At the NEC Birmingham next month, educators from all over the country will come together to share ideas and best practice at the Education Show 2015.
This year, with mobile learning high on schools’ agendas, the Education Show is joining forces with the Tablet Academy to provide teachers and educators with free, hands-on advice. The seminars, CPD and other leadership programmes are being developed with a range of high-level speakers.
The show aims to cater for all teachers and school leaders, whatever your area of interest. Here’s a snapshot of some of the speakers you can expect to hear from.
The Central Feature
The Central Feature for 2015 focuses on teaching innovatively to improve literacy and numeracy skills across all subjects, and addressing the changes to assessment facing both primary and secondary institutions. There will be a range of free CPD-accredited sessions on offer following these themes. During the opening day of the show – on Thursday, March 19 – there will be an update from the Department for Education (DfE), which will address the changes to the curriculum, assessment and qualifications. This takes place at 9:45am in the Literacy, Numeracy and Assessment Theatre.
Another of the key speakers you will hear from in this theatre is Robert Wilne, director of secondary education at the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, who will be discussing the major changes in the 11 to 16 maths curriculum and helping you prepare your students and colleagues for the new GCSE specifications in place from September.
School Leaders Summit
The School Leaders Summit is dedicated for individuals with a leadership role in a school. It will feature a mix of case studies, panel debates and networking opportunities. Subjects will include using the Pupil Premium effectively and using technology to enhance learning.
On the first day, Gary King, assistant principal at Tavistock College in Devon, and Kirsty Tonks, assistant principal and teaching school director at Shireland Collegiate Academy in the West Midlands, will be taking to the stage during the Summit to present a session entitled Innovative Approaches to Management, Teaching and Learning (from 1:40pm). This session will touch on behaviour management, using social media and closing the attainment gap with the Pupil Premium.
Elsewhere, headteacher Tony Ryan, and e-learning and creativity lead Renaldo Lawrence, both from Chiswick School, will also be speaking about implementing technology to improve educational outcomes. This session takes place on Friday, March 20, at 12pm and has as a core theme preparing students for life after secondary school.
How do I...
The How Do I... theatre is aimed at “immersing educators in teaching techniques and effective learning strategies” through seminars, workshops and demonstrations.
The sessions are aimed wholly at professional development and practical advice
Taking to the stage in the “How do I...” theatre on the Thursday at 11:30am is Caroline Hardeman, director of teaching and learning at North Birmingham Academy.
Ms Hardeman will be leading an interactive session incorporating the techniques of flipped learning and backwards teaching into a range of activities that have been tried and tested within a challenging secondary school environment.
The exhibition
Once again, there will be hundreds of exhibitors showcasing their latest innovations at the show. A full list is available on the official website and below are just some examples.
Teaching and support staff are invited to learn about the education programme available at Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter – by visiting the attraction’s stand at the Education Show. Visitors to the stand will get the chance to take part in a photo opportunity as well as discover more about the studio tour’s series of 12 free lessons, which are enhanced by the use of authentic film-making materials. Qualified teachers will deliver lessons based on the national curriculum for key stages 2 to 5 covering aspects of the film production process including set design, costume characterisation and script-writing (Stand N59).
Ticketmaster Education brings together a variety of materials such as downloadable curriculum resources and education packs that explore the themes of some of Ticketmaster’s best-loved events, which can then be used in the classroom. Also on this stand is Disney On Ice, who bring their Magical Ice Festival to the UK next year (Stand E56).
If you are looking for something a bit different, the Royal Horticultural Society will be promoting its Campaign for School Gardening, which inspires and supports schools in providing children with gardening opportunities to enhance their understanding of the environment. It shows them where their food comes from, encourages them to develop skills that are applicable to everyday situations, helping them to be happy and healthy as they grow into adulthood (Stand K31).
Magazines for Schools is an independent supplier of magazine subscriptions, offering more than 3,000 titles across a range of genres (Stand L74).
Leading Education provides training expertise to schools. The company’s training kits build ready-to-use skills and strategies to equip leaders, teachers and teaching assistants across all key stages (Stand LL44).
Kid Life is a health and wellbeing workshop initiative for pupils aged 11 to 18 that aims to dramatically improve personal development. The Kid Life experience helps young people learn how to live a healthy, positive life, so that they can boost their personal development, productivity and overall happiness (Stand G14).
Tute delivers interactive lessons to help students achieve more from their studies. Through small, online group lessons, the costs can be shared, something the company calls “social education” (Stand L30).
Jigsaw School Apps has developed a school app to engage with parents via their SmartPhones, which means that no matter where they are, parents can receive the school’s news and other important information (Stand F87).
To help exhibitors plan their route around the show, the British Educational Suppliers Association will be on-hand at the Show Information Point.
SecEd at The Education Show
SecEd will once again be at the Education Show, alongside our sister primary publication Headteacher Update. You can visit our stand to chat to the editorial team, pick up copies of all our latest editions, including our free supplements and guides, and find out more about our plans for the year ahead. You can find us on Stand L21.
Tips for the Education Show
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Register in advance on the Education Show website. This is free, easy and gives you fast-track entry.
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Research relevant exhibitors and CPD sessions in advance.
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Make the most of the Information Point – it is there to help you get the most from your visit. They can point you in the direction of the suppliers addressing your areas of interest.
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Take advantage of the networking opportunities that the show provides – share ideas and source advice from peers.
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Make sure you take time to reflect on what you have seen post-show so you can implement the ideas and guidance gathered back in the classroom.
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Wear comfortable shoes!
Further information
The Education Show 2015 takes place from March 19 to 21 at the NEC, Birmingham. You can register for free entry now at www.education-show.com