Teaching can take it out of you. It can drain your time and your energy, but a bit like going to the gym when you are knackered and you come out feeling good about yourself, going to a grassroots CPD event can top up your reserves to keep you going for the rest of the half-term. Go forth and find your tribe, create those collaborations with the outward-facing, like-minded people who you connect with.
So, what’s on the horizon for April?
6th May: #WomenEd South East Regional Event
Naomi Ward, the #WomenEd South East regional leader, has organised the inaugural regional event for this region in early May. Hosted by Claire Lowe in Southampton, this is a fantastic opportunity to connect with local women in education. The contributors are all blogging on StaffRm about their ‘why’ for contributing and supporting – check out blogs by Kerry Jordan Daus, Clare Erasmus and Mal Krishnasamy. I will be running a practical session on the power of your #PLN and how to utilise networking: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womened-regional-event-southampton-tickets-32371079771
17th May: #OWLIE #WomenEd Network Event
My vision for the education system is a cohesive, coherent and collaborative one. In each space, wherever you look, there are multiple organisations with a common goal vying for the same audiences. #WomenEd are keen to be the glue that brings different contributors together, and this is what we are doing in Oxfordshire to support the women in education and those aspiring to lead education. The @OxfordshireWLIE / #OWLIE is a collaboration between #womened, the DFE’s SE regional WLIE network and OTSA. This collaboration is having an informal meet up on 17/5: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/owlie-womened-networking-event-oxfordshire-tickets-31568342763?aff=eiospostshreclip&ref=eiospostshreclip
24th May: Chartered College of Teaching: Evidence in Practice
As one of the founding members of the CCOT, I thoroughly enjoyed the launch. I am hopeful. I have absolute faith in Dame Alison Peacock’s ability to enable and empower the profession. Our first opportunity locally is the launch of their research and evidence-based strand. As a strategic lead for the GLF Teaching School Alliance, I am excited to learn more about the vision for connecting the research to the classroom. It will also be brilliant to link up with other research leads in the region: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chartered-college-of-teaching-evidence-in-practice-tickets-32729074543
25th May: #MHteachmeet
I went to the Mental Health TeachMeet at Magna Carta School in Staines last year and was blown away. I had not been to a grassroots event before focused purely on pastoral welfare and pupil wellbeing. I have stayed in contact with Clare and learnt lots in the last 12 months. I will be attending again and contributing to the workshop carousel, considering how we can create a MH & WB strategy for Aureus School and embed this in the organisation, school culture and community ethos from day one when we open in September: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2017-youth-mental-health-wellbeing-teachmeet-sponsored-by-the-charlie-waller-memorial-trust-tickets-31875338997?aff=es2
Visit www.thehopefulheadteacher.blog for more information.