Principals / Headteachers Conference 30Th and 31St January 2014

Principals’ / Headteachers’ Conference 30th and 31st January 2014

Evaluation Forms

Total of53responses (Excellent = 1, Good = 2, Satisfactory = 3, Unsatisfactory = 4)

André Imich

Rating:

11223%

22547%

31223%

412%

No answer35%

Comments:

Clear and informative
I’ve heard about what he spoke about before

Ian Mosley

Rating:

1713%

22343%

31834%

424%

No answer36%

Comments:

Could have done with this a year previously! Already implementing most of the things Ian spoke about. Spoke well
Ian spoke well but we have looked into this at least 9 months previously – so a bit too late
Did not inspire but content ok

Alex Leger

Rating:

14177%

2611%

324%

400%

No answer48%

Comments:

Very relevant leadership comparisons
Inspiring – lovely presentation giving a much needed balance to the Ofsted stuff!

Brill
Very thought provoking – I suspect the real excellence will come when I have a chance to reflect on the messages
Interesting and nice but....
Great – interesting speaker – humour and real life experience

Steve McShane

Rating:

12445%

22140%

359%

412%

No answer24%

Comments:

Really raised many questions
Eloquent but too long

Graham Quinn

Rating:

12140%

22343%

324%

412%

No answer611%

Comments:

What an inspirational development led by an amazing individual

Andrew Penman

Rating:

13872%

21222%

312%

400%

No answer24%

Comments:

Very informative and relevant
Good practical advice

Julian Stanley

Rating:

159%

22853%

31324%

436%

No answer48%

Comments:

None

Jane Friswell

Rating:

11936%

22445%

3611%

400%

No answer48%

Comments:

Over-ran

Estelle Morris

Rating:

13464%

21121%

312%

400%

No answer713%

Comments:

Excellent
Positive contributions
Brill
Lovely person! Passionate speech

Conference Administration

Rating:

13668%

21121%

324%

400%

No answer47%

Comments:

Increase length of breaks from 15 to 20 minutes
Need all PowerPoint presentations from speakers especially Jane Friswell and Steve McShane
Can we have the presenters’ PowerPoint presentations?
Lost – we know it was sent

Exhibitors

Rating:

11324%

22547%

3815%

412%

No answer612%

Comments:

Opportunity missed – big audience, very limited range of exhibitors
It works really well having the exhibitors in the room by the main conference room – there was a lively buzz of conversation and interaction with exhibitors and colleagues

Overall Rating

Rating:

12547%

21732%

324%

400%

No answer917%

Comments:

The quality of service from the hotel was the best from the previous 3 conferences I have attended
Some overlap in terms of content although complimentary of each other on the whole
Focus on Ofsted high – great for those who are due inspection!
Venue – food good but room extremely poor as very little sleep due to no sound proofing
Felt meals were a little rushed especially evening meal – plates cleared very quickly and we moved onto the next course too quickly
Thank you for your excellent programme. There are some very clear points and actions to take away. The diary for this year looks truly busy in order to make sure that all aspects of the new initiatives and regulations are implemented across our section – thank you!
Thank you so much for working so hard to organise the two days. Once again you have responded to immediate need
Thank you for a great conference – keep up the hard work!
Very good conference (a bit ‘Ofsted’ heavy but necessary). Lovely to have Alex Leger and Estelle Morris to give a balance – many thanks
As usual SWALSS hits the mark – great conference. Would have liked the jazz singer after the meal
Speakers were generally adequate, at best – particularly given that the audience is composed of professionals who are themselves aware of the importance of excellent communication. The tendency of each speaker to put the talk “on the screen” and then spend much of their time virtually reading what is on the screen is most ineffective. In contrast, Estelle Morris’ presentation was excellent; she talked with us, not to us, and there was no interference from “the screen”
Much of the Ofsted, DfE, workforce stuff is already very familiar – would prefer more of a focus on inspiration and motivation – perhaps around leadership. My school is cutting back on membership of organisations but remains committed to SWALSS, because of the range of conferences, the CPD and because of the regional focus (while contributing to the National agenda). Thanks to all the Committee for their hard work

Suggestions for future conferences

Being an effective leaders
A format for EHC plan that works
Excellent conference – one of the best I have attended. Ofsted input and inspector was excellent and useful
E-learning
More of the same – all good stuff
Regional support networks e.g. for moderation and delivery of school-to-school support
Would be good to have a greater focus on learning and less on Ofsted and ‘operational’ issues. More on research and evidence based practice and innovative practice. Ways of developing together. Working with teaching schools. Opportunities for groups to work on ideas together so not all sessions are sat passively at a table
Consider Academy status. To allow curriculum / workforce freedom
Workshops re the new funding reforms and implementation of EHC plans
Would have liked more time with Graham Quinn – felt bit rushed
We need speakers who challenge the status quo. Steve McShane was excellent and I would like more of this please – people are complacent!
Bring back the workshops – based on a matrix of needs. Let’s get this underway and use SWALSS as the main conduit for this work. Let’s use conferences – Heads / Deputies / Teachers to get the skills flow underway – where else can we get it?
Picking up on Estelle Morris’ last comment – would be interesting to look at theory and practice in SEN as well as collaboration between Academies and SEN schools in further developing expertise and link to initial teacher and SEN
Current practitioners from ALL cohorts e.g. AP, PRU, EBD etc. Always seems to be PMLD / SLD focused! Also the range of exhibitors is dire! Why isn’t the Committee marketing the conference? You’ve got 30 odd budget holders in the room and all you can get is Hays and the chap with flashing lights
Larger print for name badges please! Quite embarrassing for me with my eyesight to peer long and hard at people’s chests!!
Future conferences should be characterised by excellent speakers – this conference certainly failed in this
Michael Townsend-Williams – well being and well doing strategies for improving personal effectiveness – he has a website – Google his name. Attachment disorder. Neurological development – impact of research on teaching and learning

Impact on future role

I intend to take my learning back to school / college. Some very useful information to reflect on Ofsted and how we can be better prepared. Good opportunities to network with others. Feel up-to-date with SEN code etc and its implications – how to prepare staff
Look at my Ofsted school profile. Review of special school data profiles as an overview of what’s out there
Opportunity to reflect and feel energised
Post-16 data – expectations for ‘P’ level students
Return with much clearer picture of the mountain I still have to climb
Inspired to support the work in other schools to raise standards. A couple of years ago I was inspired by Will Ryan – Independent Thinking. Still working with him having developed a school vision and new identity
Support preparation for imminent inspection. Support plans for post-19 provision. Ideas for Kent Association of Special Schools
Update Leadership Team and support staff. Greater preparation for Ofsted visit
Loads of relevant information to take back to school and implement. Brilliant opportunity for networking with like-minded professionals
All the Ofsted and SEND info is going to make me review where we are and put in place the useful information that I have heard
Development of partnerships and on-going professional dialogue. Ofsted presentations and help for future staff meetings / inset and expectations. Practical reference to work scrutiny and pupil portfolios – thank you, another excellent conference
HMI and Ofsted info is always relevant, over indulged dialogue of other practitioners not so much
Enabled me to communicate Ofsted requirements more clearly and effectively. Useful contacts established for future networking. Given me invaluable reflection time and an opportunity to refocus. Greater clarity around post-16 developments – able to communicated these to governors, staff, pupils and parents