. Regular contact, mock interviews, accompanying students at actual interviews, self esteem work, literacy and numeracy coaching leading to online examinations - all co-operative techniques used on the weekly programme. The school had an unannounced Ofsted inspection in mid-November and the care for students was described as outstanding, this project cited. The new political landscape will make it more difficult for NEET students next year, especially the end of the EMA.

Posted by john on 12/13 at 03:57 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010

NEET reduction - a hard act to follow

Titus Salt School, Shipley is again employing me to lead the initiative to reduce their NEET cohort.

Between now and December, I will be identifying, counselling, tracking and coaching the small number of Salt students who are not yet in further education, training or employment. Last year, the pilot scheme reduced the percentage of unplaced leavers from 11 to 2.6. This year from a smaller base we are hoping to get down to 1%. Individual, personal intervention, signposting and a short key skills course (now very relevant to these often reluctant learners) combine to re-energise the young peoples' enthusiasm and determination to move on. Co-operative teaching and learning styles, particularly based around the values of self-help and self-responsibility, are very effective in engaging the students. The school has reserved space at the nearby Caltec centre for the intervention, an off-site venue being more appropriate for students who are beginning the post-school phase of their lives.

Posted by john on 09/23 at 01:11 PM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Saturday, September 18, 2010

CLADA Meeting - Bradford September 2010

CLADA meeting - Bradford

The team is meeting at the northern office in Bradford for a strategic planning weekend. After a final evaluation of the InterAct 2010 Conference, our last major project, there is much to discuss. The new political landscape throws up many challenges and opportunities. Our mission to spread the co-operative difference is leading us to develop new ideas for local and national events. With potential clients facing dramatic reductions to their training and development budgets, we have to be innovative, creative and cost effective.

Posted by john on 09/18 at 09:47 AM :: :: :: (0) Trackbacks • :: Permalink

Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010

CLADA meeting in Swansea

2010 follows the usual pattern with members of CLADA meeting for several days of development, creative design, strategy, management, drinking, and as this one is in the Welsh Office, walking on beaches of Gower.

The focus for this meeting is the InterAct 2010 conference to be held in July. The structure and key elements of the event are all in place, but fine tuning and co-operative sparkle are needed.

Other items on the agenda include a seminar, the website re-vamp and work in South Africa.

Posted by john on 04/21 at 08:38 PM :: :: :: :: Permalink

The Challenges of Being a Manager

In its fifth year, this Clada designed programme for senior and middle managers is once again over-subscribed.

Supported by the South Yorkshire EBP, the course covers leadership, management, conflict resolution, communication strategies and action planning. It will take place at the Brinsworth Training Centre, Rotherham.

Posted by john on 04/21 at 08:17 PM :: :: :: :: Permalink