Growth Mindset on Wheels
Assemblies
School Assemblies - by Mike Mullen BMX Champion
Lockdowns have shown us all that our mindsets can be fragile when faced with fear and uncertainty. That our emotional fitness is an important area to look after.
My work is all about empowering people to improve their mindset, resilience and wellbeing with stories, tools and tips. My messages have been updated in accordance with the challenges and adversity we have all faced since 2020.
School assemblies can delivered outdoors (with PA equipment) to be as covid safe as possible.
I've enjoyed working in schools as a speaker for 13 years
now, and have pulled together the best messages I've learned into motivational school assemblies and talks.
Through stories I explain how BMX taught me valuable life skills and to adopt a Growth Mindset
towards the challenges I faced both on and off my bike.
My sport empowered me to believe in myself, become independent and transition from a shy, asthmatic, non sporty child, to achieve my dream of becoming a BMX champion.
Every trick, jump or competition was a challenge. Always dangerous and often painful. Facing these daily challenges without a coach, parental or financial support, I learned to:
- Find Courage
- Learn from Failure
- Build Resilience
- Rise Above Fears
I believe these skills transfer into school and wider life, so they form the backbone of my work to improve the emotional fitness of young people.
What's included in an assembly?
- Trick display from Mike
- Stories from Mike's career
- Growth Mindset
- Trick exercise workout for all
- Q&A
- The 'Teacher Jump'
Key messages which can be included:
- Determination
- Self Belief
- Learning from Role Models
- Mindfulness to calm nerves
- Never Giving Up
Assemblies are often combined with a day of BMX Academy Workshops
as a full day package.
To book an assembly in your school or to get a quote please get in touch using the Contact Form below >>
To book an assembly in your school or to get a quote please get in touch using the Contact Form below >>
"Mike was a true gentleman and an extraordinary speaker. He really inspired the students and I have had outstanding feedback from every member of staff involved.
You are never quite sure what you are going to get when an outside speaker turns up! Sometimes it turns into a bit of a disaster. However I have to say Mike is the most talented speaker I have worked with in 25 years of teaching.
He held their attention for 50 minutes in assembly, but knew exactly when to call a halt and get them out to their groups.
Mike was in no hurry to leave and stayed on into the lunch hour to talk BMX with a group who are involved, again this was a genuine interest.
As far as I am concerned he should not change anything, he is clearly personable and self-reflective and that illustrates his full commitment to the cause.
I strongly believe students & staff will remember the day & it’s meaning for years. One of my best days on the job."
Geoff Harris - Head of Y8 Fairlingaye High School
You are never quite sure what you are going to get when an outside speaker turns up! Sometimes it turns into a bit of a disaster. However I have to say Mike is the most talented speaker I have worked with in 25 years of teaching.
He held their attention for 50 minutes in assembly, but knew exactly when to call a halt and get them out to their groups.
Mike was in no hurry to leave and stayed on into the lunch hour to talk BMX with a group who are involved, again this was a genuine interest.
As far as I am concerned he should not change anything, he is clearly personable and self-reflective and that illustrates his full commitment to the cause.
I strongly believe students & staff will remember the day & it’s meaning for years. One of my best days on the job."
Geoff Harris - Head of Y8 Fairlingaye High School
"All of our pupils had an awesome day when Mike visited the school on Friday with delivery safely adapted to be in accordance with COVID guidance.
He began the day with a socially distanced talk and demonstration for all our pupils. Mike told us about his experiences growing up and how he believes that sport has the power to motivate young people in a very positive way, both physically and mentally.
He taught us about ‘flearning’ – learning from failing. After watching Mike perform complicated tricks and jump over teachers on his bike, all of our Key Stage 2 pupils took part in BMX workshops, discovering that mindset and confidence can build belief, find courage and boost resilience. It was amazing to see our pupils perform tricks on the BMX bikes that they had not thought possible.
Mike Mullen was amazing and it was a fabulous day!"
Jean Batten - Bisley Blue Coat Primary School
Jean Batten - Bisley Blue Coat Primary School
"Mike was excellent from the first phone call in order to plan and prepare the day. He has a very calm, professional manner with the children, responded well to the children's numerous questions and wasn't even flustered when an ICT glitch on our behalf meant that his presentation had to go ahead without sound.
The messages of perseverance, over-coming challenges and positive thinking were made and made well through his stories from his childhood.
We managed to get the whole school (252 pupils and 26 staff) out onto the playground for a demo of tricks and that really captured the imagination of the children. If we were left in any doubt as to whether the experience would be memorable, Mike not only invited a teacher to learn how to do one of his tricks, but he also laid 4 teachers (one being me!) down on the playground and jumped over us on his bike! That REALLY ignited the pupils attention."
Rachel Bailey - Abbots Hall Primary
The messages of perseverance, over-coming challenges and positive thinking were made and made well through his stories from his childhood.
We managed to get the whole school (252 pupils and 26 staff) out onto the playground for a demo of tricks and that really captured the imagination of the children. If we were left in any doubt as to whether the experience would be memorable, Mike not only invited a teacher to learn how to do one of his tricks, but he also laid 4 teachers (one being me!) down on the playground and jumped over us on his bike! That REALLY ignited the pupils attention."
Rachel Bailey - Abbots Hall Primary
"It was fantastic having Mike in and he was brilliant with the children especially to even keep our youngest sitting and listening for his assembly for the full 45min.
Mike spoke about his life, what his 3 key messages were and how the children can achieve their dreams. It was nice to for children to see that even though he's a champion, he struggled with PE in school. He apealed to the non-sporty children because he had asthma and didn't find sport easy. But he clearly showed if you wanted something then anything is possible.
The fact that Mike brought his bike and showed us stunts really captivated our children. He was brilliant, the children and staff were inspired by him and his messages."
Alice Young - Bentley CEVC Primary School
Mike spoke about his life, what his 3 key messages were and how the children can achieve their dreams. It was nice to for children to see that even though he's a champion, he struggled with PE in school. He apealed to the non-sporty children because he had asthma and didn't find sport easy. But he clearly showed if you wanted something then anything is possible.
The fact that Mike brought his bike and showed us stunts really captivated our children. He was brilliant, the children and staff were inspired by him and his messages."
Alice Young - Bentley CEVC Primary School
Please note BMX Academy provides school and party workshops only, 1 to 1 BMX coaching not available
Contact us for a quote
