The Academy Knowledge Network is inviting Headteachers and Senior Managers who want to make a lasting change to education in the UK to take part in a thinking day, to stimulate discussion and consider solutions in a confidential setting.
We have the privilege of welcoming Lord Stewart Sutherland, the former Chief Inspector of Schools, as our keynote speaker. Lord Sutherland is deeply interested in our profession and has considerable experience of the inspection process, which has an impact on all of us. The correlation between performance and policy is not always clear, and the inspection system is notoriously gruelling but seen as a necessary inclusion in the modern school. Lord Sutherland will be able to address some of these finer points and contribute insider knowledge about the fabric of education from a Parliamentary perspective.
Professor Tom Greggs from Aberdeen University will speak on the thorny issue of tolerance. Professor Greggs has an international reputation as a thought-provoking speaker and has an incredible academic pedigree, having been awarded a Double Starred First from Oxford before completing his PhD at Cambridge. Importantly, he also has experience teaching in the school system, having worked at Manchester Grammar for a time. His experience in Secondary Education gave him time to reflect on the intellectual grounding of our decision making in the education system, which is part of the unique contribution we as educators can make in our roles of leadership.
Professor Raymond Tallis, who gave a stunning presentation on the status of the public sector in December, will open the day for us and will offer his thoughts (as a scientist) on the importance of the arts.
We will also welcome the headteacher working party to give feedback. Subsequent to our last meeting a group of a dozen headteachers generously offered their time to research further ways that the profession might gain impact and influence. Under the able leadership of Mike Grenier they will share their findings with us.