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 the summer?
The summer holiday is our chance to recuperate and recharge our batteries. It is also a chance to reflect on our year and plan the year ahead.
2016/17 has been a whirlwind of a year for me. Highlights include organising the Harris Conference at the ExCeL London for 2,500 people following my #TMExcel, which had a fabulous line up of my education heroes. Having secured my new role, I established a collaborative partnership between the two teaching schools at Harris and my new trust GLF. January saw me moving trusts and starting my headship.
I am spending this summer doing short trips (Devon, Florence, Barcelona and Dubrovnik), leaving plenty of time to support my new operation team in setting up our systems, as they have staggered starts across the summer. We also have snagging to do on the site, and lots of preparation to finish ahead of our opening in September!
My professional learning plans for 2017/18 are coming together for myself to include coaching through Electric Woman (www.electricwoman.com). I met Nikki Armytage-Foy through Annemarie Williams and a group coaching programme I participated on this year. My next step is to participate in a virtual group coaching model called E9 which comes highly recommended by a few of my #womened friends.
Wellbeing & Mental Health
We are very excited to be launching a regional mental health and wellbeing (MHWB) network, as well as partnering with the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust to host a conference for vulnerable learners. I hosted a MH conference for Dr Pooky Knightsmith in London last year, and we are delighted to be hosting the Oxfordshire event in November: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mental-health-conference-supporting-vulnerable-learners-tickets-33111167393
#WomenEd & #OWLIE:
Following the success of the #teachmeet model, we have developed the #leadmeet, which has given a platform for lots of the #womened community to find and use their voice. I’ve since worked with a group of educators, who are not school based, to develop the #edumeet format. Sam George and Lotis Bautista are leading a series of London events for women in education who are leading in different ways. Our new format is the #coachmeet, which will be trialled in Oxfordshire this September: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/owlie-womened-coachmeet-oxford-tickets-33343874426
We are also excited to be hosting our third WomenEd Unconference in Sheffield on 30th September. Tickets sold out within days of releasing them, but we are running a waiting list for returned tickets, which will be released on September 1st:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womened-unconference-iii-sheffield-delegates-tickets-35806671719
Values-Based Education:
As a school, we have made a conscious decision to go down the values-led leadership and values-based education route. Sue Webb joined us for our staff induction week to scope our values and help us plan our vision into provision for year 1 and beyond. We were delighted that Pen Mendonca also joined us to chart our journey as a school community. We will be attending the VbE conference in October: http://www.valuesbasededucation.com/training-and-events/vbe-conferences
Southern Rocks:
I attended Northern Rocks for the first time this year, and I am excited that Kristian Still and David Rogers are planning the inaugural Southern Rocks for next spring. Still time to contact them and add yourself to the lineup to ensure that it is as diverse as possible! hindhead.focus-school.com/srocks18
Diverse Educators:
As one of the cofounders of #WomenEd and an advocate of #BAMEed, I have been supporting the launch of #LGBTed. We are collaborating on an event that brings our grassroots movements together to have a joined up conversation about diversity and equality. #DisabilityEd has recently joined the family of communities of educators passionate about ensuring we celebrate diversity, equality and inclusion in our system for our staff as well as our students:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/diverse-educators-tickets-36470457119
Visit www.thehopefulheadteacher.blog for more information.
