ASPIRE card trial, education policy, Circles and more

In the northern hemisphere Spring is just arriving, bringing with it signs of hope, renewal and optimism. Despite what is happening on the world stage we need to stay with the positive and continue to speak up for our young people and their future. This newsletter includes links to campaigns, conferences, books, Circle Solutions training and support and more. But first, a request:

ASPIRE CULTURE CARDS

Many of you will have seen ASPIRE to Wellbeing and Learning for All, published by Routledge last year in two versions, one for primary and early years and one for secondary settings. ASPIRE is an acronym for Agency, Safety, Positivity, Inclusion, Respect and Equity. These principles underpin positive education, a safe and solution-focused pedagogy for social-emotional learning and a healthy organisation culture. But what do these mean in practice? The Strengths in Circles cards published by St. Luke’s Innovative Resources are now only available in digital form, and will be discontinued soon.

You may already know the excellent Strength Cards and other resources from At My Best. We have teamed up with Michele Deeks and Martin Galpin from At My Best to develop a new set of cards that can be used widely with groups, teams, students and staff to build an optimal working and learning environment.

Before we finalise these we need to pilot them. If you are interested in being considered for this pilot, please sign up here:
https://forms.gle/5KS6JAuBFtAentzz6

If you meet the criteria for inclusion (we need people from different places, professions etc) you will receive a set of the cards, an online booklet with implementation ideas and exercises, and a feedback form. Your commitment is to use the cards in your setting and give us feedback by May 23^rd.

CHANGING THE FACE OF EDUCATION – a policy document, a book and an Inquiry!

The Education Policy Alliance published Everybody Thriving – what is needed to create a culture of wellbeing in schools.

Building Better Schools with Evidence Based Policy – written by Kelly-Ann Allen, Andrea Reupert and Lindsay Oades, all well known for their sterling work in Australia – but what they say applies everywhere!

A much needed inquiry into the Loss of Love for Learning, initiated by the All Parliamentary Group for Education in the UK Parliament.

DENMARK

I have just returned from working with teachers in Odense, Denmark, so here is a Danish segment for everyone in that wonderful country!

The HOPE conference: May 23^rd and 24^th 2025, in Middelfart, Denmark, run by the National Knowledge Centre for Positive Psychology:
https://www.conferencemanager.dk/haab-doegn/conference
NB: All but two presentations will be in Danish – one of these being me!

New Book: “Make a difference – Promoting well-being for everyone in school”, by Mette Ledertoug and Nanna Paarup (in Danish).

CIRCLE SOLUTIONS

All accredited trainers have been sent a Zoom link for the next network meeting – one for those on or near Greenwich Mean Time and one for those in Australis and Asia.

There will be a Train the Trainer course in London on May 15^th and 16^th 2025 for anyone who has done an Intro and wants to train teachers in their own schools. Details here, and you can book a place here.