Association of Education Advisers

Peterborough AoEA Afternoon Briefing
2024-04-23 16:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
Join us for a live session from NetSupport House from Les Walton CBE, Founder and Executive Chair of the Association of Education Advisers. Find out more about our Accredited Quality Standard, Continuous Professional Development, Community to Share Good Practice, and Register of Accredited Associates.

Register by clicking here.

International Accredited Quality Standard
Applications are invited for the next round of the International Quality Standard for those who support and enable school and college improvement.
There are two levels of accreditation; Associate and Senior Associate. The process is based on clearly defined criteria on the skills and knowledge of the adviser, school improvement, governance, the management of change, organisational development and quality systems. It provides an opportunity to reflect on, and showcase individual skills and experience, receive external affirmation and opportunities for further development.

Share Great Practice
Join a community of over 500 senior leaders in education, listen to international speakers sharing their expertise, or accredited associates sharing best practice at our Annual Summit or monthly Educational Keeping-in-Touch meetings. Colleagues can enrol on the AoEA Hub, a powerful portal which enables connection, networking, and knowledge share across the UK and internationally.

Register of Accredited Associates
The register is an opportunity for accredited Associates and organisations to promote their experience, knowledge and expertise with fellow professionals and the wider education community.

Coventry AoEA Afternoon Briefing
2024-04-29 16:00 - 17:00
Join us for a live session from Coventry City Council from Les Walton CBE, Founder and Executive Chair of the Association of Education Advisers. Find out more about our Accredited Quality Standard, Continuous Professional Development, Community to Share Good Practice, and Register of Accredited Associates.
Register by clicking here!
International Accredited Quality Standard
Applications are invited for the next round of the International Quality Standard for those who support and enable school and college improvement.
There are two levels of accreditation; Associate and Senior Associate. The process is based on clearly defined criteria on the skills and knowledge of the adviser, school improvement, governance, the management of change, organisational development and quality systems. It provides an opportunity to reflect on, and showcase individual skills and experience, receive external affirmation and opportunities for further development.

Share Great Practice
Join a community of over 500 senior leaders in education, listen to international speakers sharing their expertise, or accredited associates sharing best practice at our Annual Summit or monthly Educational Keeping-in-Touch meetings. Colleagues can enrol on the AoEA Hub, a powerful portal which enables connection, networking, and knowledge share across the UK and internationally.

Register of Accredited Associates
The register is an opportunity for accredited Associates and organisations to promote their experience, knowledge and expertise with fellow professionals and the wider education community.

Coventry AoEA Breakfast Briefing
2024-04-30 08:30 - 09:30

Coaching 5: Introducing a Coaching System
2024-04-30 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
This final session will look at learning to date; best practice locally and nationally; your responses to specified learning, reading and practice; and seek to simplify the task of introducing a coaching and change management system.

Who is delivering the course?
Tony Markowski and Éamonn Whelan will be leading the programme. Both enjoyed successful careers in education and now advise national and regional boards, MATs, LAs, Headteachers and their teams. They are accredited Executive Coaches, therapeutic counsellors and Senior Associates of the Association of Educational Advisers, on whose Development Board they sit.
What goes on in the sessions?
The model is a blend of formal presentation, question and answer sessions, case study review and supported practical activity. As well as a general introduction to the principles and characteristics of coaching, participants will be offered tools and strategies to support leaders and staff, at all levels.

Two participants will feedback on background reading designed to extend and enhance learning.

Click here to book your place via Eventbrite.

EduKIT: Book Launch - The Role of the Education Adviser
2024-05-02 17:30 - 18:30 | Microsoft Teams
Join us for an exclusive EduKIT session as we celebrate the launch of AoEA’s latest publication, “The Role of the Education Adviser.” We will be joined by Dr Tony Birch, Series Editor and Senior Associate of AoEA, Ian Lane, Chair of the editorial group and Senior Associate of AoEA, as well as many of the authors who contributed a chapter to the book.
In this insightful session, the team behind this publication will explore its key themes and insights, offering valuable perspectives on the evolving role of education advisers in today’s educational landscape. Whether you’re an experienced education professional or new to the field, this EduKIT promises to provide invaluable knowledge and practical strategies to enhance your practice.
Following the presentation, there will be a dedicated question and answer period where attendees can engage with Tony, Ian, and the authors, to ask questions and discuss topics raised during the session. This will be an excellent opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding and gain further insights into the role of education advisers.
This EduKIT is open to the public, providing an excellent opportunity for educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in education to gain valuable insights and engage with leading industry experts.
Registration:
Registration is required for this event. Please register to receive the event link and additional details.
About the Presenters:
Tony is Founding Director of Birch Education, a bespoke educational consultancy dedicated to empowering individuals and teams to develop high quality, sustainable approaches. He specialises in partnership, leadership coaching and evaluation in the primary sector. Previously Tony worked for Bolton Council for more than 20 years managing an award-winning educational ICT team, as school improvement adviser and Head of School Improvement prior to becoming Assistant Director and the lead for education and learning strategy. Tony remains fascinated by educational development: while in his role in Bolton he took a secondment to the commercial sector, completed work as an Additional Inspector and was involved in governance of a range of organisations. Recently he was Chief External Examiner for Manchester University’s primary PGCE. Tony has a Ph.D and is an accredited Neurolinguistic Programming ‘practitioner’. He is a Senior Associate of the AoEA, a member of the development team and is the Editor for AoEA’s book series.
Following a headship of an inner-city secondary school, Ian joined a local authority advisory service as a Senior Adviser and was later appointed Director of School Improvement for the same ‘core city’. In more recent years he has held CEO roles in both a primary and a secondary schools multi-academy trust and worked as an independent school improvement adviser. Ian works on the AoEA development team and is the chair of the editorial group for this book series.
The AoEA Education Keeping in Touch meetings (EduKITs) are for our members to listen to guest speakers, share knowledge and best practice whilst also providing a forum for peer discussion & support. They occur fortnightly at 5.30pm Thursdays during term time. Reserve your place now. Look forward to seeing you there.
Click here to book a place via Eventbrite.

Compassionate Curriculum for Thriving Communities
2024-05-07 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
Suitable for primary curriculum leaders, principals or consultants. If you are a primary subject leader, a curriculum phase leader or a senior leader responsible for overall school curriculum design and implementation, this workshop is for you!
Why consider this course?
An opportunity to:
• Develop some key questions in order to be able to explore with your school community, key aspects of your curriculum purpose.
• Consider examples of how schools (from a range of contexts) and a Trust have approached the redesign of their curriculum from the UK and internationally using a curriculum framework
• Understand the implications of curriculum and pedagogic intentions
What will I learn from the programme?
• A shared understanding of ‘curriculum’, how it shapes every aspect of school life, develops character, and enables all children and young people to make good choices.
• How to analyse the extent to which your curriculum presents an ambitious, enriching and equitable education for all children and young people.
• How to build a picture of your subject and effectively monitor your subject/curriculum for improvement
Who is delivering the session?
Narinder Gill, School Improvement Director for Elevate Multi-academy Trust and Strategic director for the Curriculum Foundation. Head teachers from the Trust will join to share practical case studies of how they have worked innovatively to create a world class curriculum based on values and principles, securing for their pupils, key competencies for learning and life.
How will I engage with the programme?
The sessions will be a blend of formal presentation, practical activities, discussion points, case studies shared from leaders in the field
Click here to book your place via Eventbrite.

How to Review, Evaluate and Support Effective Governance
2024-05-08 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
This module will examine the need for an effective and accountable governance structure, how to review and evaluate the impact of governance within different school settings.
The participant will gain an understanding of:

how the governance structures in different settings hold school leaders to account.
how governors can be supported to fulfil their role effectively.
the importance of the Nolan principles in guiding the work of governance.
how to evaluate the effectiveness of the governance structure

Course leader – Steve Hodsman
Following a successful career in the police, Steve retired in 2016. Involved in school governance since 2010, he was appointed to the Board of a large MAT in 2014. Becoming Chair of his school trust in 2015, Steve led major changes in trust development, successfully re-structuring both Trustees and Members at the trust. Having undertaken a complete re-focussing of trust governance and leadership in 2016, he continues to deliver long term educational and financial sustainability.
As Chair of one of the highest performing multi academy trusts in England, Steve delivers impactive school and MAT leadership across 52 academies. Steve is actively involved in working with Regional Schools Commissioners and Academy Ambassadors to promote trust governance at national and regional levels.
Participants will be asked to come to the session with an exemplar of an intervention or improvement strategy in which they have been involved. More information will be provided on signing up to the course.

Book your place on Eventbrite here.

Effective Leadership of Curriculum and Assessment
2024-05-09 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
The first of the two half-day courses is for primary and secondary headteachers, senior and middle leaders in schools who design and implement curriculum and assessment. It is also intended for those who advise on curriculum, education advisers, LA advisers, MAT CEOs.
Designing a curriculum means establishing the Intent (Values and Vision), Implementation (Pedagogy and Assessment) and Impact (Pupils’ Progress and Learning Standards). To do this, we identify what works best in the context of each school and its pupil profile.
What will I learn from this course?
This course focuses on Intent and Implementation. We outline curriculum mapping, sequencing, and assessment within the context of challenges faced by schools; students’ learning gaps and mental well- being. Through a focus on case studies using a variety of adaptive teaching strategies and techniques, including digital tools, we look at how schools strengthen pupils’ ‘knowledge and skills recall’, so they can achieve their full academic potential. Strengthening primary and secondary schools’ formative assessment systems through ‘powerful teacher feedback’ for pupils is key. This enables pupils to take responsibility for their own learning and to move away from right/wrong answers towards cognitive process and self-reflection.
Most importantly, we examine how schools fully integrate skills into the knowledge- led curriculum, thereby ensuring that all pupils develop oracy, critical and conceptual thinking, problem solving and reasoning skills in line with the NI CCEA, Welsh Curriculum, and the National Curriculum.
How will we arrive at this?
A practical handbook with template, including a curriculum template, accompanies the course. This is a unique cross nation collaboration as English and Welsh Primary and secondary school leaders contribute to the workshop through practical case studies. They showcase how they make the theoretical concepts underlying curriculum mapping, such as ‘sequencing’ and ‘interleaving’ work for them. We illustrate how we can construct a knowledge and skills- based approach to learning that benefits all primary and secondary pupils. We will also hear from school pupils about how they evidence their progress over time, resulting from the impact of teacher feedback.
Best practice in teaching/ learning /assessment and Interactive resources, as well as digital learner profiles are discussed through “break out group chats”. Our aim: to ensure the curriculum is diverse, inclusive, and equitable, all pupil groups’ needs are met, with ample opportunity for students’ cultural capital.
Who is leading this course?
The course leader is Meena Kumari Wood, author of the popular ‘Secondary Curriculum Transformed; Enabling All to Achieve’ (Wood and Haddon, Routledge 2021). The book has led to a series of training webinars in UK, Northern Ireland, Dubai and India and features on the core reading list for the MEd in Educational Leadership (University of Birmingham). She has hosted educational webinars and published articles and blogs for SchoolsWeek, Teach Secondary, Chartered College, Edge Foundation and RSA and is currently writing a third book on inspection and school improvement. In addition, she is a keynote speaker at Edu-Conferences, including, Education and Training Inspectorate(NI) British Schools in the Middle East, (BSME), RSA, Foundation of Educational Development (FED) and for Mary Myatt&Co.
Meena Wood was a former HMI Ofsted, Local Authority Adviser, Principal of an Adult College, and Principal of a Secondary Academy and is now Honorary Fellow of Education Leadership Academy (University of Birmingham) and KHDA inspector (Emirates).
Meena is a widely experienced International Educational Consultant, Author, and Trainer. In the UK working with academies and MATs, including Alternative Provision providers, conducting reviews of curriculum and assessment, the quality of education, peer reviews, instructional coaching, inspection, and governance. In addition, she supports British and International Schools in the Middle East (Dubai).
Pre-course reading
A copy of the book ‘Secondary Curriculum Transformed’ will be provided as part of the course materials. It is highly recommended that course participants are familiar with it, as we refer to appendices and models within the book. The relevant parts will be signposted for participants before the course.

Book your place via Eventbrite here

Assessing the Context for Organisational Improvement
2024-05-14 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
This module aims to focus on key factors which influence the professional motivation of staff.
The programme will be particularly useful for those considering accreditation for the Senior Associate level of the AoEA as well as those working at Associate level who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in assessing and creating an organisational environment in which staff are enthusiastically motivated to seek high standards and sustained improvement.
What is the problem we are trying to solve?
Most of us will have come across highly successful organisations or departments where there is a keen sense of commitment to working with colleagues to achieve high outcomes. Many of us will also have come across organisations where there is a vagueness about the roles and objectives and low levels of structure and commitment. How can we assess or analyse the ‘Context for Organisational Improvement’ (COI) that leads to high performance or provides an indicator of potential decline? The AoEA has used its experience of school improvement coupled with a review of relevant leadership research to establish a way of assessing the Context for Organisational Improvement. It provides another way of analysing working relationships in leadership teams and promote discussion of factors which facilitate or impede improvement.
What is the Context for Organisational Improvement?
The context for organisation improvement relates to key factors which influence the professional motivation of staff. The factors can be analysed into a number of dimensions which provide an indicator of how staff feel about working in the organisation. The way in which leaders carry out their role has a vital influence on the context.
Who is delivering?
The programme will be delivered by Peter Parish, Les Walton and Ian Lane
Peter Parish was formerly Director of Operations for Northern Education and was involved with educational project management activities including support for the establishment of a Multi-Academy Trust and academy conversions. He previously led a local authority School Improvement Service. During this time the Council was awarded Beacon Council status for ‘Tackling School Failure’. He became Head of Planning, Commissioning and Quality Assurance in the local authority’s Children’s Services. He has much experience of contextual factors which lead to school improvement.
Les Walton (CBE) has vast experience as a headteacher, Director of Education, Chief Executive and Principal of an FE College. He has led major change programmes including the reorganisation of a school system within a metropolitan borough, the outsourcing of an education service within a large District Council and the merger of Further Education Colleges. As Director of Education, he achieved Beacon Status for ‘tackling school failure’. Les has played a key role in providing advice to government agencies such as the YPLA and the Education Funding Agency. He has been involved in strategic interventions in schools and MATs to address governance concerns. He has a long-standing interest in leadership and quality systems.
Whilst Ian Lane was headteacher of an inner-city secondary school, the school was twice recognized as one of the most improved specialist schools nationally and awarded a School Achievement Award for successive years of sustained improvement. He also has past experience as part of the advisory service as a Senior Adviser, as a School Improvement Partner, National Challenge Adviser and accredited Ofsted Inspector. He also qualified as a professional coach. He was appointed Director of School Improvement in the same LA with oversight for Primary, Secondary and Special Education. More recently Ian has worked as an interim CEO of a Primary MAT and then as CEO of a Secondary MAT, whilst also undertaking some independent work as an adviser with a number of schools, MATs and Las.
What will I get from the programme?
You will:
• Understand what is meant by Context for Organisational Improvement.
• Consider the dimensions of COI.
• Understand the relationship between leadership and COI.
• Be able to identify the key features in the cultural landscape of your workplace.
• Appreciate how organisational culture influences work-place COI.
• Have assessed your own work-place COI.
• Be capable of establishing systems for on-going measures of COI.
• Be able to design strategies to drive up individual COI dimensions
Prior to the session, participants will have the opportunity to complete a survey to rate their perception of their context for organisational improvement.
Click here to book your place via Eventbrite.

Evaluating the Impact of Curriculum on Pupils’ Learning
2024-05-16 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
This course follows on from Effective Leadership of Curriculum and Assessment, which you can attend on either the 21st September, 22nd February or 9th May. It is intended for both primary and secondary headteachers, senior and middle leaders who want to ensure that all pupils benefit from a good quality of education and optimise their learning and outcomes. It is also intended for those who advise on curriculum; education advisers, MAT CEOs.
What will I learn from this course?
What do schools gain from ‘learning walks and lesson observations linked to grades of teachers and labelling’? Do these consistently lead to an improving quality of teaching and assessment? There is little evidence to suggest that this model of quality assurance has a positive impact on pupils’ learning and outcomes.
Moving away from a ‘tick box’ judgemental mindset, we gather valid and reliable evidence on pupils’ learning. How we optimise our pupils’ progress and outcomes is more important now, than ever, in view of the legacy of sickness absences and the gaps in pupils’ knowledge and skills
PPR lies at the heart of the school’s educational provision. It establishes a culture of intrinsic motivation and professional development for staff through instructional coaching.
How will we arrive at this?
A practical handbook with templates and case studies accompanies the course, including a PPR template for advisers and school leaders. Interactive sessions are supported through group work.
We refer to school case studies with live contributions from both primary and secondary leaders that illustrate how an instructional coaching model for staff can facilitate continuous professional development and result in a positive impact on pupils’ learning. In addition, we focus on supporting those pupils not achieving their potential, as these are identified and supported through this process.
Who is leading this course?
The course leader is Meena Kumari Wood, author of the popular ‘Secondary Curriculum Transformed; Enabling All to Achieve’ (Wood and Haddon, Routledge 2021). The book has led to a series of training webinars in UK, Northern Ireland, Dubai and India and features on the core reading list for the MEd in Educational Leadership (University of Birmingham). She also publishes articles for SchoolsWeek and Teach Secondary and is a key note speaker at Edu-Conferences.
Meena Wood was a former HMI Ofsted, Local Authority Adviser, Principal of an Adult College and Principal of a Secondary Academy and is now Honorary Fellow of Education Leadership Academy (University of Birmingham) and KHDA inspector (Emirates).
Meena is a widely experienced International Educational Consultant and Trainer. In the UK she works with academies and MATs, including Alternative Provision providers, with reviews of curriculum and assessment; the quality of education, peer reviews, instructional coaching, inspection and governance. In addition, she supports British and International Schools in the Middle East (Dubai).
Pre-course reading
A copy of the book ‘Secondary Curriculum Transformed’ is provided as part of the course materials prior to the workshop. It is highly recommended that course participants are familiar with it, as we refer to appendices and models within the book. The relevant parts will be signposted for participants before the course.
Book your place on Eventbrite here.

EduKIT: Leading School Improvement: How Does the AoEA Empower You?
2024-05-16 17:30 - 18:30 | Microsoft Teams
Effectiveness and impact. Embedding the AoEA standard into our school improvement system.
This EduKIT will explore the range of opportunities that the AoEA provides whether you are already an Associate, beginning to consider accreditation or just want to understand the breadth and impact of our offer. You will hear from Les Walton, Ian Lane and Ruth Mayes about the Accreditation, the Professional Learning, the EduKITs and the Annual Summit. We would welcome your questions and feedback to help us to shape our development moving forward.
The AoEA Education Keeping in Touch meetings (EduKITs) are for our members to listen to guest speakers, share knowledge and best practice whilst also providing a forum for peer discussion & support. They occur fortnightly at 5.30pm Thursdays during term time. Reserve your place now. Look forward to seeing you there.
Our members will automatically receive calendar invites to each EduKIT event. If you are not a member of the AoEA, get in touch with us at info@aoea.co.uk to find out more about EduKITs and becoming a member of the AoEA.
Click here to book a place via Eventbrite.

EduKIT: Behaviour, Behaviour, Behaviour: The More You Talk About Poor Behaviour, the More You Get
2024-06-06 17:30 - 18:30 | Microsoft Teams
Join us for an insightful EduKIT session titled “Behaviour, Behaviour, Behaviour: The More You Talk About Poor Behaviour, the More You Get” presented by Jason Ashley.
In this session, Jason will explore effective strategies for managing student behaviour in educational settings. Drawing from his extensive experience, he will discuss how focusing on poor behaviour often perpetuates it and provide practical advice on fostering a positive behaviour culture.
Key Topics:

The impact of school infrastructure and systems on behaviour
The role of staff skills, inclusion, and fair rules in behaviour management
Understanding the reptilian brain and its influence on student behaviour
The importance of relationships, warmth, and humour in behaviour management
Strategies for creating a high challenge/low threat school environment
Practical tips for improving school behaviour culture

Following the presentation, there will be a dedicated question and answer period where attendees can engage with Jason, ask questions, and discuss topics raised during the session. This interactive segment offers an excellent opportunity to deepen your understanding and gain further insights into effective behaviour management.
Jason Ashley is a headteacher of 13 years at Redbridge Community School in Southampton. His school resides in a typically white working class area with high levels of deprivation; although this is never used as an excuse.
Jason has been a senior manager in three schools. He was firstly appointed into his first role in 2004. He is passionate about young people and they are always at the front of his decision making. He has led his work to ‘outstanding’; four times as a deputy and once as a headteacher in 2013 before being graded ‘requires improvement’ in 2016 (‘good’ for leadership and management), then ‘good’ in 2018 (with ‘outstanding’ personal development). A nod to his times in the armed forces.
He is a qualified Ofsted Inspector and his MA is based on how the curriculum motivates young people. He has worked with the DfE on behaviour strategies and guidance; and sees school inclusion as a strength – not a weakness.
The AoEA Keeping in Touch meeting is a way for members to listen to guest speakers, share knowledge, best practice and have a forum where you can discuss with your peers any areas of concern or support you require.
Our members will automatically receive calendar invites to each EduKIT event. If you are not a member of the AoEA, get in touch with us at info@aoea.co.uk to find out more about EduKITs and becoming a member of the AoEA.
Click here to book a place via Eventbrite.

Supporting the Management of Change
2024-06-13 09:00 - 15:00
Applicants who wish to develop high level skills and knowledge of how to support organisations when managing change. The programme will be particularly useful for those considering accreditation for the Senior Associate level of the AoEA as well of those working at Associate level who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in the area of change management What is the problem we are trying to solve?
The education system is complex and constantly changing. Change ranges from low-disturbance and incremental to high disturbance and radical, from local change to that imposed from national initiatives. System level change requires an enhanced skill level on the part of the adviser. Organisations at all levels in the education system may get into difficulty, which may lead to negative publicity, be very costly to put right and, most importantly, have a negative impact on the future of their students and staff. It is, therefore, important that advisers support organisations to take hold of the change agenda.
What is change management?
Change management is a way of bringing a proactive and reactive approach to organisational change. It addresses the problems and opportunities that change brings and improves the individual and organisational capacity to cope continuously with the drivers that promote change.
Course Leaders – Ray Steele and Dr Tony Birch
Dr Tony Birch is an experienced adviser having held senior roles in a North-West Local Authority for more than twenty years before subsequently founding his own consultancy company (Birch Education Ltd). He is a Senior Associate of the Association of Education Advisers and sits on the Development Team.
Ray Steele has advised on supporting school performance as a SIP, changing school governance to Foundation and Academy status, managing school closure, organising Principal and CEO appointment processes. He has written new school proposals and lead on project management to implement. Recently he has worked on proposals to establish Multi Academy Trusts, merge Multi Academy Trusts (including due diligence) and the review of MAT governance.
Click here to book your place via Eventbrite.

Using a Quality Systems Approach to School Improvement
2024-06-19 09:00 - 15:00 | Online
The quality systems approach is for advisers and school leaders who wish to work at the highest level in education systems improvement. This training programme assumes the participant has expertise in supporting and advising schools, is a school improvement expert, and has a deep understanding of governance and leadership. We expect applicants to wish to develop high level skills and knowledge of how organisations are transformed.
What is the problem we are trying to solve?
One of the major problems in our education system is not understanding why results vary in a particular school or within groups of schools. We want to know how we can move towards the ‘ideal state’, in which schools are in control of their processes and, therefore, achieve consistently higher outputs.
Schools and MATs are also increasingly interested in a quality-systems approach to long-term success through continuous improvement and intelligent feedback, rather than quick fixes for external inspection.
What is a quality systems approach?
Quality systems is a way of supporting systems leaders in ensuring that their systems are fit for purpose and continuously improved through carefully managed modifications responding to continuous feedback.
Who is delivering?
Les Walton CBE
Les has a national reputation for leading interventions in very challenging circumstances. He has applied the quality systems approach within schools, FE, local authorities, national education agencies and the private sector. His own school was once described by the British Deming Association as the ‘best example of total quality management in education’.
What will I get from the programme?
You will:
1. be introduced to powerful demonstrations, including the ‘Red Bead Experiment’, which will de-construct how management influences individual performance;
2. learn how to use ‘Deep Dive’ quality techniques such as ‘Ishikawa’ and ‘Value Analysis;’
3. be introduced to the Kaizen approach to continuous incremental improvement and how small, often imperceptible changes add up to substantial changes over time;
4. examine WIN-WIN and consider how to build quality into our stems and optimise their effectiveness;
5. examine a case study, addressing how advisers can support organisations that require significant intervention.
Finally, we will ask the question – is doing nothing sometimes the best answer?
Book your place on Eventbrite here.

7th AoEA Connecting Educators Annual Summit
2024-06-21 09:00 - 16:00 | Radisson Hotel York, North Street, York, Y01 6JF, United Kingdom
We are delighted to announce that our seventh AoEA Connecting Educators Annual Summit is once again taking place from 9am to 4pm, on Friday 21st June 2024, at the Radisson Hotel York. Both AoEA members and non-members are welcome to attend.
We have a packed programme of keynote speeches and panels, including the return of our ‘Sharing Great Practice’ sessions from last year. Our associates will present on the fantastic school improvement work they have done over the course of their careers.
Speakers:

Professor Mel Ainscow
Michael Fullan
Our own accredited associates and senior associates!

Panel discussions chaired by:

Baroness Estelle Morris
Al Kingsley

If you are an education adviser, an education consultant, an education inspector, a headteacher or principal, a deputy headteacher, an executive headteacher, a MAT CEO, a chair of governors, a governor or anyone interested in the current educational landscape, this is the conference for you!

Pre-summit dinner – Thursday 20th June, 7.00 pm
Attendees enjoyed our pre-conference dinner last year. So, what can you expect from us this time? The drinks reception and three-course dinner will be hosted at the summit venue, the Radisson Hotel York, providing a relaxed atmosphere for you to start networking before the summit the following day.
Our after-dinner speaker is Mick Waters in conversation with Les Walton CBE, Chair of AoEA.

Annual summit – Friday 21st June, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
A remarkable conference featuring inspirational keynote speakers and our own associates and senior associates presenting their unique knowledge and skills across a range of topics. You will be networking with individuals working at the top of their game in education and joining the discussions they facilitate. If you are just interested in keeping abreast of current educational thinking, we cannot wait to welcome you once.
Returning to the historic city of York, we are excited to welcome you from all over the UK and the world! This year’s summit will take place at the riverside Radisson Hotel York. This new venue allows us to facilitate our range of events, showcase our sponsors and network in comfort. York is easily reached via a range of transport links.

Using an Organisational Development Approach to School Improvement
2024-06-27 09:00 - 15:00 | Online
The organisational development approach is for advisers and school leaders who wish to support high and low performing organisations to be self-managing and self-sustaining.
This training programme assumes the participant has expertise in supporting and advising schools, is a school improvement expert, and has a deep understanding of governance and leadership. We expect applicants to wish to develop high level skills and knowledge of how organisations are developed.
What is the problem we are trying to solve?
There are still too many schools and multi-academy trusts that become vulnerable, either in terms of standards, financial strength or governance. Increasingly, schools and trusts need support to be self-sustaining in their ability to develop and grow. They also need to be able to predict what is coming, rather than simply react to external forces.
The pace of change in education is probably faster than it has ever been. Keeping pace with it or, better still, anticipating change is a vital ingredient for a proactive leader. There is a need for advisers who have the specialist skills and resilience to help build capacity and, in the end, ‘be not necessary’.
What is an organisational development approach?
Organisational development is a planned, systematic approach to improving organisational effectiveness by:
• achieving the desired goals of high performance in an organisation through the involvement of its people
• aligning strategy, people and processes.
Who is delivering?
Les Walton CBE
Les has a national reputation for establishing and developing numerous organisations. He has founded, led or supported the development of Schools North East, Tyne Metropolitan College, the Young People’s Learning Agency, the Northern Education Trust and the Association of Education Advisers, building many of the organisations into highly regarded multi-million pound organisations.
Kevin McDermid
Kevin has over 25 years of senior leadership experience in secondary schools, including two headships of inner-city comprehensive schools and the headship of a sixth form college. He was Teaching Awards Head Teacher of the Year for the North-East & Cumbria in 2004-5. Kevin is also an accredited School Improvement Partner and National Challenge Adviser; over the last ten years he has gained extensive experience as an independent consultant working with five academy chains and several LA’s and multi-academy trusts across the North of England
What will I get from the programme?
Our model of organisational effectiveness provides an adviser or school leader with a framework to support developing organisations.
You will:
• learn how to apply PESTLE analysis and understand the impact of external factors on an organisation;
• critically evaluate the design of the curriculum and curriculum-led financial planning;
• address system weakness by applying organisational development tools;
• ensure roles and responsibilities are effectively focused;
• evaluate how values and leadership styles impact on performance;
• use the Context for Organisational Improvement (COI) evaluation framework;
• apply a variety of measurements of success and performance indicators.
Book your place on Eventbrite here.

Briefing Session: International Quality Standard for Education Advisers
2024-09-12 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-10-10 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-11-07 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-05 16:00 - 17:00 | Microsoft Teams
Interested in enhancing the quality of education advice? Learn more about the benefits of our International Quality Standard for Education Advisers.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
The Association of Education Advisers (AoEA) has been established to help ensure quality and consistency in the advice given by school and college improvement advisers working in the education system.
These colleagues play a critical role and are increasingly deployed to provide specialist advice in the areas of educational improvement, governance, change management, finance and people development. Significant numbers of education leaders now work for national, international and local government,
individual schools, academies and colleges and other educational settings. The need for quality and consistency of advice is a very important concern. While government departments make their own judgements about the strengths and weaknesses of individual schools, it is essential that schools and colleges are confident their self-evaluation is sound and will withstand scrutiny by regulatory bodies.
The diverse education systems across the UK and overseas comprise a wide range of education leaders with different titles, who work to a variety of guidelines and standards and adopt differing approaches to the various requirements and priorities of providers. The system requires better quality and greater consistency and reliability in the advice received.
In the past, the accreditation of education advisers has tended to concentrate on data analysis and the key aspects of school and college improvement, as identified by government. The education context has significantly changed and requires a broader focus on corporate governance, establishing and developing educational organisations and quality management systems. The AoEA has developed an accreditation process based on clearly defined competence criteria which will allow people intending to provide advice to schools and colleges to demonstrate that they meet rigorous standards.
To learn more please join us for one of our briefing sessions about our quality standard and benefits for becoming a member.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

EduKIT: Building Blocks of Organisational Recovery
2024-09-24 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Building blocks of organisational recovery: A new perspective on school improvement.
Mike Watchorn is the Director of Fresh Eyes Engineering which has the philosophy: Discover, Distill, Deliver. The art and science of problem solving in complex engineering situations. His business has a successful history of working at all phases of projects from inception and sales to installation.
In this EduKIT Mike will consider how his personal experiences of recovery from a serious illness, in engineering and in business led him to examine the impact of incremental improvements. The discussion will focus on how this is transferable to education. There will be practical ideas that as advisers and headteachers we can learn from in our approach to school improvement.
What to Expect:

In-depth presentations on current and relevant educational topics
Opportunities to engage with speakers during Q&A sessions
Insights into best practices and innovative strategies in education
A platform to share knowledge and connect with peers

Registration:
Registration by clicking here.
About EduKITs:
The AoEA Education Keeping in Touch (EduKIT) meetings are designed for our members to listen to guest speakers, share knowledge, and discuss best practices. These sessions provide a forum for peer discussion and support. Our members will automatically receive calendar invites to each EduKIT event.
If you are not a member of the AoEA, get in touch with us at info@aoea.co.uk to learn more about EduKITs and becoming a member of the AoEA.
We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming EduKIT sessions!

Coaching 1: An Introduction to Coaching - What, How, Who, When and Where?
2024-10-10 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
We will explore those key questions of coaching, start to build coaching relationships, practice skills, start to learn the language of coaching, digest case studies, consider goal setting, tuning in, contracting, and the ToGROW techniques.

All sessions will be pragmatic, pacy and outcome focused, so that participants go away confident in a new set of practical skills they can apply between sessions. We ask participants to keep diaries of ongoing practice that will feed into their case studies for levels 4 & 5.

RSVP below to ensure your space!
Weblinks to be sent closer to the event.

EduKIT: Making sense of the summer riots 86 days on – What’s changed?
2024-10-22 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Making sense of the summer riots 86 days on – What’s changed?
Narinder was invited to lead this EduKIT following the publication of a reflective article on LinkedIn after the rioting in the summer. It clearly resonated with a huge number of people, and the big question emerging was ‘what has changed?’. This will be a Q&A session followed by discussion to consider what we can do as educational leaders to support community cohesion at a time of social disaffection and unrest.
Narinder Gill has worked for over 2 decades in the educational field, successfully leading three schools as a head teacher. Her last school was the subject of her recent publication Creating Change in Urban settings which charts the journey and impact of curriculum and leadership development during challenging times. She currently works 4 days a week as the School Improvement Director for Elevate Multi-academy Trust, a Primary Trust based in North Yorkshire.
Narinder is also a School Improvement Director for the Curriculum Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation that provides curriculum-related support, advice and guidance to schools, school systems, government organisations and ministries worldwide. Since 2015 Narinder has been working on the development of the Curriculum in South Sudan. As an accredited executive business coach, Narinder has also worked alongside schools, Trusts and the private sector to design and deliver bespoke leadership programmes with a focus upon optimising well-being and resilience.
Registration:
RSVP below!
About EduKITs:
The AoEA Education Keeping in Touch (EduKIT) meetings are designed for our members to listen to guest speakers, share knowledge, and discuss best practices. These sessions provide a forum for peer discussion and support. Our members will automatically receive calendar invites to each EduKIT event.
If you are not a member of the AoEA, get in touch with us at info@aoea.co.uk to learn more about EduKITs and becoming a member of the AoEA.
We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming EduKIT sessions!

EduKIT: Learning to Lead: Who wants to be a headteacher?
2024-11-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Learning to Lead: Who wants to be a headteacher?
Grant Gillies is the Headteacher of South Morningside Primary School in Edinburgh which was shortlisted for the TES Primary School of the Year Awards. He has been a Principal of British International all through schools in Thailand, Qatar and Romania. He has been a Headteacher in the UK in several settings and has worked for Education Scotland and the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
When Grant returned to the UK he was perplexed at the lack of applicants for headships. With help from colleagues, he set about designing a hands-on programme to plug perceived gaps. In this EduKIT he will explain their work and open up the much-needed debate on what we as advisers can do to support senior leaders in taking that next step.
Registration:
RSVP below!
About EduKITs:
The AoEA Education Keeping in Touch (EduKIT) meetings are designed for our members to listen to guest speakers, share knowledge, and discuss best practices. These sessions provide a forum for peer discussion and support. Our members will automatically receive calendar invites to each EduKIT event.
If you are not a member of the AoEA, get in touch with us at info@aoea.co.uk to learn more about EduKITs and becoming a member of the AoEA.
We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming EduKIT sessions!

Coaching 2: Applied Coaching for Advisers and Leaders
2024-11-14 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
This session will build on your AoEA Level 1 Coaching knowledge by learning about and applying different approaches. There will be a plethora of new and different ideas, challenges, and case studies to stimulate debate and enhance your learning and the practical sessions.

As well as goal setting, tuning in, and contracting, we will consider: chemistry; ‘the tone’; trusting relationships; authenticity; co-active coaching; beginnings, middles and endings; metaphors; drawing; using the space; OSKAR; ZOUD; and unconditional positive regard.

RSVP below!

Coaching 3: Advanced Coaching for Advisers and Leaders - From Individual to a Team Approach
2024-11-28 09:00 - 12:30 | Online
This session will build on levels 1 and 2 and look to forward and deepen coaching practice by introducing advanced coaching techniques. It will also mark a subtle change, which demands that thinking moves towards how best to introduce coaching into the team setting, with a view to becoming part of a small-scale system.
We will consider your coaching approach and thoughts, and challenge you in the practical sessions. We will explore: chemistry; the coaching state; co-active approaches; return to OSKAR and ZOUD; discuss beginnings, middles, and endings; intuition; body language; and BAGs.
Two participants will feedback on background reading designed to extend and enhance learning.
RSVP below!

Working in Concert with the School's Leadership Team
2024-12-03 09:00 - 12:30 | Online
This module will focus on how role of the advisor interacts with that of the Senior Leadership Team and is influenced by the context and drivers for that work. It will explore how advisers can analyse how SLT functions and consider implications for improvement journey. It will further explore the significance of agreed and co constructed milestones and building in sustainable self improvement.
The participant will:
1) Understand how to use facilitating leadership skills without compromising the roles and responsibilities of Senior Leaders and Governors/Trustees, and why it matters.
2) How the adviser applies situational leadership theory and skills to match the urgency and complexity of the improvement context, drawing upon relevant examples.
3) How advisers support and challenge so that school improvement is evident and sustained.

RSVP below!

Book Launch - Advising on School Improvement
2024-12-03 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Advising on School Improvement, the second book in The Education Adviser series by the Association of Education Advisers (AoEA). This event is your chance to dive into the latest insights on school improvement with the book’s authors and contributors.
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday, 3 December 2024
Time: 4:00 PM (GMT)
Location: Online via Zoom – RSVP on Zoom.
What to Expect:
Keynote presentation by Dr Tony Birch and Ian Lane on behalf of the AoEA Editorial Team
Panel discussion with insights from contributors
Q&A session with experts and authors
Exclusive Offer Until New Year!
Receive a 10% discount on Advising on School Improvement when you purchase through Critical Publishing. Simply use code AOEA25 at checkout (until December 31st).
Purchase Your Copy Here.
Again, special thanks to all our outstanding contributors:
Rebecca Jackson – Headteacher, Cragside Primary
Stuart Adlam – Associate School Improvement Manager, Hampshire Council
Mairead Mhig Uaid – Head of School and System Improvement, EANI
Kevan Naughton – Headteacher, The Valley Community School
David Hopkins – Professor Emeritus, Institute of Education, University College London
Emma Tarrant – Inspector, Hampshire Council
Michaela Barber – Primary Phase Inspector, Hampshire Council
Narinder Gill – School Improvement Director, Elevate MAT
Peter Parish – AoEA Assessment Team
Mel Ainscow – Professor, University of Manchester
Dr Kate Chhatwal OBE– CEO, Challenge Partners
Chris Zarraga – Director, Schools North East
Clare Evans – Principal, St Teresa’s School

EduKIT: Effective Parental Engagement
2024-12-10 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Effective parental engagement: Ginny will discuss the ways in which schools and other agencies can successfully engage parents of children with SEND. She will explore an empathy-based approach to supporting parents through what can be very difficult and emotional times, considering the role of the SENDCo, senior leaders and outside agencies. This EduKIT will give practical ways to break down barriers and build positive connections in a very human way and provide an opportunity for sharing good practice.
Ginny has been teaching longer than she hasn’t. She has been a Headteacher, Senior Manager and Class teacher, teaching all ages in the Primary age range. She is currently SENDCO of 4 Primary schools in Northamptonshire.
She speaks nationally about being a SENDCO and the difference building positive connections makes to children, staff and parents alike.
She is the author of ‘Independent Thinking on Being a SENDCO’ which can be found at Crown House Publishing.
You can find Ginny on X @sendcogirl and at her website www.ginnybootman.com

Registration:
RSVP below!
About EduKITs:
The AoEA Education Keeping in Touch (EduKIT) meetings are designed for our members to listen to guest speakers, share knowledge, and discuss best practices. These sessions provide a forum for peer discussion and support. Our members will automatically receive calendar invites to each EduKIT event.
If you are not a member of the AoEA, get in touch with us at info@aoea.co.uk to learn more about EduKITs and becoming a member of the AoEA.
We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming EduKIT sessions!
Click here to register for this EduKIT.

EduKIT: 'Where is my Car?' A Personal Guide to Mental Health Support for School Professionals
2025-01-14 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
During lockdown Jason Arbuckle, Shared Education and Sectoral Support Officer, was redeployed from Shared Education to support staff more widely in school improvement. During his phone and online discussions, he discovered that many school leaders were feeling more and more isolated and showing signs of stress. As someone who had struggled with his mental health during his time as a school principal, he felt compelled to do something about it. He retrained as a counsellor and structured an online course that allowed participants to interact with him and their peers at a time when support was limited.
In this EduKIT Jason will talk about the development of this course, the impact it has had and the ongoing work in which he is engaged. Jason has presented in over 50 schools in Northern Ireland around the area of Mental Health. For headteachers and advisers supporting school leaders this will be an invaluable session.
Jason brings extensive experience as an educational professional. From his work as a school teacher and principal and then as an adviser in ICT he now works within the Education Authority of Northern Ireland in the field of Shared Education, bringing together schools from different communities to work towards greater co-operation and understanding. He is also one of the Education Authority Health and Well-being Champions and Mental Health First Aiders and the author of ‘The Life of CH Lightoller’.
Registration:
RSVP via the AoEA Hub – CLICK HERE TO RSVP
If you are not a member of the AoEA, get in touch with us at info@aoea.co.uk to learn more about EduKITs and becoming a member of the AoEA.
