I am presenting on ‘The Future of Post-16 provision’ for Hackney Education on Tuesday 17 March. I am focusing on the essentials from the Post-16 White Paper, the Schools White Paper, the new Ofsted Framework & the ‘Transition plan: to reformed 16-19 qualifications’. @alpsva.bsky.social
Thoroughly enjoyed presenting for @alpsva.bsky.social to the #EalingLearningPartnership Deputy Heads School Improvement group today. A packed agenda reflecting the changing educational landscape so much to discuss. Pleased to present on their strong progress #Post-16, highlighting best practice.
Off to Ealing this morning to present for @alpsva.bsky.social to the #EalingLearningPartnership Deputy Heads Network on their post-16 attainment & value-added progress this morning with a focus on sharing best practice so all improve even further.
Mother of God but that was great craic tonight at the Irish Community Centre for the ‘Remembering Arty’ (Arty McGlynn) concert featuring Nollaig Casey, their son Jerome & so many of his friends.
Great gig at Harwell Village Hall tonight featuring the wonderful Edwina Hayes. Great songs, brilliant covers & fab stories. Thanks for singing ‘Waiting for the guy to die’.
@thehaarband.bsky.social played yet another superb gig at King’s Place in London tonight. Your musicians totally on top of their game. Catch them if you can.
Nine top tips from me for establishing priorities to further improve your Sixth Form @alpsva.bsky.social alps.education/opinion/impr...
Walking in Burnham Beeches with Mary & Aisling this afternoon.
As always it was really good meeting with Corrine Gill from Ealing Learning Partnership for the @alpsva.bsky.social Strategic Review based on their schools’ 2025 #Post16 results. Lots of positives in terms of attainment & progress as usual.
Really enjoyed the @alpsva.bsky.social Feedback review with King's Group Academies and senior staff from King’s Academy Prospect, King’s Academy Bay House, King’s Academy Binfield and King’s Academy Easthampstead Park. Lots to discuss with a sharp focus on strategies for further improvement in 2026.
Have a look at my thoughts for @alpsva.bsky.social on how to build an aspirational culture in your Sixth Form www.linkedin.com/posts/alpsed...
Enjoyed today’s @alpsva.bsky.social Post16 Strategic Review Meeting with Exmouth Community College from the Ted Wragg Trust with a focus on the 2025 results. Discussions highlighted the impact of using other systems to analyse using 2024 benchmarks that significantly ‘inflate’ 2025 A Level progress.
Very much enjoyed today’s @alpsva.bsky.social Strategic Feedback with Jemima Reilly & Shereka James at Tower Hamlets Education Partnership. Building on last month’s Post16 Conference & evaluating A Level outcomes & progress across #THEP we focused on key priorities for improvement in 25-26.
Went to Bath today with @isling_ & Mary (whether we needed to or not). Had a great time especially up at the Skyline.
Terrific day working for @alpsva.bsky.social in #Dorset at #Wessex Multi Academy Trust. Started today with the #Dorset #Post-16 Group Feedback followed by sessions using Connect to identify strategic improvement priorities in their own schools.
Really enjoyed today’s @alpsva.bsky.social Post-16 Strategic Review Meeting with #Tor #Bridge #High from the #TedWraggTrust who are recent adopters of Alps Connect & Summit. Impressed they are already on board with monitoring progress in-year with uploaded end of Y12 data as well as 2025 results.
A lovely day at Ullswater with Mary, my cousin Jane & her husband Chris.
Photos of the Tyne, two from the Free Trade and one on the stroll back into the centre of Newcastle.
On Lindisfarne with Mary on a recent trip.
Last week at Labour Conference there was lots of chat about wanting to give children more choice over what they learn.
But it always prompts me to think of this question. It’s a good challenge.
Visiting the stunning Tynemouth Castle & Priory with Mary, my cousin Jane & Chris. Great views from the headland including across the Tyne to South Shields where my Mum Enid & Auntie Moyra were raised amongst their Hedley clan.
On a recent visit to Tyneside we did the fabulous North Shields mural trail. Here are another 4 of the murals
On a recent visit to Tyneside we did the fabulous North Shields mural trail. Here are 4 of the murals
As ever a pleasure meeting Mike Foley this morning to finalise plans for the #Dorset #Post16 Development project day on Thursday 9 October. Looking forward to presenting the @alpsva.bsky.social Dorset Group Feedback, facilitating best use of Summit & Connect, and discussing strategic priorities.
Ministers are poised to set out plans for a new suite of V Level vocational qualifications in the upcoming white paper on post-16 education and skills. schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-pla...
Heading down south in London Town to Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls for today’s PolyMat Trust Governors’ Conference. Privileged to be a trustee on their board.
Calling all Heads of #Sixth! Make sure you start the academic year by hitting the ground running when setting aspirations high so your students set their sights high in your Sixth Forms. 7 top tips from me to set your pulse racing! t.co/kniAwS4bS4
Off to Tower Hamlets to present the keynote at the #THEP #Post16 Conference. I am speaking on the theme of ‘Culture and Leadership - The twin pillars of Post-16 improvement’. Later in the day I am leading a workshop on the art of matching the right students to the right courses.
Secondary school leaders in Wales. If a busy schedule yesterday denied you the chance to join Dr John Roe & me for the @alpsva.bsky.social Hitting the Ground Running #Y11 webinar the recording is free & available right here youtu.be/a-6Xm5tC7Q0
Secondary school leaders in Wales join me & Dr John Roe at 3.30pm for our free @alpsva.bsky.social Hitting the Ground Running #Y11 webinar. Here is my accompanying briefing paper alps.education/briefing-pap... Register for the webinar at t.co/F3VbqXa7dO