Sarah Tucker

Teach children HOW to think? Travel writing and why it makes children better storytellers. Storytelling Masterclasses. Lateral Thinking Masterclasses.

Sarah Tucker is a multi-award-winning journalist and broadcaster, and best-selling novelist, whose books include the bestselling The Playground Mafia (2006), The Last Year of Being Single (2002), and The Control Freak Chronicles (2009). Her latest work looks into the life of Edward de Bono, who invented the concept of lateral thinking. She teaches lateral thinking and travel writing workshops in schools, colleges and universities throughout the globe including Cambridge University.

Travel writing workshops. - For an audience up to 200 to 30 students. - making every word count

Suitable for all age groups, English, Geography and History departments find this adds value to what is being taught in their curriculum, especially English. Learning how to travel write focuses the pupil's attention on; making each word count, rather than the word count; knowing when to start and end the story; identifying the journey in the story, not the story of the journey, the techniques to learn to make the story 'pop'; how and why travel writing develops curiosity and focus; identifying what the story 'is';; teaching the value of perspective and multiple perspective; the use of humour, shock, visuals. ; avoiding the perfume counter; the difference between travel writing and guidebook writing.

Lateral thinking workshops - For an audience up to 200 to 30 students.

Sarah's background is in journalism and broadcasting, and she is also a successful novelist. For the past seven years, she has been researching the life and works of Edward de Bono, the Rhodes scholar who invented the concept of lateral thinking. Sarah knew him for the last ten years of his life.

The result is LOVE LATERALLY, launched at the House of Lords in September this year, in front of a prestigious audience.

She recognises many of his thinking tools and techniques are still used in schools, although often misapplied.

The sixth form - lower sixth and fifth years in particular, and Year Eight and Nine- would benefit from lateral thinking workshops designed to support pupils in career, apprenticeship, college and university choice, and subject choice. The workshop also identifies the value of being a polymath, developing a portfolio career, and promoting the value and relevance of the arts (drama, music, art, English literature) and how these subjects strengthen lateral thinking skills. Sarah usually produces an hour long presentation to all lower and sometimes upper sixth in the Autumn or Spring term, and then for those who wish to know more - engage in workshops for smaller groups - of 20 - 30 pupils on how to use the thinking techniques for specific issues relating to subject/university/career choice and how to manage time, problem solve.

Corporations pay consultants large sums to lecture on lateral thinking skills - but it was Edward de Bono's wish lateral thinking lessons should be introduced as part of the school curriculum, showing children how to think rather than what to think. Sir Ken Robinson echoed this in his 2006 TedTalk Education kills creativity.

These skills have been shown to increase solution-finding skills, problem-solving, time management, and support mental health. The workshops and lectures also promote the value of collaboration and connection over confrontation and conflict and help students differentiate between integrity of thinking and fluency of style.

Sarah believes it is in the sixth form, where learning about how to apply lateral thinking into everyday life, from university to workplace to entrepreneurial ideas, would be of value. It has also been shown to be of immense value in strengthening self-esteem and mental health. They also learn the value of being a polymath and developing a portfolio career.

She lectured at Cambridge University on the use of humour and lateral thinking, as well as at Hawkswood Centre in Stroud. She could offer an hour lecture to all the lower sixth on how lateral thinking will support their immediate needs (career choice, subject choice at college/university, apprenticeship choice). She will outline how to apply the Six Thinking Hats, and also the other thinking tools which may be used to support.

Both workshops may be adapted, last 45 mins - hour in duration. They are interactive, fun and both are designed to make what they are learning in other classes more relevant.