Mindset4Success event provides support for boys across Cheshire East

More than 170 boys from 17 schools across Cheshire East attended an inspirational event recently called Mindset4Success. 

The aim of the event was to support the boys in year 10 and 11, aged 14 and 15, to build self esteem, develop a positive mind set and re-engage them with their education.

The day was facilitated by Pete Lowe, former head of education and performance management at Manchester City Football Club. Pete now runs a successful company, First Team, which supports business and individuals in maximising performance.

The Mindset4Success programme is a partnership between Cheshire East Council and secondary schools across the borough and was led by Sarah Burns, headteacher of Sandbach School.  The day focussed on what it means to be a winner and consisted of five sessions:

1. Accepting responsibility;

2. Having dreams and being motivated to succeed;

3. Having self-belief;

4. Learning to manage pressure; and  

5. Being persistent people and never giving up.

Jacky Forster, director of education and 14-19 skills at Cheshire East Council, said: “This fantastic event was born from our education and skills board, a partnership including the council, all primary, secondary and special schools, early-years settings and further/higher education organisations. Our aim is to champion the culture of the Cheshire East family of schools, developing and shaping effective and sustainable ways of working, to benefit all learners.”

Sarah Burns, headteacher at Sandbach School, said: “The day was a huge success and I’d like to thank everyone who took part. The next steps are for each school to work with their students and provide support to allow the objectives of the programme to be achieved.” 

Pete Lowe, director of First Team, said: “It was a privilege to work with students, mentors and the wider team behind the initiative to benefit from stepping outside the classroom and consider the factors that contribute to a winning mind set.

“We can learn so much from adversity, taking responsibility and recognising our innate resilience. The conference is just the start of the programme to enable students to work with their mentors and to bring their learning into day-to-day life, in order to create lasting change.”