Haringey's REAL Conference
Haringeyâs REAL Conference was held on Tuesday 20 July at the Haringey Professional Development Centre. The day lead the improvement of teaching and learning for BME and EAL gifted and talented pupils within the classroom. This was approached in terms of sharing best practice, offering opportunities for colleagues to learn about transferable REAL resources which have already been successfully used, and to consider how strategies can be embedded to raise the attainment of this cohort and benefit the whole school. The conference was aimed primarily at Secondary Head Teachers, Senior Leaders, aspiring G&T leading teachers, and any Primary Head Teachers who are interested in the project. Workshops were delivered by educators already involved in the project.
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Hounslow's REAL Conference
We were delighted to welcome over 80 delegates to the Hounslow REAL conference on Friday 5th October. Visitors came from the greater London area and as far afield as Rotherham, Telford & Wrekin, Derby and Southend. This was also the first opportunity for many of our local schools to find out about and get involved in The REAL Project. A diverse range of education teams were represented, including EMAS, EAL, mentors, travellers, research & statistics as well as LA and school practitioners â not just the usual G&T suspects! This led to a hugely enriched discussion base.
The REAL projects in Hounslow have been developed in four secondary schools, but it is clear that our primaries have similar EAL and G&T needs and now want to tackle G&T under-achievement by adapting similar approaches. The professional dialogue between presenters and delegates has strengthened our confidence and commitment to the core values of REAL. Gifted and talented pupils need innovative, focused solutions to meet their learning needs and schools can really benefit from working with a wide range of teams.
I would like to thank our LA and LG&T partners in The REAL Project. The goodwill, trust and willingness to support each other and share practice has meant this project is definitely more than the sum of its parts. In Year 2 of REAL, not only will we be rolling out our pilot projects to more local schools, but we will be taking some of the REAL projects piloted in Haringey and Islington and adapting them for our own schools.
- Stef Shedden, Hounslow G&T Strand Coordinator
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Islington's REAL Conference
A great day was had by all at the Barnsbury Centre in Islington on Friday 2nd November when EMAS and G&T teams hosted our REAL Conference. Delegates came from far and wide and ranged from headteachers, LA advisors, EMA and G&T teachers to primary and secondary Inclusion managers.
In Islington, REAL is working on three separate projects involving African Caribbean KS4 pupils, EAL learners at KS2, and engaging the Turkish, Bangladeshi & Somali parents and communities of KS2 pupils. Delegates at the conference were able to see how far each of these projects has progressed and to talk to those who are developing the strategies used in each of them. There were workshops showcasing the innovative projects that are running in Islington schools, and thought provoking talks were given by local colleagues and REAL Project leaders. Professor Constant Leung, who is responsible for assuring The REAL Projectâs quality, made an impassioned speech in which he discussed the potential for further training on issues relating to EAL learners at Initial Teacher Training level.
Feedback from the day has shown that delegates appreciated learning first-hand about REAL, and hearing practical ways in which they can adopt or adapt our experience and best practice in their own schools. As one EMA Coordinator from an Islington Primary School commented: âthe conference has made me reassess practice and think about areas for developmentâ. It was a really valuable day for all who attended.
- Sue Smith, Islington Inclusion and SEN Consultant
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REAL Schools, REAL Learning, REAL Lives
The REAL Summer Conference took place on Friday 29 June 2007 at the Barbican Centre. Partners in the project were joined by educators from all over the country to discuss the projectâs successes and developments in the first year, and to gain more information on how to get involved in year 2 of this exciting initiative.
The day began with an inspiring keynote speech from Tim Brighouse, London Commissioner for Schools. He discussed the importance of challenging students, and delegates commented that his words reminded them of why they became teachers.
After the introductory presentation and the keynote speech, delegates were invited to attend workshops. These were run by the schools and educators already involved in The REAL Project activities. The workshops focused on a variety of topics and activities, and were designed as interactive and informative sessions to demonstrate the ways that the tools and strategies being developed are already working effectively.
Some examined the processes in place to support EAL students in different stages of their learning (from new arrivals to advanced learners of English who need support with academic vocabulary). Others focused on how leaders can manage change and use data to improve provision for the BME and EAL gifted and talented cohort in their schools. Between sessions, delegates were able to visit the stalls of DfES, London Gifted & Talented and the local authorities involved in The REAL Project, and explore the REAL toolkit on laptops in the tropical conservatory.
As the day progressed, conversation about the project turned to how to get involved next year. Teachers and LA leaders expressed interest in trialing different elements of the toolkit, and developing new materials in line with the projectâs aims. The day was a huge success, and more information, pictures, feedback and commentary can be found in the September 2007 newsletter, which can be downloaded from the communications section of this website.