Sheffield schools gather for second annual conference

All six schools within the Sheffield’s Mercia Learning Trust have gathered for its second annual conference in which they discussed the focuses for the coming year.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The Mercia Learning conference gave staff from King Ecgbert, Newfield and Mercia secondary schools and those from Totley, Nether Edge and Valley Park primaries, the opportunity to meet at the Lyceum Theatre on Monday, February 24.

Keynote speakers included Tom Bennett, founder of researchED, a grass-roots organisation that raises research literacy in education, and Will Hussey, author of ‘The Art of Being Brilliant’ who encourages people to think differently by combining teacher-training with stage-hypnosis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chris French became CEO of Mercia Learning Trust 18 months ago and has focused on building upon the effective teaching in all the schools he inherited, doing things such as supporting growth and sharing best practice through the trust, to ensure every pupil in every school has a great education.

The Mercia Learning Trust Conference 2020 held at the Lyceum TheatreThe Mercia Learning Trust Conference 2020 held at the Lyceum Theatre
The Mercia Learning Trust Conference 2020 held at the Lyceum Theatre

He said: “The conference fits into this broad agenda. It provides an opportunity for all staff and governors within the trust to meet together, to re-emphasise our mission, to celebrate and share the great work of schools, to listen to internationally renowned keynote educational speakers, and to work in partnership around shared priorities.

“For this year we will continue to focus on the curriculum, what is taught in lessons, but also personal development – effectively all those things that schools do to ensure all pupils grow into well-mannered, hard-working, ambitious, informed and resilient individuals.”

Attended by around 500 people, the day began with a group dance performance from young boys in Years 2 to 6 from across the schools – taking great courage as many were not experienced dancers and some had never even danced before.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Each of the six headteachers also gave a presentation on an area of personal development as outlined in the Mercia Learning Trust’s pupil values – ambition, strength, passion, independence, respect and endeavour – which will help students realise their potential and lead a happy, healthy and fulfilled life.

The afternoon then gave classroom-based staff the chance to discuss curriculum framework in smaller cluster groups based on subject or key stage.

Related topics: