Barrier Breakers Foundation believes we must re-think our education system for equality to become a reality. We need to move away from the mechanistic 'teaching to the test' approach and towards an education system where soft skills are embedded in every learning experience. Soft skills are the traits and abilities... read more →
Oct
04
Sep
20
Education is still relentlessly focused on preparing young people to pass exams. But this approach ignores the skills employers are now looking for, the skills that allow young people to navigate rapid, constant change effectively, the skills that encourage imagination, creativity, and innovation, and the skills that will develop an... read more →
Sep
10
Every culture is full of 'boxes' that precede us and into which we may or may not fit easily. So it's not just your past that might get in the way of your future potential...but the past. Different cultures, different boxes. For some, the boxes of their culture work well; for many,... read more →
Aug
23
Are you stressed? One ancient antidote to stress that's now gaining mainstream recognition is mindfulness. So what does it mean to be mindful? Here's a straightforward introductory exercise that you can add to your day, and that takes no time: Choose a habit – something you do on your own... read more →
Aug
09
Nobody likes conflict, right! Well, other than people who are into 'drama', who stir up trouble for the thrill of it, or who use conflict as a means of control. But most sane people don't like conflict. And why should they? It's upsetting; it's risky; it's challenging. However, sometimes conflict... read more →
Jul
26
You've got loads to do, right! You're busy, busy, busy! Your productivity has to be top-notch, of course. So what's the best way to achieve this? Once, you might have tried multitasking - but now you know that's not the way to actually improve your productivity. It's okay if you're doing... read more →
Jul
12
The word 'empathy' is becoming more common, while empathy itself seems to be on the wane. But do you really understand what empathy is? If you don't, how can you notice if you're losing your empathic abilities? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, empathy is: the power of mentally identifying oneself with (and so... read more →
Jun
28
We hear so much about the value of creative thinking. Yet how many people really value it? Despite the attention that's been heaped on creativity over recent years, the most prevalent mindset, particularly in business, still seems to be the one that believes logic trumps intuition, numbers provide the only... read more →
Jun
14
The effect of a soft skills deficit is going to have a big impact on us all before long, and this will be of particular concern to parents. Unfortunately, our education system is seriously stuck in the past... ‘In the past, education was about imparting knowledge. Today, it is about providing... read more →