ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the journey of a group of Year Five students in a deprived area of outer London, from the most challenging class in the school to an outstanding class who exceeded academic expectations and supported school developments. It demonstrates the effectiveness of practical Solution Focused frameworks built into the day-to-day life of a busy classroom, in inviting students into constructive dialogues about creating an environment that would bring out the best in themselves and each other. From the ‘class at its best’ to the ‘sparkles’ of appreciation the students gave to each other, the chapter explores the power of conversations that are built around possibility and success. Paired peer conversations using scales provide a foundation of question asking and listening skills which were then evident in the success of the students as Learning Ambassadors. In times of diminishing resources and over-full agendas, building conversations around skills, resources and belief at a classroom level can have a profound effect on the individuals within it.
