About the Speakers & Sessions
Defining the Future of Education
22nd - 27th June 2009
Hardwick Estate, Goring Heath, Oxfordshire
Keynote Speaker: Oliver James
www.selfishcapitalist.com
Monday 22nd June, 15.30-17.30
The Value of Holistic Approaches to Learning
Oliver James trained and practised as a clinical child psychologist and, since 1988, has worked as a writer, journalist, broadcaster and television documentary producer and presenter. His books include the best-selling Affluenza, They F*** You Up and Britain on the Couch, which was also a successful documentary series for Channel 4. He is a trustee of the Alzheimer's charity, SPECAL and lives in Oxfordshire with his wife and two small children.
Keynote Speaker: Professor Richard Pring
www.nuffield14-19review.org.uk
Wednesday 24th & Friday 26th June,
09:30-11:30
What counts as an educated 19 year old today?
Professor Richard Pring, PhL (Gregorian, Rome), BA (UCL), PhD (London), Hon DLlit (Kent) retired after 14 years as Director of the Department of Education at Oxford in May 2003. He is currently Lead Director of the Nuffield Review 14-19 Educational Studies. This is a £1,000,000 six year project, funded by the Nuffield Foundation.
Richard has written prolifically on Education and the Philosophy of Education, his most recent book: Education for All: The Future of Education and Training for 14-19 Year Olds asks two key questions:
1. What counts as an educated 19 year old today?
2. Are the models of education we have inherited from the past sufficient to meet the needs of all young people, as well as the social and economic needs of the wider community?
As Richard continues to launch the final report of the Nuffield Review on 14-19 Education and Training we are privileged that he has agreed to present his findings to us.
Keynote Speaker: Sir Julian Rose
www.changingcourseforlife.info
Saturday 27th June, 12.30-13.30
Agenda for The New Society: Re-evaluating the whole purpose of education
Sir Julian is one of the pioneers of UK organic farming, commencing the conversion of his farm in 1975. He joined the Soil Association board in 1984 and campaigned vigorously for the widespread introduction of organic farming methods at a time when this system was not known.
He developed a theory of local production and consumption which he named “The Proximity Principle.” His advice has been sought by local authorites, development agencies and government.
Julian has written and broadcast extensively and has just completed a book “Changing Course - For Life”, about the radical changes needed to bring new hope to society. He started his career in drama, but took-on the Hardwick Estate (and Baronetcy) on the premature death of his brother and father in the late 1960s. He is an environmental activist and a defender of peasant and family farming traditions throughout the world.
Richard Kennell
www.theethosproject.co.uk
Tuesday 23rd & Thursday 25th June, 09.00-10.00 & 15.15- 16.15
The Ethos Hour – Character Education in Action
Richard has been running KFES Ltd, a small education consultancy, for the last three years. He was Deputy Headteacher at Gillotts School in Henley on Thames between 2002 and 2006. In this capacity he introduced a vertical tutoring and House system – the first maintained school in Oxfordshire to do so. His innovative curriculum design contributed to rising standards that now see Gillotts as the top performing school in the County.
In 2008 KFES led a TDA commissioned programme called “The Ethos Project” – www.theethosproject.co.uk which worked with senior leaders to explore aspects of character education in their schools.
Jon Berry
www.frontiers.uk.net
Tuesday 23rd & Thursday 25th June, 10.15-12.15 & 13.00-15.00
Celebration / Study Visit – Frontiers New Horizons (alternative curriculum)
Winner of Social Entrepreneur 2007, Jon is CEO of Frontiers, a charity that promotes learning through relationships with each other and the environment.
Frontiers delivers a highly acclaimed alternative curriculum for children who have disengaged from classroom based learning. Jon is also a director of Fifth Model Solutions LTD and has been a teacher and middle manager in FE. He has worked for several blue chip companies designing and implementing change programmes.
Sandra Higgs
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/14-19strategy
Wednesday 24th June, 16.30-18.30
Working together to deliver world-class education and training: Oxfordshire’s 14-19 Strategy
Sandra is the 14-19 Strategy Manager for Oxfordshire. In this capacity she is working to ensure that every young person in Oxfordshire has access to the reformed range of curricuoum provision and guidance.
This session will outline the 14-19 reform programme and explore what this means in Oxfordshire. From the development of Diplomas, to the extension of the Apprenticeship programme and the Foundation Learning Tier major changes are planned for the curriculum in schools and colleges. In addition the greater emphasis on the right advice and guidance for young people so that they are able to make choices more effectively.
John Knights
www.leadershape.biz
Friday 26th June, 11:00-13:00
Educating with Emotional Intelligence
John is a Co-founder and Chairman of LeaderShape Ltd. “My purpose in business is to help leaders develop leadership excellence.” He is an experienced Coach, Mentor and Facilitator of individuals (especially CEOs and Senior Managers), teams and peer groups. His business experience encompasses a broad range of senior management responsibilities in international corporate environments in the U.S.A., Europe, U.K. and Asia.
He is a fellow of the Institute of Directors, the Chartered Management Institute and the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce). He is also a Freeman of the City of London through the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators.
John’s session will focus on using Emotional Intelligence in leading organisations.
Mike Drennan
www.ethosconsortium.com
Wednesday 24th June, 16:30-18:30
Student Voice: Genuine Student Democracy
Mike is Head of Citizenship Education at Maidenhill School in Gloucestershire. In this capacity he has developed an innovative approach to Student Voice, which has made a significant contribution to the improvement of the school. Taking a radical approach to student democracy Mike has developed a system which forms an integral part of the management of the school, is respected and appreciated by students and staff and makes a real contribution.
Mike has completed an MA in Character Education and School Management and is a founder of The Ethos Consortium, an organization which seeks to develop more explicitly the teaching of character in schools.
Ian Beecher-Jones
Friday 26th June, 14.00-16.00
Educating for a Sustainable Future
Ian owns and manages JBL – a precision farming consultancy business. He works closely with the education sector, providing many opportunities for learning through and about the land based sector. His current projects include “Growing Talent” a programme to encourage young people to develop their talents in this sector.
A recent winner of the “Best Newcomer” at the EBP’s Investors in Education Awards, Ian is working in partnership with local schools .
This session looks at the importance of educating young people for sustainable futures. It shows how we need to engage the ablest scientists to tackle some of the most pressing problems, but also how we need all young people to develop the skills for sustainable living.
Ruth Kennell
Friday 26th June, 11.00-13.00
Meeting Attachment Needs Through Education
Ruth has been teaching for over 20 years in a range of comprehensive schools. Her lessons have consistently been described by OFSTED as outstanding.
After adopting three children in 2001, Ruth has been working for Father Hudson’s Society, training prospective adopters and providing support for parents who have recently adopted.
Together with Ruth’s teaching expertise this has given her a unique insight into the factors that affect children’s attachment.
By use of case study material, Ruth will explore the links between attachment disorders, behaviour and self esteem and suggest ways of working with children with attachment disorders.
Matthew Abbott/ Sue Collings
Friday 26th June, 16.30-18.30
Ethos in Action
Matthew and Sue are Deputy Headteachers at Waddesdon School and Princes Risborough School respectively. They have been working together to investigate and analyse what makes each of their schools special. This session will explore what makes a school’s ethos effective and what the common themes are.
Matthew has been working with The Ethos Project for over a year. Since moving to Waddesdon, a school with a unique culture, in September 2008 he has explored the issues surrounding character and ethos in greater depth.
In this session Matthew and Sue will share their work and discuss what schools can do to develop their ethos.
Richard Kennell
www.kfes.org
Wednesday 24th June, 14.00-16.00
Are we wasting the gifts and talents of our young people? – Meeting the Needs of Gifted and Talented
Richard has been running KFES Ltd, a small education consultancy, for the last three years. He was Deputy Headteacher at Gillotts School in Henley on Thames between 2002 and 2006. In this capacity he introduced a vertical tutoring and House system – the first maintained school in Oxfordshire to do so. His innovative curriculum design contributed to rising standards that now see Gillotts as the top performing school in the County.
KFES Ltd specializes in 14-19 education. The company is a registered provider of Gifted and Talented programmes. This session will examine what we mean by Gifted and Talented and explore alternative curriculum provision for those young people identified.
Jon Berry
www.frontiers.uk.net
Wednesday 24th June, 11.00-13.00
Harmony in The Classroom
Jon has spent two decades engaging with young people described as challenging, disaffected and disengaged. He has had great success in developing positive relationships and practical approaches to progression.
In this session, Jon shares the key principles of his approach, everything he does is founded on respect, compassion and rapport and discusses how these can be embedded into the culture of every classroom.
Kaz Ghalmi
Wednesday 24th June, 11.00-13.00
& Friday June 26th, 16.30-18.30
The Impact of Addiction on Access to Learning
Kaz has been working in the substance misuse for ten years in settings such as young offender’s institutions, direct access hostels for young people, care homes, secure units and schools. He currently trains Thames Valley Police, Substance Misuse Workers, runs therapeutic groups for young people , provides a one to one service and delivers workshops and lectures on substance misuse and diversity.
His passion is working with young people excluded from mainstream education, or who are part of schools’ alternative curricula.
Kaz Ghalmi has had personal experiences of substance misuse that bring an extra dimension to his sessions.
Sheena Money
www.tva2i.net
Wednesday 24th June, 14.00-16.00
Emotional Learning and Green Care: From rejection to recovery
The Thames Valley Initiative is one of eleven national pilot projects supported by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) to deliver innovative, effective and user-friendly services for those diagnosable with “Personality Disorder”.
The Thames Valley Initiative provides services in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Services are provided by the relevant Mental Health Trust, in close collaboration with local partners, particularly the voluntary sector.
The services aim to help people face their difficulties and find new ways of coping. People who have already used our services are employed by us to help ensure that what we offer is relevant and accessible. The services are divided into four ‘tiers’, all of which operate as therapeutic communities
Inclusive Education
Friday 26th June, 14.00-16.00
Details to be confirmed
Debate - The Future of Education
Wednesday 24th June & Friday 26th June
Ongoing debates which give an opportunity to explore ideas brought out in the workshops, presentations & discussions taking place during the week.
Final Debate
Saturday 27th June, 13.30-15.30
The week concludes with a debate about the future of education. A team of panelists will discuss issues raised by the audience.
The key topics could include:
* How do we measure success?
* What is an appropriate curriculum?
* How do we support personal needs and diversity in our approaches to learning?
Saturday 27th June, 12.00-16.00
Survival in the Wild and Junior Survival in the Wild
These exciting, educational events for children are run by the charity, Frontiers. While you are attending the workshops, you can be safe in the knowledge that your children are out in the woods, enjoying nature and have a wonderful time!
Brief descriptions of the events:
Survival in the Wild
Ages: 9-14
Can you create a really snug den in the woods? Light a fire with only flint and steel? Is it possible to feel at home with no TV? Come and explore the world of the woods - there are games to play, creatures to meet and stories to tell.
Junior Survival in the Wild
Age: 6 - 8
Exciting action packed days for our slightly younger survivalists! Make a cosyden in the woods with materials from the forest, have lunch around a campfire, play woodland games and learn how to survive from the earth in our wild woods.