The Decisive Element

PROS: - Forget data. Forget league tables. Forget the national curriculum. Teachers are the true weather gods in education.- An uplifting antidote to the anxiety by sharing praise focused techniques that will help teachers and school leaders create an ethos of enthusiasm.- Draws upon the authors' vast experience and anecdotal insights to provide sage guidance on how to create a self-sustaining positive climate for learning.- Suitable for anyone lucky enough to work in education or with children.

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The Decisive Element offers a well-structured insight, drawn from the authors' wealth of experience, into the merits of focusing on praise and motivation as strategies to create an enthusiasm for learning. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on creating a positive climate, getting the most out of praise and making the weather in the classroom. The authors contrast the skills and attributes of dynamic, positive leaders with those of failing leaders who are constantly seeking to allocate blame for shortcomings, failures and errors. The analogy of Mick Malton's experience as a footballer who was repeatedly being told off is very effective. The authors develop their ideas on positive relationships with the teacher as the decisive element very effectively, backed up with references to a range of acknowledged texts and practical skills such as group praise and pre-emptive and predestined praise. The emphasis is on boosting learners' own atoolkits', including their resilience, effort, determination, hard work and grit. With the increasing emphasis within schools and colleges on promoting growth mindsets, The Decisive Element provides a practical evaluation of praise's role in raising performance levels, while also highlighting the dangers of false praise. An excellent resource for schools and colleges.

John Morris, Director, JTM Educational Consultants

The Decisive Element celebrates the influence of leadership at every level in the school setting and highlights the importance of establishing and maintaining positive relationships with staff and students. With its reflection on how inspirational leaders create the positive emotional climate that is so vital in promoting well-being, this book is a must-read for all those who want to abring out the sunshine' in their schools.

Yvonne Cashmore, Senior Lecturer and PGCE Economics and Business Subject Lead, University of Worcester

The Decisive Element is not so much about sunny weather returning to our classrooms but more a convincing claim that it has never gone away. Quite rightly too, as Gary, Mick and Chris demonstrate from their collective experience: they have taught so many lessons and led so many initiatives that every chapter, including those on motivation and leadership, echoes with authority and common sense. The authors also share and link back to classroom practice an impressive store of research and theory, but it's the warmth of the personal anecdotes that gives the book originality. Teachers may well read The Decisive Element in one session, and will return to the classroom energised to spread more positive weather!

Bob Cox, education consultant and author of the award winning Opening Doors to Quality Writing series

As a school leader I try to never lose sight of the enormous impact that my demeanour can have on up to 750 people every single day, and smiling and treating people with dignity is so infectious. This brilliant book, backed up by theory and packed with practical tips that anybody can use, offers an entertaining reminder of why we do what we do, and challenges us to do it even better. The Decisive Element should be essential reading for anybody who works in a school a highly recommended!

Jon Mellor, Head Teacher, Limehurst Academy

At a time when many in the media are declaring a mental health crisis in our schools, there has never been such a need for positivity among those of us who work in education. We need to change the narrative, and this very readable book provides an excellent starting point a sounding an essential call to action for all teachers to focus on the positive and to recognise the good that is happening around them. Packed with sage advice, and written with the unique combination of wit and wisdom so typical of the authors, The Decisive Element offers a wealth of practical tips to help you build better relationships, reap the rewards of positivity in your classroom and become the ultimate aweather god' in your own school. There is great guidance here for new teachers on how to provide meaningful and impactful praise, and plenty of thought provoking exercises to challenge the practice of even the most experienced of practitioners. And all of this from accomplished school leaders who ooze credibility and authority having been there, done it all and worn the t-shirts. There is not a teacher or educator in the land, whether experienced or newly qualified, who would not benefit from picking up The Decisive Element.

Andrea Taylor, Director, South Bromsgrove High Teaching School

It's difficult to disagree with any of the sentiments and ideas in The Decisive Element. Filled with unique, real-life examples of how all those who work in schools contribute to make a difference to others and their learning, it highlights how every action we take with pupils over time has a profound impact on their overall development and well-being. And if we are to continue making athat' difference in young people's lives, we need to put the philosophy the authors share in this book into action. Essential reading a whether you are a classroom assistant, an experienced teacher, a school leader or simply considering going into teaching.

Tim J. Sutcliffe, Executive Head, Glen Hills Primary School