Events – Independent Education Today https://www.ie-today.co.uk Celebrating the UK's Independent schools Mon, 23 Mar 2020 12:08:39 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.2 The April issue of IE is out! https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/the-april-issue-of-ie-is-out-2/ https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/the-april-issue-of-ie-is-out-2/#respond Mon, 23 Mar 2020 12:08:39 +0000 https://www.ie-today.co.uk/?post_type=articles&p=23894 In this issue… School spotlight Jo Golding visits Monkton Combe School in Bath to check out its sustainability action plan, starting with catering Features We look at the rise of school wellbeing centres, modern boarding and the impact of good nutrition on learning Exclusive interview Ever wondered what being the head of a prep school […]

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In this issue…

School spotlight

Jo Golding visits Monkton Combe School in Bath to check out its sustainability action plan, starting with catering

Features

We look at the rise of school wellbeing centres, modern boarding and the impact of good nutrition on learning

Edge Grove School’s wellbeing centre

Exclusive interview

Ever wondered what being the head of a prep school is like? Ruth O’Sullivan from South Lee School tells all

Comment

Mark Mortimer, head of Bryanston, discusses community engagement, and Emma Turner makes a case for a new style of leadership

Mark Mortimer explains how Bryanston works with its local community

Talking heads

Headteachers share their best hacks

News

Catering, sport, facilities, technology and more

Click here to read the latest issue for free

Independent Education Today is the leading B2B magazine in independent education, bringing leaders of private schools the latest news, opinion, features and events.

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Girls’ school hosts celebration for International Women’s Day for third year https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/girls-school-hosts-celebration-for-international-womens-day-for-third-year/ https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/girls-school-hosts-celebration-for-international-womens-day-for-third-year/#respond Sun, 08 Mar 2020 07:00:25 +0000 https://www.ie-today.co.uk/?post_type=articles&p=23756 To celebrate International Women’s Day, a team of inspirational women visited girls’ school Roedean in Brighton to tell pupils about their journey in their chosen profession. This included Military Wives actress Emma Lowndes (also known for her roles in Downton Abbey and Call The Midwives); ‘Britain’s Greenest Mum’ and Extinction Rebellion UK spokeswoman Zion Lights; […]

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To celebrate International Women’s Day, a team of inspirational women visited girls’ school Roedean in Brighton to tell pupils about their journey in their chosen profession.

This included Military Wives actress Emma Lowndes (also known for her roles in Downton Abbey and Call The Midwives); ‘Britain’s Greenest Mum’ and Extinction Rebellion UK spokeswoman Zion Lights; Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE – former captain of GB and England hockey team; and Hazel Reeves, women’s rights activist and sculptor of the Emmeline Pankhurst sculpture in Manchester.

Also amongst the speakers were forensic linguist Dr Ria Perkins and Lady Jill Ritblat, barrister and philanthropist.

This is the third year that Roedean has hosted a conference to celebrate the achievements of women around the world. The school was founded by three sisters in 1885 to prepare young women to enter the newly opened Cambridge colleges, Girton and Newnham.

Despite the changes in society, young women need exposure to inspiring and successful female role models to empower them and confirm their belief that they will make a difference in the world

Organiser Dr Ross Barrand explained: “The world is changing and women have more opportunities in society. However, they still very often face inequality and struggle for parity with men. Despite the changes in society, young women need exposure to inspiring and successful female role models to empower them and confirm their belief that they will make a difference in the world.

“To mark International Women’s Day 2020, Roedean is delighted to welcome a diverse group of speakers to this event, all women, who are addressing the students on a wide range of topics. To hear from speakers who are at the forefront of the fields is exciting, enlightening, and, most of all, empowering.

“Today in the 21st century, more girls go to school than ever before. Nevertheless, more than 62 million girls worldwide still do not receive an education because of their gender, and 15 million girls will never enter a classroom.

“We are incredibly fortunate to be educated in the UK, so it is our responsibility to grab whatever opportunities we have with both hands. Education is a right, but it is also a gift, which should be cherished.”

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Mixed panel lauds benefits of social mobility https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/mixed-panel-lauds-benefits-of-social-mobility/ https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/mixed-panel-lauds-benefits-of-social-mobility/#respond Wed, 04 Mar 2020 14:30:51 +0000 https://www.ie-today.co.uk/?post_type=articles&p=23698 The benefits of social mobility were widely extolled at a recent panel debate, ‘Widening access to highly selective universities’, which brought together experts and education leaders from both the state and independent sectors. “Schools have never been more important as powerful agents of change and aspiration,” said Charles Fillingham, headmaster of independent girls’ school, Francis […]

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The benefits of social mobility were widely extolled at a recent panel debate, ‘Widening access to highly selective universities’, which brought together experts and education leaders from both the state and independent sectors.

“Schools have never been more important as powerful agents of change and aspiration,” said Charles Fillingham, headmaster of independent girls’ school, Francis Holland, which initiated the event, in partnership with three state institutions: All Saints Catholic College, King Solomon Academy and the St Marylebone CE School.

Other attendees at the 26 February gathering included the headmaster of Eton College, Simon Henderson; the pro-vice chancellors of Oxford and Cambridge universities, respectively Professor Martin Williams and Professor Graham Virgo; and Dame Esther Rantzen.

“Widening access lifts the grades of all the children within the school”

One of the areas of agreement between panellists was the need to raise the low percentage of state school admissions to Oxford – while 10% of students there are eligible for free school meals, nearly 30% of those went to private schools.

Part of the solution, it was argued, lay with improving social mobility at a younger age, such as by state and independent schools partnering to help develop soft skills, be it offering mentorship or high-quality interview experience.

“If [students have] not grown up surrounded by the polish and confidence exuded by those from more privileged backgrounds, it’s a question of how we, as schools, help them to demonstrate their insight and potential,” said St Marylebone head, Kat Pugh.

Dame Esther Rantzen was among the panellists

“Widening access doesn’t just have a positive impact on individuals – it lifts the grades of all the children within the school,” added Andrew O’Neill, headteacher of All Saints.

Max Haimendorf, principal of King Solomon Academy, meanwhile, spoke of “creating a normality of excellence”.

“Widening access doesn’t just have a positive impact on individuals – it lifts the grades of all the children within the school,” said Fillingham, citing his school’s decision to offer four 100% sixth form bursaries to All Saints students.

“These particular students are highly-talented and deserve the opportunity to not only access an outstanding education but an unrivalled alumni network, which has the potential to rapidly accelerate their social mobility.”


You may also like: Pupils’ career aspirations should not be limited, says Solihull School head

 

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Bett: integrating technology within teaching and learning https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/bett-integrating-technology-within-teaching-and-learning/ https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/bett-integrating-technology-within-teaching-and-learning/#respond Wed, 26 Feb 2020 00:00:22 +0000 https://www.ie-today.co.uk/?post_type=articles&p=23416 Bett 2020 featured four jam-packed days of edtech innovation, where 34,000+ educators and leaders from the UK and overseas engaged with 800+ edtech providers.  Experts in independent education shared their knowledge with visitors, including Gavin Horgan, headmaster of Millfield School, who talked about educating the workforce of the future, and Neelam Parmar, director of edtech, […]

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Bett 2020 featured four jam-packed days of edtech innovation, where 34,000+ educators and leaders from the UK and overseas engaged with 800+ edtech providers. 

Experts in independent education shared their knowledge with visitors, including Gavin Horgan, headmaster of Millfield School, who talked about educating the workforce of the future, and Neelam Parmar, director of edtech, digital learning and innovation at Ashford School, who discussed creating shared purpose between IT teams and teachers.

Furthermore, Rachel Evans (director of digital learning and innovation) and Suzy Pett (assistant head, teaching and learning) from Wimbledon High School talked about how they implemented digital transformation at their school.

The talks provided incredible insight into each of these areas, but I was keen to find out even more about what these leaders think about edtech.

How does your school use technology?

Horgan says that technology has been a “game changer” at Millfield. “We use the accessibility and learning tools that technology now affords really well,” he said. “Many of our students make use of Microsoft’s Immersive Reader functionality on their iPads, laptops and computers. 

“This allows those students who have difficulties reading long passages of text to access the content by having it read to them. It also allows individual words or sentences to be highlighted within the body of the text. I would describe Immersive Reader as a game changer for many of our students.”

Evans and Pett from Wimbledon High School say 2018 to 2019 saw the school “embrace technology wholeheartedly” to enhance learning. They say: “Setting our use of technology for teaching and learning firmly within the context of pedagogy and our strategic direction, we formulated a digital strategy to be a key part of our holistic aims.

Written feedback is rich and effective, and enhanced by adding links and even audio and video comments

“Uppermost in our minds has been to equip our girls with the skills – academic and pastoral – to navigate a fully digital world. In seniors, under our bring your own device (BYOD) programme, every student brings their own laptop to every lesson, yet we have emphasised our overriding belief in ‘the human in the room’. Relationships between teachers and learners come first; we are not slaves to technology.

“Over 80% of senior teachers use OneNote. Marking and feedback takes place in a more organic way as the students work, particularly with smaller A-level classes. Written feedback is rich and effective, and enhanced by adding links and even audio and video comments. Students have found it more personal and immediate.

“The shorter feedback cycle leads to enhanced lesson planning, as teachers can more quickly identify an area of weakness across a whole group – or equally, a strong understanding – and tailor the next lesson appropriately.”

Bett
Bett saw thousands of educators descend upon the ExCeL London

Technical difficulty

While technology can have amazing benefits, there are always challenges along the way. Parmar from Ashford School says continuing to use technology “efficiently and effectively” is the biggest challenge. 

“We are well established in our digital strategy and our teachers are knowledgeable in how best to use the technology within their pedagogical practices,” she says. “However, as we know, technology is constantly evolving and with it comes new innovations. 

“One of our challenges is to continue innovating with technology both meaningfully and purposefully within education.”

At Wimbledon High School, the challenge is ensuring technology allows teachers to give pupils ‘future-proof skills’. Evans and Pett say: “The biggest challenge we face is the one which most schools face – how to ensure that we are giving the students opportunities to develop the ‘future-proof skills’ of creativity, collaboration and problem-solving against the constraints of the public examination system.

“We hope that our BYOD programme does make it easier for teachers to integrate digital skills seamlessly into their lessons.”

Bett
800+ edtech providers were showcased at Bett this year

Trends in edtech

Bett highlighted many trends for the year ahead, from management solutions to learning technology and personalisation, but for Parmar, there are a few she thinks will take centre stage. “Personally, some of the biggest edtech trends this year are data analytics and aggregation within major school systems, augmented reality applications and the use of smart bots in lessons,” she says.

What impact will technology have on education in the future?

Horgan says technology’s impact will always come down to how it is integrated within teaching and learning. 

“Undoubtedly, advancements in technology will allow for even more personalised learning experiences, with machine learning becoming even more prevalent. I can also see VR and AR being used in education more readily, although scalability will remain a challenge. 

“We need to be wary of the fast-moving pace of technology and adopting the next ‘big thing’, and instead we should focus on preparing our young people for their world beyond school and how technology will play a part in that world.

“By this I mean ensuring that our students are able to use technology to collaborate with one another on projects, that they are able to use technology to create new artefacts and that they can communicate effectively. 

“Finally, I believe technology will continue to have a huge impact upon the way in which professional learning occurs and I can see an increasing rise in digital learning both in schools and in the workplace.”

What stood out to you at Bett?

Evans and Pett were happy with the overall show themes, saying: “We were delighted at Bett with not any one product or talk, but the fact that there was so much emphasis on learning, teaching and hearing directly from so many educators.” For Horgan, it was a specific stand that made a lasting impact. He says: “The best experience for me was the Microsoft stand and the Microsoft classroom sessions. 

“Meeting MIEEs (Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts) who were full of enthusiasm for the Microsoft suite of applications and how they are using them in their schools was so useful. 

“It was also great to see Made by Dyslexia on the Microsoft stand as well.”

While technology can be vital, it’s clear that school leaders won’t purchase it for the sake of it. A clear strategy is key; it’s a good job there are hundreds of edtech experts on hand to help.


Bett will return from 20–22 January 2021

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Last ISE event in Amsterdam draws to a close https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/last-ise-event-in-amsterdam-draws-to-a-close/ https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/last-ise-event-in-amsterdam-draws-to-a-close/#respond Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:00:11 +0000 https://www.ie-today.co.uk/?post_type=articles&p=23553 Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2020 has completed its 15-year stay at RAI Amsterdam. The special ¡Hola Barcelona! event held on the final day of this year’s show – which ended on 14 February – brought down the curtain on ISE’s residence at Amsterdam’s leading exhibition centre. Politicians and executives saluted the RAI venue and Amsterdam, […]

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Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2020 has completed its 15-year stay at RAI Amsterdam.

The special ¡Hola Barcelona! event held on the final day of this year’s show – which ended on 14 February – brought down the curtain on ISE’s residence at Amsterdam’s leading exhibition centre.

Politicians and executives saluted the RAI venue and Amsterdam, while looking ahead to the future with the show’s move to the Fira de Barcelona next year.

Against a backdrop of the international health crisis and a storm sweeping across Europe, ISE 2020 delivered a vibrant exhibition floor and a compelling programme of content that included conferences, keynotes and training.

Mike Blackman, managing director of Integrated Systems Events, commented: “This year’s show demonstrated to us just how determined our attendees were to come to ISE. Many of our exhibitors exceeded their targets for customer engagement and lead generation.

“The show has delivered on all fronts: as the global industry’s biggest annual forum, as a launchpad for new solutions, as a place to do business, and as a source of professional development and education.”

This year’s show demonstrated to us just how determined our attendees were to come to ISE

There were a total of 116,599 visits to ISE 2020 this year – removing repeat visits by individuals on subsequent days gives a total of 52,128 unique attendees.

Thought leadership and expert opinion were to be found across many channels. In the opening address, former Disney executive Duncan Wardle gave a demonstration of how to unleash the creativity within all of us.

Fourteen conferences in two venues addressed business strategies and technology trends across the broadest range of vertical markets ever served by an ISE professional development programme. This  line-up included the launch of the Control Rooms Summit, and the creation of the Smart Workplace Track as an offshoot of the Smart Building Conference.

On the main stage, jointly organised by ISE, AVIXA, CEDIA and AV Magazine, expert speakers offered thought leadership on a wide range of topics. Attracting a diverse and talented workforce within the AV industry was the focus of a number of these sessions. AVIXA’s Diversity Council Forum featured a keynote speech from BBC creative diversity director June Sarpong, and in a session organised jointly with WAVE (Women in AV), the AVIXA Women’s Council was addressed by the Hon. Àngels Chacón, Minister for Business and Knowledge in the Catalonian Government.

On Friday, a panel session jointly produced by all four content partners discussed practical measures for recruiting new talent to the industry.

The largest AV career day ever held at ISE featured over 170 students and faculty from 12 different universities across five countries took part in the event, organised by AVIXA and CEDIA. Presentations, discussions and show floor visits gave participants a real flavour of the wide variety of career paths that the industry has to offer.

CEDIA reported its most successful professional development programme to date, with an increase in uptake of over 50% on last year. The association’s inaugural design and build conference was well attended and received excellent feedback from its audience of architects, interior designers and other design and build professionals.

On the association’s stand, membership enquiries exceeded targets, and the twice-daily CEDIA Talks proved very popular.

Tabatha O’Connor, CEO of CEDIA, commented: “ISE 2020 has been our best ever show. Our professional development programme proved to be the most popular yet with registrations at an all-time high.

“CEDIA thanks the city of Amsterdam, and the RAI, for its hospitality over many years, and for an exceptional finale in 2020. We can’t wait for ISE 2021 in Barcelona!”

In preparation for ISE 2021 in Barcelona, over 80 Spanish professionals from a broad cross-section of vertical markets were invited to ISE 2020 as part of the event’s Special Interest Group programme. Supported by ACCIO, ICEX and Grupo Eventoplus they took part in a special programme of tours, presentations and networking functions, culminating in the ¡Hola Barcelona! event.

During ISE 2020, over 950 exhibitors booked their stands for ISE 2021, with 61,968 square metres of stand space sold by the close of the show. This equates to 82% of the available ISE 2021 show floor, and approximately 115% of this year’s exhibition floor space. Reflecting the increasing number of vertical markets that ISE serves, additional Technology Zones for next year include Live Events and Lighting, Broadcast, and VR/AR/XR.

The content programme at ISE 2021 will be augmented by three new strands produced by TNW (The Next Web), focusing on technology and its impact on society: Growth Quarters, Startup City Summit and The Assembly.


ISE 2021 will take place at the Gran Via – Fira de Barcelona on 2-5 February 2021.

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The March issue of IE is out! https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/march-issue-ie-out/ https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/march-issue-ie-out/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2020 10:30:00 +0000 https://www.ie-today.co.uk/?post_type=articles&p=23450 READ THE NEW ISSUE It’s been a little while since our last issue landed on desks – before the Christmas break in fact. Since then, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex announced their move to split their time between the UK and Canada, working to become financially independent from the royal family, the UK […]

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  • READ THE NEW ISSUE
  • It’s been a little while since our last issue landed on desks – before the Christmas break in fact.

    Since then, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex announced their move to split their time between the UK and Canada, working to become financially independent from the royal family, the UK left the European Union after years of political turmoil, and we finally saw the end of January (wine, anyone?).

    News from the independent education sector has come in thick and fast too. The Girls’ Schools Association appointed its new president for the year, Jane Prescott (see page 70–71), who is also headmistress of Portsmouth High School.

    With a short service commission in the army behind her, she’s completely committed to teaching and passionate about developing young people.

    She told me more about what she hopes to achieve in her new role and, importantly, which myth about independent schools she most wants put right.

    Jane Prescott

    Of course, one of these myths is that independent schools are full of wealthy people, from the most privileged backgrounds. Charley Rogers (former editor of our sister title Education Technology) has explored this in more detail on page 49, looking at how independent schools are using scholarships and bursaries to widen access.

    Progress is definitely being made, and I think we all wish there was more we could do, but things are certainly heading in the right direction.

    Enjoy the issue!

    Jo Golding, Editor

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    ‘I wasn’t that well prepared at all’: heads swap stories at BSA conference https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/i-wasnt-that-well-prepared-at-all-heads-swap-stories-at-bsa-conference/ https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/i-wasnt-that-well-prepared-at-all-heads-swap-stories-at-bsa-conference/#respond Fri, 31 Jan 2020 12:00:36 +0000 https://www.ie-today.co.uk/?post_type=articles&p=23218 At this year’s Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) conference for deputy heads and heads of boarding, teachers came together in Bristol to share stories and advice. Chris Seal, headmaster of Shrewsbury School, Bangkok, admitted he “wasn’t that well prepared at all” when going from deputy headship in the UK to headship in Thailand. He told delegates about his […]

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    At this year’s Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) conference for deputy heads and heads of boarding, teachers came together in Bristol to share stories and advice.

    Chris Seal, headmaster of Shrewsbury School, Bangkok, admitted he “wasn’t that well prepared at all” when going from deputy headship in the UK to headship in Thailand. He told delegates about his move from Millfield School to the top performing international school in Thailand.

    Along with the challenge of having more responsibility came culture challenges of living and working in another country – he said he never imagined a ‘monthly snake sweep’ of the school would be on his agenda.

    Another realisation was that he didn’t need to reinvent himself to become a head.


    You might also like: What makes an inspirational school leader?


    He said: “When I think about why the governors, my predecessor and others asked me to go to Bangkok, it wasn’t to regurgitate ‘eduspeak’, it wasn’t to lead a teaching and learning community – I’ve got perfectly good people to do that for me. What they wanted me to do was to be calm when issues came up.

    When I think about why the governors, my predecessor and others asked me to go to Bangkok, it wasn’t to regurgitate ‘eduspeak’

    “I really do regret in some respects trying to re-invent myself, although it was good in a way because I learned that it was to some extent unnecessary.”

    He advised: “Trying to be someone that you’re not is folly, have faith in your background and what you’ve already learned – in this respect I realised I was unbelievably fortunate to work with the people that I did at the times that I did – and when times are tough, you really do get a sense of the strength of your community.

    “I thoroughly commend to you the idea of headship, anywhere.”


    The BSA annual conference for deputy heads and heads of boarding took place from 29-30 January in Bristol with the theme ‘Embracing the Challenge’.

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    Bett opens its doors https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/bett-opens-its-doors/ https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/bett-opens-its-doors/#respond Wed, 22 Jan 2020 06:00:08 +0000 https://www.ie-today.co.uk/?post_type=articles&p=23093 Bett opens its doors today at the London ExCeL to discuss education technology and the future of the sector. The event has attracted speakers from the independent education sector including Gavin Horgan, headmaster of Millfield School, who will be talking about educating the workforce of the future, and David Challoner, head of technologies at Benenden […]

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    Bett opens its doors today at the London ExCeL to discuss education technology and the future of the sector.

    The event has attracted speakers from the independent education sector including Gavin Horgan, headmaster of Millfield School, who will be talking about educating the workforce of the future, and David Challoner, head of technologies at Benenden School, who will be talking about preparing future generations for work with edtech.

    Rachel Evans (director of digital learning and innovation) and Suzy Pett (assistant head, teaching and learning) from Wimbledon High School will be discussing how they implemented a digital transformation at their school.

    Neelam Parmar, director of edtech, digital learning and innovation at Ashford School, will be talking about creating shared purpose between IT teams, teachers and senior leaders.

    On top of this, minister for universities, science, research and innovation Chris Skidmore will announce innovative plans to fund trials of assistive technology for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Taking place across the country in up to 100 schools and colleges, it’s the first programme of its kind in the world.

    Bett will see exhibits from Google, SMART, Promethean, Spotify, HP, BBC Learning, Sparx and AWS (Amazon Web Services), as well as many more.

    Furthermore, teachers will be taking part in EduFootyAid – a charity football tournament in partnership with Mind UK on Saturday 25 January, as one of Bett’s themes for 2020 is wellbeing.

    Due to the increasing workload on teachers and social pressures on pupils, the game has been set up to highlight how the wellbeing of both students and staff across schools in the UK is central to providing positive learning environments.

    The show will see two sets of awards recognising the best in edtech: the Bett Awards and the Global EdTech Startup Awards.


    Read more about what’s on at this year’s Bett.

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    Improving access in education https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/improving-access-in-education/ https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/improving-access-in-education/#respond Thu, 09 Jan 2020 00:00:51 +0000 https://www.ie-today.co.uk/?post_type=articles&p=22445 The Independent Schools Conference held its event on 28 November 2019 at the QEII Centre in London, with an impressive lineup of speakers and topics ranging from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme to improving access to private schools for disadvantaged children. Firstly, Ucas’ chief technology officer, Aaron Powell, talked attendees through the data from the organisation’s […]

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    The Independent Schools Conference held its event on 28 November 2019 at the QEII Centre in London, with an impressive lineup of speakers and topics ranging from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme to improving access to private schools for disadvantaged children.

    Firstly, Ucas’ chief technology officer, Aaron Powell, talked attendees through the data from the organisation’s end-of-cycle report.

    The report suggests now is a good time to apply for university, with students having more chance of receiving an offer of a place at university than ever before. In 2019, 97.8% of UK 18-year-olds applying through the Ucas main scheme received at least one offer. It’s a new high – 0.2% higher than the previous year.

    This is, Ucas says, partly due to declining numbers of UK 18-year-olds – which are expected to fall to their lowest point in 2020. However, the population of 18-year-olds is expected to grow again from 2021, which is why the report says, “Now may be the best time ever to apply to higher education.”

    As independent schools continue to face criticism from some for ‘elitism’, a talk on improving access for disadvantaged children drew in the numbers. The panel consisted of Tom Arbuthnott, deputy head (partnerships) at Eton College, Dr. Katy Ricks, chief master at King Edward’s School Birmingham and Patrick Derham, headmaster of Westminster School.

    Ricks says they achieve improved access at her school through offering assisted places, broad partnership activity with 400 primary schools across Birmingham and by being part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI – a charitable institution that operates two independent schools, five state schools and one academy.

    Eton College, where 90 boys currently pay no fees at all, recently launched a full bursary – the Orwell Award – for boys who have spent years 9, 10 and 11 in a UK state school.

    Ucas’ chief technology officer Aaron Powell reveals this year’s university statistics.

    Arbuthnott says they recently received 148 applicants, with the shortlist being made the week before the conference.

    “We are increasingly keen that the experience of coming to boarding school should be transformative.

    “We want their five years or two years to really make a material difference to their education, their prospects and what happens afterwards,” says Arbuthnott.

    Derham, a trustee of Royal SpringBoard, says: “I think it’s incumbent on all of us who work in the independent sector to ensure that the pupils recognise that with good fortune comes responsibility to give back.”

    I think it’s incumbent on all of us who work in the independent sector to ensure that the pupils recognise that with good fortune comes responsibility to give back

    Westminster School’s free school – Harris Westminster Sixth Form – was set up with the goal of increasing the rate of entry to top universities among students from areas of socio-economic deprivation. Derham says the idea is to “replicate Westminster education, free of charge”.

    The school also runs two academic enrichment programmes – Platform and Platform Plus – for year 5 and year 10 students in maintained schools. Successful applicants take part in a one-year programme of free Saturday morning sessions on everything from physics to history in order to “allow their academic potential to flourish”.

    Derham says: “I think we have an opportunity to prove that we can really contribute to social mobility in the true sense of the word, but it’s not going to be easy. Don’t just do things because you’re levelling out the playing field. That’s great, but you have got to work out the way in which it does positively impact on life chances.”

    Lastly, Yes We Can Clinics, aimed at 13–23-year-olds with psychological problems, addictions and behavioural problems, were present at the conference. Piet Jansen, director of international relations, made a compelling case for heads to have “courageous conversations”.

    While he recognises that teachers are educators, not parents, he is keen for the clinic to visit schools to help teachers with how to talk to students about their mental health.


    W: independentschoolsconference.com

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    Bett 2020: creating a better future by transforming education https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/bett-2020-creating-a-better-future-by-transforming-education/ https://www.ie-today.co.uk/Article/bett-2020-creating-a-better-future-by-transforming-education/#respond Wed, 08 Jan 2020 00:00:47 +0000 https://www.ie-today.co.uk/?post_type=articles&p=22442 Every year, Bett is at the forefront of education and technology, bringing future innovations into the present. Registration is now open, giving you the chance to hear from educators, leaders and edtech pioneers from all over the world. A speaker agenda like no other For the 36th edition of Bett UK, we’ve put together an […]

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    Every year, Bett is at the forefront of education and technology, bringing future innovations into the present.

    Registration is now open, giving you the chance to hear from educators, leaders and edtech pioneers from all over the world.

    A speaker agenda like no other

    For the 36th edition of Bett UK, we’ve put together an unrivalled guest speaker agenda to ensure that you hear from educators and thought leaders within the edtech space. The first wave of international figures taking the stage at Bett 2020 include:

    • Brian Cox OBE: physicist, professor and author of The Quantum Universe
    • Linda Liukas: author of Hello Ruby and tech evangelist
    • Arjana Blazic: teacher trainer, Croatian Ministry of Education
    • Dr Sue Black: professor of computer science, Durham University, and tech evangelist
    • Jos Finer: co-director, head of organisation and staff development, Sumac project lead, CAPOD, University of St Andrews
    • Carol Allen: education advisor for ICT and inclusion
    • Bart Verswijvel: senior advisor, EUN Partnership.

    Keep an eye out as we release updates on our speaker lineup.

    Exploring the new zones

    With so many edtech innovators and exhibitors under one roof, we want to ensure navigation is as easy as possible. This is why, with your feedback, we’ve created new exhibitor zones that encapsulate the top six solutions educators want to see in every institution:

    • Learning Tech
    • Equipment & Hardware
    • Teaching Tech
    • Management Solutions
    • Global Showcase
    • Education Show

    The Escape Room Experience is back!

    Why should kids have all the fun?

    Once again, Bett is teaming up with teacher training organisation Tablet Academy to bring you something completely different: The Bett Show Escape Room Experience.

    The Escape Room Experience is designed to provide you with the opportunity to engage with classroom technology solutions in an exciting and brain-taxing way, solving a series of challenges using the very technology you can deploy in your classroom.

    Off the back of such a great success last year, the Escape Room brings the following updates:

    • Bigger space for the Escape Room challenges
    • Navigate your way through a series of three rooms
    • Crystal Maze-style challenge that you can work with your colleagues.

    Must-see exhibitors

    Over 800 suppliers and exhibitors will be at Bett to showcase the products and servicing shaping the future of education.

    These pioneering brands will be at Bett 2020 to deliver content, innovative ideas and global insights in edtech practices in the UK and around the world. Schedule meetings on Connect@Bett to find your next supplier.

    Eleven theatres of quality content

    With quality content at the heart of what we offer at Bett UK, we have 11 theatres dedicated to providing presentations, panel discussions and more over the course of this four-day event. The Bett Seminar Programme for 2020 is full of CPD-certified sessions designed to inspire, educate and inform audiences from across the education community. Some of the sessions you will find this year are:

    • Barefoot Computing: 22 Jan, 16.00–16.30
    • Financial Planning for the Future: 24 Jan, 12.30–13.00
    • Learning to Teach Code: 22 Jan, 13.30–14.00
    • Captivating your Class with World-Class Video content: 23 Jan, 13.10–13.30
    • Governance for MAT Leaders: 23 Jan, 14.00–15.30.

    One of the highlights of Bett 2020’s programme is the theme SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) and inclusion. Bett has programmed a series of talks with a SEND and inclusivity focus across the week. There is a particular focus on Friday, where there will be a concentration of CPD sessions and keynote talks, covering primary education through to higher education and beyond.

    Experts and educators will speak on the challenges giving practical advice, case studies, inspiration and useful information.

    The Education Show at Bett

    For the first time in 28 years, we will be fully integrating The Education Show inside the north hall. There will be hundreds of suppliers under one hall roof, showcasing essential products to improve the health and wealth of global educational institutions.

    Why the move? We wanted to ensure our focus for Bett 2020 is on greater audience quality. When we moved the show to sit alongside Bett in 2019, we saw an increase of 27% of school leaders from the previous year. Now, with The Education Show inside Bett 2020, we’ll bring you more than 330% more attendees. This means more key buyers and educators all in the one place at the one time.

    As part of The Education Show, we can announce the following three sessions that are not to be missed when planning your time at Bett 2020:

    • Leadership: The importance of leadership in enabling schools to deliver high standards of education. This session, led by David Carter, executive director of system leadership, Ambition Institute, will cover topics including structural solutions for leadership improvement in schools, strategies for managing organisational change, ways to inspire a workforce and get buy-in on school improvement models.
    • Keynote: Using dance fitness to improve student wellbeing. In this inspiring keynote from Dame Darcey Bussell DBE, DDMix, we’ll look at the positive attributes of dance and how they’ve been proven to promote wellbeing in the mind and body. Darcey will be sharing how schools can implement dance into their curriculum as part of PE, as well as the ways it can improve student and teacher wellbeing.
    • Keynote: Examining how emotional involvement when learning significantly increases the chances of that learning being successful. Dr Andrew Curran, paediatric neurologist and neurobiologist researcher, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool and associate of Independent Thinking will be sharing the most up-to-date understandings about the working of the learning brain. This includes how learning happens, how memory happens, how motivation happens, and the role that emotions play in these things.

    As well as these sessions, The Education Show will bring you:

    • Best practice presentations
    • Demonstrations from a range of suppliers to challenge your thinking
    • An opportunity to discover new solutions
    • The practical tools to implement policy and manage school best practice.

    Connect@Bett

    To help you build the rich connections that will see you transform your educational institution in the years to come, the Connect@Bett app is back and available to download now. The app enables visitors to set up meetings with relevant exhibitors and fellow educators over the course of this four-day event.

    On top of this, there will be another onsite networking opportunity in the form of the Staff Room. This is where educators can discuss content sessions they’ve experienced and reflect on what they found inspiring and informative.

    Live radio with NetSupport Radio powered by Anderton Tiger

    NetSupport Radio has been chosen as the official broadcaster for Bett 2020, providing an interactive forum for visitors to explore, debate and reflect on the show’s themes over the course of this four-day event. You’ll be able to have your voice heard and listen in as NetSupport Radio broadcasts a mix of interviews, analysis and debate on the biggest issues facing education.

    Powered by Anderton Tiger and hosted by Bett alumni Russell Prue, visitors can share ‘best of Bett’ thoughts and insights via Twitter using #NetSupportRadio throughout the four days.

    Al Kingsley, managing director of NetSupport, says: “This year, we are keen to welcome an even wider range of views and insight so that educators can make better decisions and technologists can understand better the real issues facing schools. I’d encourage all from across the sector to listen live, engage on social media and visit the station at stand NL44 to make their contribution – all are welcome!”


    Join us at Bett UK 2020

    Bett 2020 registration is now open. Join us for the latest instalment on 22–25 January 2020 at the ExCeL London.

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