POSITIVE ACTION UK
Training, CPD, Workshops and Seminars
Workshops and Seminars
We provide several workshops and seminars on a variety of educational topics: Positive Education, Character, Mental Toughness, and Wellbeing for headteachers, teachers, SEN teachers and parents.
Examples of our workshops:
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Applying principles of behaviour from Reception to Year 12
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Mental toughness in educational settings
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Emotional literacy
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Teaching character and positive classrooms
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Cultural literacy
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Critical thinking and academic resilience
Measures and Assesments
We provide baseline measurements and assessments on several areas of a young person's development. Some of the measures we use include:
Mental Toughness scale- this is about how effectively students respond when faced with stress, pressure and challenges
VIA SIGNATURE - this is a strengths measure which offers a range of tools to help students identify their top 5 signature strengths from a pool of 24 character strengths
The Resilience Scale (Wagnild &Young) - is a measure which demonstrates that positive mental health is the attainment of emotional resilience
The Academic Resilience Scale (Duckworth) - this measures attitudes to learning, perserverance and mastery
Evidence - Based Coaching
We offer evidence - based coaching using positive psychology principles together with engaged learning to provide more flexible, tailor - made solutions to leadership performance and classroom management. In today's changes, schools are increasingly using such programs as part of leadership development initiatives, it is important that we develop effective methodologies for teaching and embedding coaching skills in organisations.
We argue that an evidence-based approach to program design and solid alignment with the organisation's goals, values and language are essential foundations for the process of embedding coaching skills
Educational Programs
We provide a variety of evidence based programs for primary and secondary schools.
Positive Action
Positive Action is a very successful evidence-based social and emotional program designed to develop positive attitudes and behaviours, peer relationship and learning engagement. This is achieved through a series of lessons and activities delivered by teachers. The effects of the program range from increased academic achievement to dramatic reductions in problem behaviours. These results have been replicated in diverse settings and feature the most rigorous efficacy study designs available.
Powerful Steps
Powerful Steps is a universal, preventative program that is delivered in the classroom by teachers, across each of the three academic years within KS3. Students develop strategies that enable them to identify and cope with anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Students who complete the Powerful Steps program become self-engaged learners with the character-building skills they need to reach their potential. This will result in individuals that are well-rounded with the intrinsic motivation that enables higher academic achievement and greater engagement.
Academic Enrichment
We have authored bespoke academic enrichment programs aimed to develop critical thinking, emotional literacy, social justice, personal and global understanding for secondary students across all three key stages. We cover a range of subjects including the humanities, STEM, modern languages, creative arts and interdisciplinary approaches. These programs promote the mastery of ‘powerful’ knowledge (Christodoulou), develop cultural literacy (E.D. Hirsch), critical analysis skills and the ability to formulate and refine questions that lead to further knowledge and understanding. These are the key elements that we believe create ‘academic resilience’. This is achieved through programs that have global perspectives, interdisciplinary approaches to gaining and developing knowledge and are founded on the highest expectations for students’ intrinsic motivation, commitment and independence so that they develop a life-long passion for learning. Students are assessed through a combination of vivas, essays and creative responses to open-ended questions.
Gilda Scarfe
Founder, Program Developer and Managing Director
Gilda is an innovative and passionate educator, business woman, coach working across UK and Europe. She developed and authored Powerful Steps, a resilience, mental toughness and wellbeing program which forms part of her PhD thesis. She is fiercely passionate about implementing soft skills as part of the curriculum to close the gap between academic achievement and wellbeing. Gilda works closely with the Leadership Team in several secondary schools across the UK to develop a whole school climate resilience and wellbeing plans.
Positive Action Team
Consists of educators, editors and contributors, trainers, project managers and administrators
We work with teams of teachers, researchers and trainers to provide a high quality evidence based programs and training.
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About us
Positive Action UK is a young and innovative company promoting positive education, character development and resilience in young people. We believe that all schools, youth organisations and communities should make positive education and resilience a visible and conscious part of their daily practice
OUR PURPOSE: To implement and support positive psychology in educational settings and promote engagement in learning.
OUR VISION: We believe in preparing our students for a rapidly changing world by equipping them with critical thinking skills, resilience, global perspective, and respect for core values of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and compassion.
OUR MISSION: To help prepare outstanding educators and to advance the profession of education through a series of programs, coaching and strategies on the science and art of teaching and learning, the application of critical processes and the analysis and development of leadership in schools.
OUR PROGRAMS: We develop, provide and deliver resilience, mental toughness and wellbeing programs together with academic enrichment programs.
Building Resilience and Mental Toughness in Education
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."
Martin Luther King
Inspired by positive psychology, we focus on several character strengths: grit, zest, self-control, optimism, gratitude, social intelligence and curiosity.
We offer a range of evidence-based programs, resources and training for both Primary and Secondary schools students and teachers to support Positive Education and Student Wellbeing with a focus on building healthy, positive and resilient students.
We promote character education in schools and communities.We advocate for a greater recognition of character education and wellbeing and we actively promote strategies that close the gap between formal and non-formal education.
Character education is a complex mental and ethical trait modelling a person's life and we believe that positive education should be intentional, organized and planned rather than reactive.
News
New role with IRIS
January, 2017
We are delighted to announce that Lizzie has been appointed as an Education Consultant for the Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS). Lizzie will be exploring the outcomes for students and teachers that participate in research-based learning in schools.
Lady Joanna Thornhill receives grant from EEF to pilot positive action program
September, 2016
Developing Positive Global Networks
February, 2017
Gilda Scarfe has been appointed as a Global Ambassador for IPEN. The aim of the International Positive Education Network (IPEN) is to bring together teachers, parents, academics, students, schools, colleges, universities, charities, companies and governments to promote positive education.
Our Charity - Illuminate Education new submission to the parliament published
February 2017