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Synopsis of Colouring the Future conference with Edward de Bono, 14th March 2005
Dr Edward de Bono, the world authority on teaching thinking, was the special guest at the recent Colouring the Future event at Watford Grammar School for Girls, organised by Atkey Solutions. Dr de Bono addressed delegates about how they can apply his Thinking Tools to convert potential into achievement for more able students of all ages.
The one-day conference included workshops led by teachers and trainers accredited in the Edward de Bono thinking skills, covering subjects including science, art and humanities, and across all education phases, from reception to Year 13. Mrs Helen Hyde, headteacher at Watford Grammar School for Girls and de Bono accredited trainer, spoke about how the whole school approach that she and her senior management team have adopted, has helped her school attain recognition as a Centre of Excellence. Speaking about the impact de Bono’s Thinking Tools can have on younger children, Mrs Di Trainor, headteacher of Salfords Primary School in Surrey, discussed how using the Six Thinking Hats has improved SATs results and in house test results, as well as reducing problems with behaviour in the playground.
Accredited schools such as Southlands High School, Salfords Primary School and Katherine Semar Infant and Junior School, demonstrated excellent results with the de Bono techniques both in staff development and pupil motivation and achievement. The hosts, Watford Grammar School for Girls, also displayed work from their latest de Bono project, the Footprint programme, which uses the Six Thinking Hats to develop children’s business and enterprise skills.
Colouring the Future 2005 was organised by Atkey Solutions and attendees included UK head and deputy head teachers, education senior managers and LEA advisers. Says Denise Inwood, Director of Atkey Solutions: "For our young people to have the opportunity to achieve their full potential, we owe them the right to experience tools and techniques that will help them to build self esteem and confidence to make effective decisions and choices. Not just to enable them to operate in a commercial environment, but also to operate effectively in their lives."
Dr Edward de Bono also delivered Watford Grammar School for Girls’ second annual Fuller lecture in the evening, to a large audience of teachers, headteachers and parents.
The whole day was a huge success and we would like to thank all those who attended the day and helped it to be such a terrific event.
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