Media Week

It would be interesting to see future Apprentice series focusing on more than just sell sell sell - I know the programme shows qualities over and above ability to sell bu all the tasks are about selling which makes for very repetitive TV. As an aside having seen on BR that Lee is to run a sales team for a new digital sales operation I think it was interesting that he obviously picked the guy with the final job in mind - does everyone else agree ?

Would it not have been wiser (and cheaper) to spend £100k on headhunting a successful digital ad network executive?

Is £100k not also setting unrealistic expectations about what to expect when you've got little experience?

What'll we do next Wednesday? BB?

I'm glad Lee won and ultimately you can forgive a lie if you think you have got the right person for the job. But in reality does the Apprentice process really deliver a credible business leader for Sir Alan?

It was a great show!

My oldest daughter will start school in September, so, as part of the introduction we parents have been in to meet the headmaster and listen to him talk about the school, its aims and its methods.

It was interesting to note that Mr Daley (well, it's nicer than referring to him as 'the headmaster') is very focused on providing the kids (ages from 5 - 11 yrs) with life-skills, as well as an education.

Part of the weekly school  life includes an assembley that is run by the 10 and 11 year olds (all content, running order, presentation, etc) with each individual taking a turn at standing in front fo the rest of the school and conducting procedures.

The weekly format also includes all children with birthdays during that week going up on to stage to speak in front of the school about what they did, how old they were and answer a couple of 'standard' questions from Mr Daley.

In conjunction with a focus on music and drama that includes shows throughout the year, there are presentations to children, teachers and parents on school-wide projects at various points in the calendar - in fact, it would appear that Mr Daley takes every opportunity available to encourage the kids to stand and talk in front of their peers and develop these crucial abilities.

This is a standard state infant and primary school - although I don't think that this is standard practice across the country. However, it seems to work, with the school succeeding in producing good academic results and (generally) pleasant, confident, intelligent children.

I think that, as Mel says, encouraging children to be confident in themselves at a very early age - confident enough to stand in front of an audience and adress them without falling to pieces - is a great idea. Further development, such as encouraging the older children to 'run the show' , nurtures the skill and breaks down the barriers that shyness can create.

I hope that by the time my girls are old enough to go to high school the education system in general has recognised the benefits of developing these skills still further and that the kids are truly equipped for professional life.

Tomorrow is the 1st anniversary of my first post on DigiTales . In 157 posts, as the tagline says, I