Back To Basics: Rediscovering The Historical Purpose Of Education

A Meaningful Education “Character,” the educationalist Professor Phil Cummins asserted at our recent Manchester Character conference, “is the reason we do school”. It’s a profound…

Closing The Disability Employment Gap: Why Inclusive Hiring Is A Social And Economic Imperative

This article is the first in a three-part series exploring the disability employment gap. Closing this gap starts at school, where early interventions and inclusive…

From The Pitch To The Boardroom: The Broader Impact Of Footballing Intelligence

Recap On The Research The first article in this series challenged the stereotype that footballers lack intelligence, demonstrating instead that elite players possess exceptional cognitive…

Are Footballers “Thick”, Really?

This is the first in a two-part series exploring the intelligence of footballers – a subject often affected by stereotypes. While post-match interviews and viral…

AI Revolution and Lessons From the Luddites: Does A Cloudy Future Loom For Coders?

The Fast-Moving Beast The progress in AI-driven coding has been nothing short of incredible. OpenAI’s O3 model has already achieved an ELO rating in competitive…

Turing, Innovation Grants and Decoding the Future of Humanity

Great News I received some really positive news recently. A company I am deeply involved with has achieved a significant milestone – winning a ‘Turing…

Cotton Mills to Carbon Goals: Manchester’s Retrofit in Building Careers and Sustainability

Neil examines how Manchester’s green economy initiative, spearheaded by Mayor Andy Burnham, tackles both climate change and workforce development. He explores the crucial role of…

“What Did You Do at School Today?” – The Neuroscience of Motivation and Behaviour of Teens

I remember so well those days when my children used to arrive home from school and I’d ask, “so, what did you do at school…

The Road to Redemption: How Rehabilitation and Employment Unlock Potential in Ex-Offenders

In this article, Neil explores how innovative solutions can aid in rehabilitating ex-offenders by developing their skills and character, helping them reintegrate into society and…

The Career Passport: Will Everyone Want to Be Like Gary Neville?

In this article, Neil Wolstenholme explores Gary Neville’s(@GNev2) transition from footballer to education influencer, the role his character and skill had to play and how…

Scaffolding Character: The ‘Finnishing’ Touch To Unleash Hidden Potential

In this article, Neil delves into Adam Grant’s ‘Hidden Potential’, exploring its insights on character education and skill development. Grant challenges the societal emphasis on…

Mark My Words: How AI In Education Will Overcome Fears and Transform Learning

In this article, we delve into the transformative potential of AI-power in education, the impact on exams being one aspect, and explore the implications for…

Art, Algorithms, and Creative Decline: Not Enough STEAM-Power For Educational Reform

In this article we’ll look at the long-term decline of creativity in education, just at a time when employers are going to value those ‘human’…

Pestalozzi To Present: Head, Heart And Hands Shaping Education Through The Ages

In this second article in the series of four on creativity in education, we shall probe into the key personalities behind the history of creativity…

The Creative Renaissance in Education: Empowering Human Minds for the AI Era

In this article, Neil explores the importance of creativity in the face of advancing artificial intelligence, emphasising its unique human nature. The piece delves into…

Character: What Do You Do When Nobody Else Is In The Room?

Introduction As I watched the clip of Education Secretary Gillian Keegan reeling off a sweary tirade about how she hadn’t been sufficiently praised for “doing a good…

A Stellar Education: Eton Follows The North Star

Eton Of The North Eton College, that bastion of British entitlement and tradition, has announced that it will be opening a ‘transformative’ new college in…

Is The Rise And Rise Of Homeschooling Explained By Failing Schools?

Welcome to the second and final article in our mini-series on homeschooling. In the first article we explored the pull of wanting to study at…

Is The Rise And Rise Of Homeschooling Explained By Advances In Tech?

This is the first article in a two-part series on homeschooling. In this mini-series, I shall challenge the assertion that the reason for the meteoric…

University Grade Inflation: It All Started with the Class of '92

Ah! The Class of ’92! Becks, Scholesy, Gary Neville.……..no, no, not that class! This article is about the other Class of ’92; Trent, Hallam, John…

Artificial Intelligence: How Grade Inflation Induces Devaluation in Intellectual Assets

Race To The Bottom The Series: This is the second of a four-part series on university #GradeInflation; we’ll explore the evidence, the underlying causes, the defence…

The Education System Must Prepare Schoolchildren for Lifelong Learning and Career Changes

In this article, Neil explains why, in the face of the wave of new technology, the education system needs to reform, and fast, to be…

Will A First Class Education Spell The Demise of The Desmond?

The Fluff A very good friend of mine, Jeremy, who is responsible for the recruitment of high flyers into his organisation, told me recently that…

Redundancies in Education Expected from Tech Tsunami: Exams and Careers Advice?

You’ve probably been following the news recently about the impending impact of artificial intelligence on future jobs. Many doom and gloom stories have pronounced how…

Dear Diary, Today I Learned About Reflective Practice....

‘Reflection’, What Exactly Is It?  Whilst I was in the middle of writing this article, I turned on the news to hear the latest Corona-update…

T Levelling Up: The “Levelling Up” Agenda Must Result in Equality with A Levels

T Levels are Ready for Take-Off  The impressive new T levels are sitting on the launch-pad ready for take-off, one of the few things that can…