Supporting innovative teaching across state and independent schools
Bedales School hosted the Next Big Ten conference on 21 June 2024 for teachers interested in developing innovative teaching practices. The event was attended by 60 teachers from 15 institutions, 13 of which were state primary and secondary schools.
Aims
For teachers and school leaders from across the country to share their innovative projects and the changes they are implementing.
To highlight the innovative Bedales Assessed Courses as an alternative to GCSEs
Background
The event was organised in partnership with Big Education, a Multi-Academy Trust and charity that shares Bedales desire to transform the education system to ensure young people receive a balanced education of the head (academics), heart (character and wellbeing) and hand (problem solving, creativity, making a difference).
Big Education’s ‘Next Big Ten’ is a two-year rolling project which supports state and independent schools who want to innovate and provide a genuinely more holistic education and a better working environment for colleagues.
Resources
Bedales provided conference facilities including main auditorium, breakout rooms, visiting classes and catering.
Impact
60 educationalists mainly from the state sector immersed in discussions on innovative practices in teaching and learning.
Sharing of good practice across schools and sectors.
Workshops on:
Developing teaching and learning
Sustainability
Learner profiles
Competency progressions
Peer review
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Liz Robinson, CEO, Big Education commented:
“It was a joy to be at Bedales for the finale of our Next Big 10 project. This was a chance to bring together like-minded educators from across the country to share, explore and challenge. Bedales was the most perfect setting, bringing a generosity and authenticity to the whole event.”
Bertice Cairns, Deputy Head (Academic) at Bedales added:
“We enjoyed hosting this event to provide space for teachers to explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Bedales teachers were happy to showcase our Bedales Assessed Courses as a broader more inspiring alternative to GCSE. Delegates were struck by the diversity of assessment and many felt it fundamentally shifted their thinking about what is possible. We were also able to learn about the many other innovations made by schools on the Next Big Ten project to inform our own practice.”
Pupil Involvement
Delegates spoke with Bedales Heads of Faculty from Outdoor Work, English, Global Perspectives and Fashion, and were able to talk to students and teachers about their BAC work.
The wider impact on pupils will be the innovations spread across state and independent schools resulting from this conference.
Frequency
This was a one-off event at Bedales. The Next Big Ten conference takes place annually at different locations.
