tok the talk
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"I've been involved trying to make a difference in education. You're probably the two best that I've seen. "
Peter Jones, Dragons Den 2010
"Today was probably one of the most important experiences of my school career."
S4 Pupil, Kelso High School
"The day was very successful and I would recommend this event to promote self belief, positive learning and fun. Tree of Knowledge promoted all of the beliefs that 'Aimhigher' endeavour to achieve."
Helen Donaldson, Halewood Centre for Learning
“TOK was nothing like I thought it would be. It was so much better.”
S4 Pupil, St Peter the Apostle
"Tree of Knowledge really gave me that little push that enabled me to simply believe that I CAN fulfill my dreams."
Year 11 Pupil, Joseph Swan
"Restored my faith in courses - I come from an education background where most courses I go on are a clear example of what not to do with adults and children! Positive, motivated and ready to enjoy life again."
Julie Bell, Abacus Educare
“I felt that this was the most motivating afternoon that I can remember. It was hilarious and it got the point across that anyone can achieve what they want as long as they work hard and have the correct mindset.!
S6 Pupil, Vale of Leven Academy
“I will never forget this.”
Year 12 Pupil, Walbottle Campus
"Positive, enthusiastic, excellent. Well done!"
Jaqui Crush, Lauriston Nursery
"I feel 100% better about myself! Life/school, its been an eye-opener. Absolutely hilarious too. Changed my views/outlook on life. Thank you!"
S4 Pupil, Perth Academy
“This has honestly changed me. I feel a lot more optimistic about my exams.”
S4 Pupil, George Heriots
“Absolutely amazing. I’ve been extremely inspired and my face hurts form laughing. All I can say now is thanks.”
S5 Pupil, Vale of Leven Academy
“I preferred this to any other talk we’ve had. Very funny and very inspiring.”
S3 Pupil, Stewarton Academy
“This fantastic, inspiring day influenced me in ways I never thought existed. Thanks.”
S4 Pupil, West Calder High
“Scotland really needs more organisations like this to change this country around and see the more positive side of life.”
S4 Pupil, Mackie Academy
“This has definitely helped me with my revision and exams. Meaningful and inspiring.”
S4 Pupil, Cults Academy
“An amazing experience.”
S4 Pupil, Forfar Academy
"This has brightened up my life. So so thankful."
S3 Pupil, St Peter the Apostle
"I don't think I've ever thought so much about things before without it making me cry, thank you. Everything you said is so true, valuable and though-provoking and it has really challenged the way I think. Inspirational."
S5 Pupil, Taylor High School
"The best thing I've been to yet. Phenomenal, hilarious, utterly inspirational and I'm ready to get back in the classroom and use what I've learned today with TOK."
Probationer Teacher, FIfe
"My morning started off not knowing what to expect but I found it awesome. It taught me a lot more about the things I think about every day not knowing if I was the only one or not but it felt great hearing it in such a fun and positive way. I love what you do and hope you keep doing it for a long time, reaching people in the same way it got me. Thanks."
S4 Pupil, Vale of Leven Academy
“This has changed my life”
S3 Pupil, Holy Cross High School
"Thank you for your presentation to our S5 students last week. The day was hugely successful and the feedback from the students typically the best i have ever seen was quite special. I look forward to working with you again."
Sharee MacKerron, DHT, Broughton High School
"To be completely honest, I thought today would be a complete waste of time that would be better spent in class. However, Gav was the most amazing speaker that has ever spoken to us. Not only was what he said well prepared and totally relevant to me but it was funny and not just somebody boring us for four periods. Totally enjoyed it, definately worth the time."
S6 Pupil, Peterhead Academy
“Epically Awesome. ToK is amazing. It's really changed my whole perception on things. Tomorrow is going to be an amazing day at school. Thanks a million”
S4 Pupil, Clydebank High School
"In all seriousness my eyes are open, the confidence barrier broken, I believe in myself now. Most motivational 3 hours of my life."
S4 Pupil, Firrhill High School
“Well - what can I say? We've always been sceptical about getting 'one-day-wonders' in to school and so this is the first time we've had TOK into school. And it's turned us around! TOK bent over backwards to accommodate our needs and tailor the programme for us - one for our Pupil Council, one for our Prefects, and one for each Year Group. It has gone down amazingly well - even with the most sceptical of pupils! - and the feedback from 100% of the pupils was 100% positive. Wow. I've worked with many companies, but this surpasses all expectations - right from the booking process, to the initial meeting, to the very powerful delivery. Staff who saw it are now asking for it and I know it's a partnership (even in these hard economic times!) that we'll be keeping going for many years to come......”
Jon Reid, Head Teacher, Drummond Community High School
“Very worthwhile and inspirational. Good that it was taken from real experiences. Liked how everything was proved. I am leaving today believing every word that has been said. I genuinely believe it will have made a difference to me as an individual. Thanks”
S4 Pupil, Alford Academy
“Pitched at completely the right level and challenged perceptions and attitudes. For me it came at the right time where we are changing the culture in the school and trying to promote positive thinking and positive attitudes. Having staff experience this course lays the foundations for the work which is going to be done with our learners. Staff will then have an understanding of what the learners will experience and can support it rather than have somebody in for a one off training session. I look forward to our relationship with ToK. Positive staff and positive learners...just think what we can achieve !!!! Many thanks."
Iain Hughes, Rector, The Waid Academy
“Incredible. Thought-provoking, fun, more fun, even more fun. Wish we'd had this every year!”
S6 Pupil, Aboyne Academy
“Great presentation, very good. Acknowledge your applause and enjoy it – you deserve it!
Teacher, Cockenzie Primary School
“Brilliant, refreshing to do something different from the same old courses, hearing something new.”
Teacher, Ross High School
Peter Jones, Dragons Den 2010
"Today was probably one of the most important experiences of my school career."
S4 Pupil, Kelso High School
"The day was very successful and I would recommend this event to promote self belief, positive learning and fun. Tree of Knowledge promoted all of the beliefs that 'Aimhigher' endeavour to achieve."
Helen Donaldson, Halewood Centre for Learning
“TOK was nothing like I thought it would be. It was so much better.”
S4 Pupil, St Peter the Apostle
"Tree of Knowledge really gave me that little push that enabled me to simply believe that I CAN fulfill my dreams."
Year 11 Pupil, Joseph Swan
"Restored my faith in courses - I come from an education background where most courses I go on are a clear example of what not to do with adults and children! Positive, motivated and ready to enjoy life again."
Julie Bell, Abacus Educare
“I felt that this was the most motivating afternoon that I can remember. It was hilarious and it got the point across that anyone can achieve what they want as long as they work hard and have the correct mindset.!
S6 Pupil, Vale of Leven Academy
“I will never forget this.”
Year 12 Pupil, Walbottle Campus
"Positive, enthusiastic, excellent. Well done!"
Jaqui Crush, Lauriston Nursery
"I feel 100% better about myself! Life/school, its been an eye-opener. Absolutely hilarious too. Changed my views/outlook on life. Thank you!"
S4 Pupil, Perth Academy
“This has honestly changed me. I feel a lot more optimistic about my exams.”
S4 Pupil, George Heriots
“Absolutely amazing. I’ve been extremely inspired and my face hurts form laughing. All I can say now is thanks.”
S5 Pupil, Vale of Leven Academy
“I preferred this to any other talk we’ve had. Very funny and very inspiring.”
S3 Pupil, Stewarton Academy
“This fantastic, inspiring day influenced me in ways I never thought existed. Thanks.”
S4 Pupil, West Calder High
“Scotland really needs more organisations like this to change this country around and see the more positive side of life.”
S4 Pupil, Mackie Academy
“This has definitely helped me with my revision and exams. Meaningful and inspiring.”
S4 Pupil, Cults Academy
“An amazing experience.”
S4 Pupil, Forfar Academy
"This has brightened up my life. So so thankful."
S3 Pupil, St Peter the Apostle
"I don't think I've ever thought so much about things before without it making me cry, thank you. Everything you said is so true, valuable and though-provoking and it has really challenged the way I think. Inspirational."
S5 Pupil, Taylor High School
"The best thing I've been to yet. Phenomenal, hilarious, utterly inspirational and I'm ready to get back in the classroom and use what I've learned today with TOK."
Probationer Teacher, FIfe
"My morning started off not knowing what to expect but I found it awesome. It taught me a lot more about the things I think about every day not knowing if I was the only one or not but it felt great hearing it in such a fun and positive way. I love what you do and hope you keep doing it for a long time, reaching people in the same way it got me. Thanks."
S4 Pupil, Vale of Leven Academy
“This has changed my life”
S3 Pupil, Holy Cross High School
"Thank you for your presentation to our S5 students last week. The day was hugely successful and the feedback from the students typically the best i have ever seen was quite special. I look forward to working with you again."
Sharee MacKerron, DHT, Broughton High School
"To be completely honest, I thought today would be a complete waste of time that would be better spent in class. However, Gav was the most amazing speaker that has ever spoken to us. Not only was what he said well prepared and totally relevant to me but it was funny and not just somebody boring us for four periods. Totally enjoyed it, definately worth the time."
S6 Pupil, Peterhead Academy
“Epically Awesome. ToK is amazing. It's really changed my whole perception on things. Tomorrow is going to be an amazing day at school. Thanks a million”
S4 Pupil, Clydebank High School
"In all seriousness my eyes are open, the confidence barrier broken, I believe in myself now. Most motivational 3 hours of my life."
S4 Pupil, Firrhill High School
“Well - what can I say? We've always been sceptical about getting 'one-day-wonders' in to school and so this is the first time we've had TOK into school. And it's turned us around! TOK bent over backwards to accommodate our needs and tailor the programme for us - one for our Pupil Council, one for our Prefects, and one for each Year Group. It has gone down amazingly well - even with the most sceptical of pupils! - and the feedback from 100% of the pupils was 100% positive. Wow. I've worked with many companies, but this surpasses all expectations - right from the booking process, to the initial meeting, to the very powerful delivery. Staff who saw it are now asking for it and I know it's a partnership (even in these hard economic times!) that we'll be keeping going for many years to come......”
Jon Reid, Head Teacher, Drummond Community High School
“Very worthwhile and inspirational. Good that it was taken from real experiences. Liked how everything was proved. I am leaving today believing every word that has been said. I genuinely believe it will have made a difference to me as an individual. Thanks”
S4 Pupil, Alford Academy
“Pitched at completely the right level and challenged perceptions and attitudes. For me it came at the right time where we are changing the culture in the school and trying to promote positive thinking and positive attitudes. Having staff experience this course lays the foundations for the work which is going to be done with our learners. Staff will then have an understanding of what the learners will experience and can support it rather than have somebody in for a one off training session. I look forward to our relationship with ToK. Positive staff and positive learners...just think what we can achieve !!!! Many thanks."
Iain Hughes, Rector, The Waid Academy
“Incredible. Thought-provoking, fun, more fun, even more fun. Wish we'd had this every year!”
S6 Pupil, Aboyne Academy
“Great presentation, very good. Acknowledge your applause and enjoy it – you deserve it!
Teacher, Cockenzie Primary School
“Brilliant, refreshing to do something different from the same old courses, hearing something new.”
Teacher, Ross High School
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