So proud to graduate today from the NIOT CEO programme👩🏼‍🎓 Ive been fortunate to have had 13 months of great learning, from conferences, great keynote speakers, self study learning & immersions in other Trusts. The NIoT are running the next cohort of this programme soon @nnoss-sbp.bsky.social

It’s has been a regal week at The Ascent Academies' Trust with two separate visits to the palace. On Monday two colleagues joined Barbara Priestmans young people who achieved their DoE Gold awards and on Wednesday Adele Pearson-Atkinson attended the education and skills garden party.

It was our pleasure this morning to host Chris McDonald our MP for Stockton North. He came to see and discuss our breakfast provision as part of the Early Adoptor Government scheme. He saw the importance of a healthy breakfast giving a strong start to the school day for our pupils!

A great start to the day at Ramside with Challenge Partners with an opening welcome by Dr Kate Chhatwal and Dame Sue John. Clear and important messages on the conference then ‘Collaborating for SEND Excellence in Mainstream Schools’

We’ve had a day of celebration & charitable activities across our trust. 🧦 We’ve have worn their odd socks to raise awareness and celebrate the uniqueness & wonderful qualities of those with Down’s syndrome. 🔴 There has also been lots of fun & money raised for Red Nose Day. lnkd.in/eb4xp4Gu

Excellent article from @beckyfrancis.bsky.social

The next stage of the Curriculum and Assessment Review will look to create a more inclusive and fair system, address subject-specific challenges, and assess available pathways beyond GCSEs. Find out more ➡️ www.gov.uk/government/p...

Really pleased that there’s a step change in discussions around pupil need from broken systems & failures. So important to move forward in a solution focused way & this call for best practice is exactly what’s needed to shape collective aspirations for what great & varied inclusive models can be👇

Really pleased to have launched this today at @ascl-uk.bsky.social. Please do share/engage - we're hoping to build a national resource which shares examples of good practice that exist in the system.

We have an amazing opportunity for someone to join our team as Deputy Head Teaching & Learning at the wonderful Mowbray Academy in North Yorkshire (Bedale and Ripon) www.northeastjobs.org.uk/job/Deputy_H...

Tonight our Ascent Dance Company had young people from Barbara Priestman Academy and Hope Wood Academy come together to perform at Northern Stage as part of Sadler's Wells National Project. Living into our mission statement, ‘Together we build brighter futures for our young people with SEND’’

On my way home after 2 days on NIoT CEO residential. It really highlights the importance of connection, cross sector working & trust to trust collaboration. It’s great to reflect & hear from amazing speakers who are so generous in sharing their own insights, reflections & learning.

'The children’s wellbeing and schools bill aims to deliver important changes to the education sector, but it risks missing its mark unless policymakers work closely with the people on the front line'

I had the pleasure of joining one of our schools today, Hope Wood Academy, for their final day of their Challenge Partners review. Great feedback from the reviewers. A lovely young person had hand made ❤️ for Valentine’s Day and gave us all one.

I loved seeing and hearing our leaders engaged in great professional conversations with leaders from SEND provisions around the country. The Challenge Partners Quality Assurance Review process is a genuine ‘done with’ experience.

Thank you to Jeremy Bird and Tom, Kirsty and Jack who have spent three days carrying out a Challenge Partners Quality Assurance Review at Portland Academy. Great professional dialogue and insights that validated and challenged the work of the school, its leaders and colleagues.

Cracking piece from @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social who’s been through the proposed new schools bill to pick out all the key policies and details school leaders need to know Interesting nuggets on new academy intervention powers, flexi-schools and admissions 👇

🌟New blog: The regular habits of a strategic SENDCO. Reposts and comments welcome. #senco #sendco sendmatters.co.uk/2024/12/15/t...

We’re looking for a Director of Transformation to join our team. Over the last few years we’ve worked with over 100 schools to better support children and families. We need someone who can help us take this work to national scale. Interested? 👇🏽 thereachfoundation.hrpartner.io/jobs/directo...

Edition 377 done and dusted Scoop: council seeks to charge schools £21k per exclusion Long-read: how trusts manage school inspections Curriculum: United Learning Profile: Ambition Institute’s Yalinie Vigneswaran Parent MAT referendums, education missions, recruitment numbers and lots more

NEW POST: What is Ordinarily Available Provision for learners with #SEND? And is it a friend or foe when it comes to getting the right support? We have Part 1 of a two-part article from veteran SEND expert, Philippa Stobbs OBE www.specialneedsjung...#SEND?SOCIAL_NETWORK}&utm_medium=ZM

Brilliant week so far. On immersion with another trust as part of NIoT CEO programme and loving it. Also helps knowing my school is in great hands and managing to avoid checking in constantly. #edusky @natinstteaching.bsky.social

What does AI mean for your #schooltrust? Our masterclass, starting 15 January 2025, Artificial intelligence (AI) in education: Understanding the principles of AI in schools will explore the transformative potential of AI. Find out more and book now: cstuk.org.uk/profess...

Did you know Schools Week has launched a special podcast series? You can catch up on episodes here, featuring Bridget Phillipson, @carter59.bsky.social, Justine Greening, Nick Gibb, @natalieperera.bsky.social, @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social, Mary Bousted, and more!

Next week I’m hosting a #TeachMeet on AI for @schoolsnortheast.bsky.social Join me, and speakers, on Wednesday 15:30 - 17:00 for this free online event. schoolsnortheast.org/event-calend...

‼️ 🔔 Competition Want to win a copy of my book Is Leadership A Race? Repost this post Winner announced Sunday at 10pm