Kent School Conferences
2014/2015
Establishing a culture for Admissions to Oxbridge and Russell
Group Universities – Secondary Grammar School Conference
1st October 2014
Mercure Hotel, Maidstone
This half-day conference will explore how grammar schools can develop a culture of ambition by
raising students’ university aspirations. It will look at how grammar schools can embed high
expectations from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5 through curriculum enrichment and effective
leadership of learning.
Glimpsing the Future …….. A World of Possibility
Kent Association of Head Teachers Conference
Tuesday 7th October 2014
Ashford International Hotel
This exciting conference for both Primary and Secondary schools will focus on innovation and
creativity in teaching and learning and we are delighted to announce two exceptionally exciting
speakers with international reputations.
Guy Claxton is the Research Director of the Centre for Real-World Learning and Professor of the
Learning Sciences at the University of Winchester. The UK’s leading expert on the development
of learning to learn, he gained fame as the originator of the Building Learning Power programme.
He speaks worldwide on learning, creativity and the mind, and, with Bill Lucas and other
colleagues, has recently published three influential books: ‘New Kinds of Smart; how the science
of learnable intelligence is changing education’ (2010); ‘The Learning Powered School’ (2011);
‘Expansive Education: teaching learners for the real world’ (2013).
Dr Beau Lotto is a globally-famous neuroscientist, whose studies in human perception have taken
him into fields that include education. He carries out research in the USA and the UK (where he is
attached to UCL), and has particular interests in the development of creativity and science. An
engaging and inspiring speaker, he enables people to see the world differently. He has the
distinction of giving two TED talks (which have been seen by over 1.6 million online viewers),
broadcasts frequently, and spoke at a Google Zeitgeist event in 2013. In his education
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programme, his work with a Devon primary school led to the publication by the Royal Society of
the first-ever peer-reviewed scientific paper written by schoolchildren (the oldest being aged 8
years).
As well as the key note speakers there will be a variety of workshop themes to include:
Developing Project Based Learning, the innovative and creative teaching of maths, exploring
resources available for schools to develop their international practice, developing computer
science, strategies being adopted around the world that are having a significant impact on raising
achievement, exploring what sort of skill set teachers need to acquire if they are to meet the
future requirement, engaging students to become research scientists and many more.
Deputy Head Teachers Conference
Tuesday 21st October 2014
Mercure Hotel, Maidstone
This is a one day conference for all primary Deputy Head teachers and Assistant Head teachers.
As with the previous year's successful conference, the morning session will include a keynote
from a leading 'Outstanding Headteacher' with opportunities for discussion and action planning.
There will be targeted workshops in the afternoon for colleagues at different stages of leadership
development, again provided by current school leaders
Kent Primary PE Conference
Thursday 23rd October 2014
The North School, Ashford
KCC in partnership with CCCU and The North School, Ashford
Following the success and comments from last year’s conference we are delighted to invite
schools for a further conference on October 23rd 2014. This conference is a must for all physical
education and school sport professionals.
During the past year, physical education has continued to be a focus of exciting and innovative
developments and the Government has committed to keeping our subject at the forefront for
subsequent years.
Within England, the physical education and school sport funding is guaranteed for 3 years and
schools need to ensure that the impact of this additional money will continue long after the
funding has stopped. The new National Curriculum in England will be implemented from
September 2014 and it is crucial that teachers and other support colleagues are confident in its
delivery.
As well as highly acclaimed keynote speakers there will be practical workshops covering elements
of the national curriculum as well as assessment and planning for progression in PE.
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Primary Literacy Conference: Talk Talk!
Wednesday 5th November 2014
Mercure Hotel, Maidstone
The cross-phase conference will support teachers and leaders responsible for developing and
supporting the delivery of literacy throughout the curriculum. Prue Goodwin - freelance lecturer
in literacy and children’s books will be one of the key speakers and Carol Ann Duffy and John
Sampson will be entertaining you in the afternoon with a reading from the Princess Blankets.
There will also be a range of workshops for delegates to choose from including poetry, drama and
visual literacy plus workshops from Teresa Cremin and Andrew Lambirth.
Early Years Conference
3rd February 2015
Ashford International Hotel
We are delighted that Prof. Dr. Ferre Laevers is coming back to Kent as the key speaker for this
conference. The focus for the day will be on the Narrowing the gap agenda with a focus being on
well-being and involvement, boys and transitions. There will also be a range of workshops for
delegates to participate in.
Primary NQT Conference
Tuesday 11th February 2015
Mercure Hotel, Maidstone
This conference is for NQTs and is an ideal opportunity to reflect on progress to date and
recognise how to move practice forward through the remainder of the school year.
Computer Science Conference: KS1, 2 & 3
Monday 30th March 2015
Ashford International Hotel
Now that the New Computing Curriculum is being integrated into our schools, we are pleased to
announce that our first Computer Science Conference will take place on March 30th 2015. This
will provides an ideal opportunities for teachers and Computing Leaders to find out more about
Computer Science and share some of the excellent practise that is taking place.
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