Networking and collaboration in the North region

The following information provides an update on National College activity in the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber regions, and enables you to learn from and share good practice with other leaders.

North West

Development opportunity for black and minority ethnic teachers

Are you a black and minority ethnic (BME) teacher looking to progress your career? You may be interested in our Diversifying school leadership event which will provide an opportunity for you to develop key leadership skills and to network with other BME teachers from the region. The event will take place in Liverpool from 12 to 13 January 2012.

Find out more and register your place.

Yorkshire and the Humber

Network meeting opportunities for special educational needs and pupil referral unit

The Yorkshire and the Humber special school leaders group and pupil referral unit (PRU) leaders group have been created to provide networking opportunities for any colleagues interested in these key sectors. The groups are committed to working together to ensure the best provision for all students attending special schools and PRUs within the region. Members wish to work with the widest range of partners to share best practice and offer support to leaders and those who aspire to become leaders in the future. The groups will share experiences and challenges, and offer potential solutions.

The next PRU leaders network meeting is Tuesday 7 February 2012 at Minsthorpe Conference Centre, Pontefract, 9.30am until 3pm. Agenda items will include:

a presentation on an approach to working with vulnerable young people with challenging behaviour that interrupts their own or other student learning
preparing for inspection under the new Ofsted schedule
a discussion on ways of demonstrating pupil progress in PRUs
the effective deployment of teaching assistants

If you are interested in attending, please email prunetwork@nationalcollege.org.uk with your name, role and establishment.

The next special school leaders network meeting is Thursday 1 March 2012 at Springwell Special School, Barnsley, 9.15am until 12 noon. Topics for discussion will include:

moderating student assessments
the new Ofsted framework
the sensitivities around obtaining socio-economic information from parents and the preparation for a Yorkshire and the Humber special schools conference

If you are interested in attending, please email sennetwork@nationalcollege.org.uk with your name, role and establishment.

Exploring system leadership capacity

Regional briefing meetings for national and local leaders of education have been taking place over the past month. These meetings have been held in addition to College associate visits to national leaders of education, and have enabled us to build an up-to-date picture of system leadership capacity.

For further information about this area of work, contact College Associate Martin Green at martin.green@nationalcollege.org.uk.

Local events for headteachers

Headteachers and chairs of governors in Doncaster, Leeds, Kirklees, North Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire have attended events covering topics such as the development of a self-improving system, with many attendees sharing their own collaborative approaches to school improvement and succession planning.

For more information about future events of this kind, contact College Associate Diane Heritage at diane.heritage@nationalcollege.org.uk.

Your contacts in the North

View all contact details for lead, deputy lead and National College associates, independent schools advocates and school business manager advocates in the North region.