Creating Tomorrow's Schools Today: Education - Our Children - Their Futures

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Foreword by Sir Ken Robinson Preface - The Moral Imperative Section One: The Challenge Ch 1 - Education and the Changing World The Imperative for Change Ch 2 - Harnessing the Power of our Children Do we realise their potential? Ch 3 - Making School Matter Selling school to our children Ch 4 - The Positivity of Failure How making mistakes makes a difference Ch 5 - Who Do We Create Our Schools For? Ensuring that we focus on our children Ch 6 - What Matters Most? The knowledge vs. skills debate Ch 7 - The World Beyond the Gate Creating real contexts for learning Ch 8 - The Industrial Model of Schooling Why our system is out of date Ch 9 - Are They Fit for the Future? Do we really give our children the best chance? Ch10 - Making School Magical! How to make school the next must have Ch11 - Breaking Down the Walls Educating with the community Ch 12 - The Way Forward Summarising section one and setting up section two Section Two: The Way it Could Be Ch 13 - Creating The Vision The thinking behind the 'Grange way' Ch 14 - Developing the Whole Child Putting personal development at the heart of the process Ch 15 - Beyond Subjects Developing a thematic approach Ch 16 - The Grangeton Project Creating three dimensional learning Ch 17 - A Curriculum of all the Talents Nurturing every individual and finding what makes them tick Ch 18 - Into the Unknown Moving forward from the book Afterword - Leading into the Unknown Bibliography and References Index

About the Author :
Richard Gerver was formerly Headteacher of the internationally respected Grange Primary School in Long Eaton, UK, where he put into action his passionate belief in child-centric learning that focuses on experience and context. He is an international speaker, and has been an adviser to the DCSF, the QCA and the Government on many areas of education policy, mostly in defining school change for the 21st century. A former National Teaching Award winner, Richard has been described as one of the most innovative and inspirational school leaders of our time. Sir Ken Robinson is an internationally recognized leader in the development of education, creativity and innovation.

Review :
'I absolutely love the book... an effortless read, which is a massive achievement given the magnitude of the issues Richard is tackling. Loads of stand out points... 'Paedophobic' - don't even know if there is such a word, but I love it. The average school day from the perspective of an 8-year-old is sublime. The Grange stuff would be gripping enough if he were writing it from a theoretical 'this is a model that might work' perspective, so to have actually achieved it makes it spine-tingling.' Andy Cope, award-winning author and founder of The Art of Being Brilliant 'In the internationally recognised Grange Primary school, high standards and an inspiring and magical learning experience are not mutually exclusive...Richard explains the pedagogy and culture at the root of this successful approach and the vision we need for teachers and heads everywhere.' Dr Des Hewitt, Assistant Head of Teacher Education (Primary Education) and Acting B.Ed Programme Leader, University of Derby, UK  'The great thing is that Richard doesn't simply talk about his theories, he has actually made them work in a real school...He has put into words what I have always instinctively believed about education and it's time that people began to not only sit up and listen, but do something about it.' Rachel Wilkes, Assistant Head, Mickleover Primary School, UK 'Richard Gerver throws down a gauntlet to all those involved in the education of young people...this is not a book just about theory. Richard has walked the talk. He tells us the story of how, together with students, staff, parents and the local community, Grange Primary School climbed out of the depths of failure to being described as outstanding by Ofsted. And how did they do it? They did it by espousing the principles outlined in the book. By a faith in the development of a curriculum with creativity at its centre, and a passion for a process that had living, learning and laughing at its core.' Sir John Jones, international speaker, author and Associate Director of ALITE Ltd, UK Infectiously optimistic, this book will be heartening for those who believe schools must evolve, and will raise uncomfortable questions for those who want to turn back the clock on primary curriculum. It may be accessible, and it may take inspiration from Disney, but Mickey Mouse this ain't   'We must prepare our children for the challenges of tomorrow, writes Gerver, where adaptability, and emotional, social and intellectual awareness, are vital. If you want to understand that future, read this book, and join the revolution, now.' Sublime, July 2010 'This is an inspiring book in its ability to challenge the conventional wisdom about what education is for. It reminds us that children need to be at the heart of any successful system of education and that it is possible to swim against the tide and create a community of successful teachers and learners despite the pressures to give in to the data machine model of schooling.'Celia Dignan, former London primary school teacher and Editor of Education Review