We had a truly amazing day on Monday 3rd July at our Annual Conference. Over 130 people gathered at the Headland Hotel in Newquay to focus on a day of workshops, keynotes and networking. Our theme was ‘Removing barriers: building success together’ and we started off with an inspiring performance of ‘Fields of Gold’ by the Mounts Bay Academy HPI Choir. This led amazing session with Dominic Peckham. He had everyone laughing, moving about, singing and generally challenging preconceptions and comfort zones. Then we heard from Dr Janet Rose who took us through some keep ideas and research on stress and learning, emotion coaching and the relationship between pupil and teacher. We also had some great workshops through the day from Dominic Peckham, Dr Rose, Remembering Our Roots, RJ Working, Foster Focus and Growing Links. Our keynote in the afternoon was Luke Rodgers and Scott King from Foster Focus. We heard about growing up in care and the horrible experiences they both went through. We were all challenged, shocked and moved by what they said.

Here are some feedback quotes from the day:

‘Luke and Scot who I found very inspirational, I was very moved by their life stories’.
‘Engaging and ‘different’ – very enjoyable’.
‘Loved the flow of each speaker – ‘joined up thinking’
‘A really excellent, thought-provoking day that will have an impact on me for a long time’
‘Amazing!’
‘Great linked themes, which are very relevant to us at the moment’
‘Real stories, thought provoking’
‘You have left me emotionally drained with a fresh perspective on teaching’
‘After many conferences, this was – perhaps – the best’
‘Opportunities for networking with staff from other schools’

Click on the video below to see what we were up to.

Guest Contributors

Dominic Peckham

Dominic Peckham is regarded as one of the UK’s finest dynamic orchestral and choral conductors of his generation. An ambassador of international renown for choral and vocal music through both performance and extensive pioneering educational work across the world. He has worked with world-class orchestras, Gareth Malone from The Naked Choir. Expect a highly interactive and amazing keynote and workshop. ‘“… Hair-raising and fantastic….” NEIL MCCORMICK – THE TELEGRAPH

Dr Janet Rose

Dr Janet Rose is currently Chief Executive of the prestigious, world famous Norland College which provides the very best early years degree education and childcare training for its students. She is a co-founder of Emotion Coaching UK. Janet was a Reader in Education, Programme and Award Leader in Early Education at Bath Spa University. A former teacher, she has worked in a range of early years settings. Janet also led a ground breaking research project called Attachment Aware Schools and Settings, a comprehensive programme of support for children affected by early attachment difficulties, trauma and neglect which we will hear more about from her in her keynote and workshop.

Remembering Our Roots (James Benzing & James Oecken)

Remembering Our Roots is a CIC based in Cornwall which provides young people with the opportunity to develop a strong sense of nature connection, to learn Bushcraft & wilderness skills and to be supported in their journey through adolescence and into adulthood. Join James and James to explore how you can go on your own personal journey alongside students who take part in the programme. A teacher who just took part said ‘…The rewards have been nothing short of life changing. At times traumatic, the process of watching young people open up and then share their inner turmoil was heartbreaking for me and reduced me to tears on several occasions. I found myself in a place I’ve never been before, but I feel that I’ve come out the other side more in touch with myself and certainly more aware of the young people around me…’ Mr Helliwell

RJ Working (Deborah Mitchell & Terence Bevington)

RJ Working is a CIC based in Cornwall with the aim of strengthening the resilience and flexibility of individuals, families and communities, in response to harmful experiences through Restorative Justice.   RJ Working provides a safe, friendly and neutral service to enable communication between people, and to take steps towards restoring relationships and wellbeing. They are currently running a pilot within 10 schools in Cornwall and will be sharing about their work and engaging in a Q&A session with other experts about this ground-breaking approach to a better world for all.

Luke Rodgers & Foster Focus

Luke Rodgers is a Founder of Foster Focus. Since growing up in Care his life has been transformed. He travels the world now talking about how he overcame an extremely difficult early life and how any adult working in a school can help to transform young people’s lives. He will very honestly share his inspirational story, and with a colleague give practical advice and tips in this much over-looked aspect of well-being.

Professor David Hopkins

Professor Hopkins is well known for his work around Adventure Learning, models of learning and has worked extensively with many Universities, Governments and Educational Establishments. We are pleased he will be with us to offer closing remarks at the conference and share about an exciting new project.

We are looking forward to our Conference on 3rd July. We’d like to introduce one of our keynote speakers in more detail.

Dominic Peckham. website

We first heard Dominic speak at the SSAT National Conference 2016 and knew we wanted to invite him to join us. Dominic is very dynamic and will certainly bring a powerful and lively start to our day!

‘Dominic Peckham is a conductor of immense energy and focus delivering ‘gutsy, raw and exciting performances’. Internationally renowned in his conducting and pioneering educational work, Peckham appears regularly on TV and Radio.‘

Here’s a short clip from the SSAT Conference:

Youtube SSAT Conference

He will also be hosting a small workshop for those interested in drawing out the best in those who love to sing! We hope to have a small group of students who can join us for this who will then perform at the close of the conference.

Email Helen Rodgers for further details on the conference and to book places: enquiries@appliedminds.eu

A free information evening for graduates, career changers and those thinking about teaching.

Details here:

Teacher Training Evening

Flyer – ITT Info Evening Cornwall – 24 April 2017

Get in touch with us if you have any questions or can’t make the evening:

enquiries@appliedminds.eu 01736 352321

Please find below the latest Teaching School Newsletter for March 2017 for the South West – a big region!

This extract sums up the key role Teaching Schools are continuing to play in keeping schools engaged and improving.

‘Challenge 4 in the South West – Embedding System Leadership
“Every type of school is engaged with a Teaching School Alliance by Summer 2018”
This spring edition of the TSC SW newsletter is hot on the heels of the Education South West Conference 2017 led by the Regional Schools Commissioner in Exeter on 9th March. Both Sir David Carter, NSC and Rebecca Clark, our SW RSC challenged the region with the need to increase the scope and coverage of teaching school alliances to ensure all schools are engaged and no school is left in isolation. In response we urge all teaching school leaders to review your alliance and the schools that access the full breadth of CPD, ITT and school improvement support through your teaching school activity, to ensure:
1. All schools are aware that the CPD / ITT / school support they participate in is through a teaching school; and
2. All teaching schools actively seek to involve new schools especially schools affected by rural isolation and sparsity.
The TSC SW team has been actively working with teaching schools across the region and developing relationships with Local Authority, RSC, MAT and diocese colleagues in particular, through participation in the new Sub Regional Improvement Boards led by the RSC. It is anticipated that with the new Strategic School Improvement Fund being rolled out in the summer term, teaching schools will have a significant role to play in providing school support through larger-scale thematic projects over the next 2-3 years through the Boards and sub regional brokerage hubs.‘

You can read the whole newsletter here:

March 2017 TSC SW Newsletter

We would like to invite you to our 4th Annual Conference on Monday 3rd July. We hope you will join us at the Headland Hotel, Newquay for a day of discovering strategies and bringing people together with a shared purpose.

The educational landscape is always changing and evolving, but we want to focus on the wellbeing and deeper challenges affecting our young people with some leading practitioners who will share their experiences and offer practical solutions.

Keynotes confirmed:

Dominic Peckham (Conductor & Choral Expert)
Dr Janet Rose (Emotion Coaching & Norland College)
Luke Rodgers & Karylle Phillips (Foster Focus)

Some schools have already block-booked places, so avoid disappointment you are encouraged to at least reserve your place now. We will be releasing further details on keynote and workshop themes in April.

Conference 2017

To make enquiries or to reserve any places, please fill out the Enquiry Form below. Reserved places need to be confirmed by mid May.

A twilight “STEM in Cornwall” Showcase and networking event is being held at Truro College on the 1st of February from 5-7pm.

This is a free opportunity to meet with a range of other teachers, local STEM employers and outside agencies (RSC, IOP, STEM Ambassador network, National STEM centre, Maths Hub).

The aim of the event is to help get likeminded STEM educators together to build relationships and partnerships to continue to improve STEM education and opportunity in Cornwall. It will also give you an opportunity to find out how we might tap into national initiatives to enrich our curriculum.

Sign up is here and the event is completely free.

Book here:

Eventbrite

Whilst the 1:1 deployment of digital devices in schools is becoming more popular, there can be pitfalls that prevent a successful and sustainable implementation. Mounts Bay Academy has been using iPads in a 1:1 environment since 2011, getting global recognition and gaining Apple Distinguished Schools status.

This event, for school leaders, business managers, IT technical staff and e-learning co-ordinators, will discuss the day-to-day realities of 1:1 iPad schemes and includes hands-on experience, pedagogical and technical presentations and a look at real 1:1 lessons using iPads.

The visit includes lunch and refreshments and opportunities to talk with staff and students.

Participants will:

Experience an iPad learning environment first hand on a tour

Look at how Mounts Bay delivers CPD and digital workflows

Have help to formulate a 1:1 iPad strategy or pitch

Hear from senior leaders about high points and pitfalls

Reflect upon the positive impact of a 1:1 learning environment

Discover how to use iPads in a cost-effective way

Have the chance to chat with staff and students about how they use iPads, both in and out of lessons.

We are looking forward to the new recruitment cycle for Initial Teacher Training, taking applications from 18th October (apply via UCAS).

We will be attending a couple of recruitment events in November, where you can come along to find out more and ask questions.

Cornwall Teacher Training Event

Thursday 3rd November at the Atlantic Centre, Newquay

Details and sign up here:

ITT Event 3rd November

Train to Teach Roadshow at Exeter on Tuesday 15th November.

Details and sign up here:

Train to Teach Exeter

Join us for our last Teachmeet of the year – and enjoy networking, great talks and some summer strawberries and cream!

Details and to book your free attendance here:

Teachmeet tickets