Lessons Learnt from Lockdown

This event, held on the 30th March in partnership with the Southwest Regional Schools Commissioner Office and The Cornerstone Academy Trust, aimed to provide support for Trusts and schools across the region. It was delivered as an upbeat and interactive chat-show, where open discussions provided an opportunity to unpick the short term challenges and long-term approaches that we all face as we move out of lockdown and plan for the future.

We believe that together we can continue to build on the investments schools have made in learning platforms, the upskilling of staff and in new devices to enable a new approach to education. We hope that through sharing best practice we can ensure a smooth return to full school and a high quality of education as we come out of lockdown.

Upskilling Teachers

Designing Digital Strategy

Supporting Children

Evolving Leadership Styles

The Educator Experience

A Live Chat Show for Teachers and School Leaders

Road to Recovery was hosted by Jonathan and David, live from their state of the art television studio at Broadclyst Primary School. They were joined by some wonderful guests throughout the morning who shared their journeys over the past year and their hopes for post pandemic learning.

Meet Your Hosts

Jonathan Bishop

CEO and Headteacher, Cornerstone Academy Trust

As a Microsoft Innovative Educator, Jonathan pioneered the use of digital technologies in the classroom for many years. Jonathan is a National Leader of Education and leads the Cornerstone Teaching School, BCPS Edtech Demonstrator Programme, English Hub and Science Learning Partnership. Having led his team through the transition to blended learning in 2020, whilst at the same time as bringing Cornerstone’s Edtech Demonstrator offer to a national audience, Jonathan has witnessed first-hand the common struggles and incredible achievements of educators from across the UK.

David James

Head of Education, Cornerstone Academy Trust

As the Head of Education Dave has played an integral role in providing the outstanding education that the Trust is known for and has overseen the embedding of technology for both teaching and learning, developing a rich learning platform in Microsoft365 and Teams. David has used his rich Edtech experience to lead an Edtech team from Cornerstone to support hundreds of schools and trusts across the country over the past 9 months through the work of the EdTech Demonstrator Programme and the Microsoft Showcase School.

Meet Our Guests

Gemma Payne

Digital Capability Unit Lead, DfE

Gemma is responsible for a programme of work aimed at raising the digital capability of teachers and schools and college leaders. This currently includes the EdTech Demonstrator Programme and the Assistive Tech support programme from National Star. Prior to this Gemma led the DfE’s CPD Expert Group and was also the senior policy advisor for Early Career Teachers, working in collaboration with the sector to develop the Early Career Framework.

Matthew Stevenson

Deputy Director, South West RSC Office, DfE

Matt has been Deputy Director to the RSC since January 2020 having taught and led in a number of schools in London and the South West, most recently within the Cabot Learning Federation. Earlier in his career Matt held a range of policy roles within both the Department for Education and HM Treasury, including the London Challenge.

Matthew Shanks

CEO, Education Southwest

Matthew has worked as a teacher in education for 26 years, 17 as a senior leader. As Headteacher, Executive Headteacher and chair of governors, he has led both secondary and primary schools out of special measures to achieve Ofsted outstanding and good grades. Matthew is motivated by improving ‘cultures’ and providing ‘opportunities’ for all children to succeed, not just boosting examination outcomes.

Jenni Walker

CEO, Kernow Learning

Jenni Walker is an experienced CEO and has been a headteacher in three different schools in three different local authorities. She currently leads a Trust of 19 schools across Cornwall, serving over 5000 children, where the vision is 'Building Excellent Schools Together'. Jennie is also an Ofsted Inspector, a Local Leader of Education and a KTSA School Improvement Lead.

Tim Harris

Headteacher, Colyton Grammar

Tim is the headteacher of Colyton Grammar School, a co-educational school in East Devon. The school has been classified by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’ in three successive reports.

Chris Rothwell

Director of Microsoft Education

Chris is interested not just how the technology functions, but how people work; on their own, with others and as part of complex organisations. In his role as Director of Education for Microsoft UK he oversees a team that helps schools, teachers, pupils and others embrace technology to achieve their goals.

Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith

Director of One Life Learning

Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith is Director of One Life Learning specialising in strategic education research and consultancy. She is also an Associate Lecturer and Research Associate at The Open University, a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and sits on the board of a number of multi academy and charitable trusts.

Giles Hill

Digital Learning Lead, Aspire Academy Trust

Giles and the Aspire Academy Trust have been offering ICT-based CPD to primary education staff for a number of years, most recently under the Digital Learning Cornwall badge. Giles understands that schools need to be empowered to make well-informed, independent, practical choices; to implement technologies that genuinely enhance teaching and learning processes for children and staff who are not tech-specialists.

Anthony Lees

EdTech Strategic Lead, Cornerstone Academy Trust

Anthony is Deputy Head of School for recently opened Westclyst Community Primary School, Devon, within the Cornerstone Academy Trust, where he also leads on EdTech strategy for the Trust. As a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) for The Cornerstone Teaching School he supports schools across the region in the areas of computing, online safety and as well as his other passion; music.

Mark Clutsom

Headteacher at Kernow Learning Multi Academy Trust

Mark Clutsom is an experienced Headteacher, passionate about the potential for IT to inspire and excite children and staff alike. He is a Local Leader of Education and leads the IT pedagogy and e-safety strategy for Kernow Learning Trust.

Nichola Offer

Assistant Principal, Kingsbridge Community College

Nichola is an assistant principal, leading on the quality of education, at Kingsbridge Community College. She has always been involved in educational research and her passion is in innovative teaching, which is well informed by action research. Having worked across a range of multi-academy trusts she has particular interests in how online platforms can be used to rapidly improve the CPD offered in MATs and how digital tools and strategies can be used to develop the curriculum and quality of education.

Tom Graham

Deputy Headteacher, Coombeshead Academy

Tom started teaching Geography in 2005 at Kingsbridge Community College and went on gain further experience in a wide range of roles, including Head of Geography and Head of Year. Tom has worked as a Specialist Leader in Education specialising in Geography and supported many schools in the Devon area, as well as running a successful subject leader network. He gained his first senior leadership role in 2015 at Hele’s School, Plymouth where he led on Whole School Assessment and Reporting. Tom's current role as Deputy Headteacher at Coombeshead Academy is focused on the quality of education across the school.

Nick Wakeling

Head of English and Drama, Colyton Grammar School

Nick has contributed to the planning and implementation of digital learning in the maintained and independent sectors, most recently CGG’s introduction of 1:1 devices and blended learning. He is particularly interested int the use of digital technology to enhance assessment and feedback.

Nik Rorke

Head of Chemistry, Colyton Grammar School

Nik is part of the Digital Working Group at Colyton who are helping to implement the use of 1:1 devices and blended learning at Colyton and in particular train staff in the use of Teams and OneNote to improve learning and reduce workload. She has a particular interest in the use of OneNote to enhance assessment and feedback and encourage collaboration and consistency across the department.

Watch on Catch-up

This event is available to watch on catch-up as part of our membership package, register for free to access this footage as well as a wealth of other CPD content. 

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