Lee Spencer
School Speaker
Not defined by disability
Dare to dream and if you don’t fail, you’re not dreaming big enough
Lee’s Programme
For the past 5 years Lee has been in high demand to speak at awards evenings and graduations of the local schools (and schools where anyone has a connection to Lee). Lee was astounded by how everything is structured around ‘success’. Teachers would talk in terms of “you’re all gonna make a great success of your lives” and “These brilliant results are the foundation for making a successful life” etc.
On one such occasion when handing out triple A*s in further maths (something Lee later admitted he didn’t even know was a thing!) it occurred to Lee that most of the kids were so ill prepared for life outside of the school, what they needed to know wasn’t how to square the route of pi with only binary prime numbers, but how to deal with the inevitable disasters that life throws at you, how to deal with failure. it was this ligtening bolt that inspired Lee to develop his programme.



Lee initially takes as large a group as possible for an hour long period where he captivates them by telling his story. This he then uses as a vehicle for getting across the core message which is that failure is an integral part of success. That it’s impossible to succeed in anything without failing first and once you understand that, it will empower you to try.
Lee leave’s them with “Dare to dream and if you don’t fail, you’re not dreaming big enough”. Honicknowle Youth Centre were so inspired they painted that quote on the side of their club house.
Lee then does a follow on period of about half an hour with the children with challenging behaviour. His focus is on getting them to understand why they behave the way they do, which in a lot of cases is because they feel there’s nothing in it for them to behave. Schools test kids in such a specific and small area of ability, how to remember something and write it down when asked, that if they’re not very good at that, then there’s no point in school.
He then moves onto the crux of the session that is that the next couple of years will not define who they want to be and uses examples of people who left school with little or no qualifications but have subsequently become highly successful professors, surgeons etc. and inspires them to never quit and keep dreaming big.
Book Lee
If you would like Lee to come and talk at your school email Claire or call her on: 07815 193124. Or complete the form opposite.