Changing Communities: recognising schools as sites of transformation
Five Nations Network Conference 2019 | Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 January | Glasgow, Scotland

Workshop and Seminar Choices Form

Participants will have the opportunity to participate in two workshops/seminars on Sunday 27 January. Please select which two you would like to attend. The session descriptions are at the bottom of the page. 

Please complete this form by 9.00am Tuesday 22 January.

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Seminar and Workshop Descriptions:

1. Millbrook Primary School’s journey as an agent for change learning organization: creating resilient communities 

This seminar aims to share the journey of Millbrook Primary School as a committed learning organization acting as an agent for change at the heart of its community. Head teacher, Lindsey Watkins will explore how the school supports and works with its local community to overcome a variety of issues. Lindsey will outline how the school’s work as a pioneer school for the new curriculum in Wales has enabled staff and students to innovate and pilot new ideas with the aim of developing improved citizens of the future. Lindsey will share how partnership working, the global goals and research support the school’s learning and development of its community.

Seminar leader: Lindsay Watkins, Headteacher, Millbrook Primary School, Newport, Wales

​2. Hendon School: Empowering young people to transform their communities

As a community we have been working to encourage all Hendon School students and staff to be active leaders finding “lollipop moments” to transform our community. It will explore how small changes can be transformative; how all students have become more engaged with student voice; some examples of our successes and great learning experiences (failures!) It will also explore how a tragic event that rocked the school community empowered a group of students to set up their own Mental Health Action Team, transforming not just the lives of students at Hendon, but making real and lasting changes for the wider community and inspiring others to do the same. The workshop will provide an opportunity to share ideas and some ready to use resources. 
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​Workshop leader: Noelle Doona, Hendon School, London, England

3. Tackling Controversial Issues in the classroom

If classrooms are to be transformative, students must engage with the difficult issues in contemporary society. This workshop will explore what makes issues Controversial. It will also tackle themes including:

• What makes an issue Controversial
• Stances teachers take
• Framing questions when dealing with Controversial Issues
• Some useful active learning methodologies for dealing with Controversial Issues
• Questions and Answers

Workshop leaders: Conor Harrison and Karl Sweeney

4. Involving whole school communities in tackling the Cost of the School Day

School costs can put pressure on low-income families and put children at risk of missing out on opportunities and feeling different. Cost of the School Day involves children and young people, parents/carers and school staff in identifying financial barriers and taking action to remove them.

In this session, participants will:
• learn about the development of Cost of the School Day in Scotland over the last 5 years and common financial barriers identified in schools
• become familiar with the Cost of the School Day Toolkit and the Cost of School film and use them to reflect on barriers and solutions in their own settings
• find out about changes made to policy and practice in Cost of the School Day schools and how this has impacted on children and their families.

Workshop leader: Sara Spencer, The Cost of the School Day Project