#WomenEd starts 2016 with 60 new regional leaders

#WomenEd is a grassroots movement which connects existing and aspiring leaders in education. This movement campaigns to make improvements so that there is a more equitable balance in terms of gender and ethnicity at leadership level across all sectors of education. WomenEd’s discussion forum can be found at www.yammer.com/womened.

Follow @WomenEd

Website: www.womened.org Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Teacher-focused grassroots organisation WomenEd has started 2016 by recruiting 60 volunteers, who are being trained as regional leaders this term, to spread their enthusiastic message. The popular movement is currently in consultation with the DfE and working in conjunction with ASCL, the Future Leaders Trust and The Leading Women’s Alliance. They will be presenting at an Inside Government event in April, which will review the barriers inhibiting gender equality and the progression of female leaders across the public sector.

The 60 new leaders are now connecting and collaborating to launch the 12 regional networks, with each region then beginning to initiate regional activity from the 2016 summer term. WomenEd’s activities can be found on Twitter via the account @WomenEd and the hashtag #WomenEd, and are currently featuring over 165 blogs exploring the themes of gender, equality and diversity via staffrm.

WomenEd was founded by seven passionate female educators in Spring 2015. Hannah Wilson, Helena Marsh, Jules Daulby, Keziah Featherstone, Natalie Scott, Sameena Choudry and Vivienne Porritt are all serving educational leaders. The group’s vision is that headteacher and senior leadership positions should reflect their school’s student and staff bodies. In partnership with Microsoft, WomenEd held their first grassroots event in October 2015. 225 female leaders visited Microsoft’s London headquarters to share stories of the barriers facing women in education today.

“I felt very proud and privileged to be part of the #WomenEd unconference,” said former head, edu-consultant and IMS contributor Jill Berry. “I had high expectations of the event following the build-up, and have huge respect for the organisers but, in fact, it even exceeded my expectations! The energy, goodwill and good humour were palpable. I'm sure it made a positive difference to the lives of some of those who attended - I certainly hope so!”

Teacher / trainer Sue Cowley added: “I was delighted to support such an inspirational group of people in such an important project, and was chuffed to be asked to do the key note. Being 10% braver is not about being brilliant, but about taking control of your own life”.

Teachers, school leaders, governors and partners are invited to join the WomenEd community at their next event, The Residential. Hosted in Tidworth, Wiltshire from 12th - 13th February, this event will practically prepare existing and aspiring school leaders in taking your next steps in securing a leadership role or progressing up the leadership ladder. WomenEd speakers will be appearing at NetworkED, Northern Rocks, The Wellington EduFest and regional TeachMeets.

Visit www.womened.org or contact [email protected] for more information.