The most important things in education? Making sure the children are there and are safe. Every other target depends on these.

What services do I offer?

I am a UK Midlands-based self-employed trainer, writer, consultant and speaker offering support to Local Authorities and schools on:

CHILD PROTECTION

ATTENDANCE

EDUCATION WELFARE MANAGEMENT

Alongside my educational role, I also write on 'HUMANIST SPIRITUALITY': re-interpreting the social and personal ethics of the Christian tradition without a belief in God

FREE BOOKS AVAILABLE: DETAILS BELOW

Click on 'RESOURCES AND DOCUMENTS' for downloadable documents or on 'TRAINING' for more about my consultancy and training packages.

FORUM BUSINESS SEMINARS BOOKING UP FAST. SEE 'TRAINING AND CONSULTANCY ' FOR DETAILS OF DATES AND VENUES

On 'BEN'S BLOG' the current topic is:

'DEAR MR GOVE: LETTER FROM A FAILING HEADTEACHER'

TRAINING EVENTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL DELIVERY ON REQUEST

Attendance update (DfE 'Advice' March 2013)
Workshop for Designated Members of Staff for child protection in schools
Preventing and managing child abuse allegations against staff (DfE Guidance Oct 2012)
Whole-staff training in child protection for schools (New 'Working Together' and DfE Guidance)

FREE Download Books

'THE TRUANCY MYTH' UPDATED VERSION MAY 2013
New thoughts on an old problem
THE TRUANCY MYTH.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [419.9 KB]

'THE APOSTATE'S CREED'
A pilgrimage beyond belief
The Apostate's Creed A5 Ben Whitney.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [605.8 KB]

EDUCATION BOOK

'The Truancy Myth'

Questions many of the assumptions on which our approach to absence from school is based and suggests some more creative ways forward.

'I’ve just read your book, ‘The Truancy Myth’ and I wanted to write to you to tell you how excellent I found it to be. It really resonated for me. The views expressed made such profound sense.... I could go on and on! But I really wanted to thank you for writing such an excellent piece of work that should be read – and considered – very broadly if we are ever to bring about real change'. (Local Authority Attendance lead Officer)

'I've been poring over books and articles and it is without doubt the best book I've read on the topic'.

HUMANIST SPIRITUALITY BOOKS: THESE BOOKS ARE FREE !!

E-MAIL ME YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS. All I ask is that you email your comments back once you've read them. ben.whitney1@btinternet.com

'Walking Without God' Uses verses from the Psalms to explore some of the big questions that still have to be asked, and answered, even if there is no God to hear us. Religions are only the means we have created to do this, not the actual destination to be discovered. 'Shows us what it looks like when humanity outshines the religions it created'.

Finding the Way' Fictional characters like the Good Samaritan are written deep into our secular values. So are Jesus' stories still worth a look, even if you cannot believe in the religion built around him? 'I bought this book late last year and loved it, thank you very much indeed!''

'Updating the Map: A Humanist Journey Through the Bible'

The various books of the Bible were written by human beings and reflect their human experiences and contexts. Take a God out of it and is there anything useful left that can help us know how to live well? Find out more about how the Bible might be seen as less of a map and more as a sat-nav that needs updating but which can still give us some help on our human journey!

'The Apostate's Creed: A Pilgrimage beyond belief' (download only)

Reflections on a series of traditional statements of Christian faith, but in celebration of our humanity alone rather than needing a religion to make it worthwhile. A personal response to what we know about Jesus of Nazareth but without a God. Can you still have belief, values and morality in a rational and scientific context? You bet!

Ben Whitney books on humanist spirituali[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [343.1 KB]