Education Connect forms the professional development dimension of The Challenge Academy Trust. 

TCAT’s vision, to work collaboratively, with a collective responsibility to serve, challenge and empower the educational community, can be clearly seen in a passion project developed and created by one of its secondary academies, Beamont Collegiate Academy.

Staff at BCA, led by the Assistant Principal Henri Curwen, have developed their own website which is being used as a space to share and reflect.

Colleagues contribute to the site regularly, writing blogs and think pieces on anything from Rosenshine’s principles to being a technophobe in this new world of remote teaching.

If you’d like to read from the perspective of a passionate and hardworking team, who are growing, developing and sharing their experiences along the way, then please visit the site and read what they have to say > https://www.teachreflectshare.com/

Despite all schools having the same ultimate objective, no two schools are the same, which is why we aim to ensure our CPD is tailored to your specific needs.

Whether your priorities are middle ability boys, improving reading or establishing an effective SEND strategy, we can work with you to create the support and professional development you need – from one-off twilights to full packages of courses, support, networking and signposting. What remains consistent is the CPD is always expert, professional and great value.

We are fortunate enough to have access to some of the most effective teachers, leaders and trainers, who can work with you to establish professional, effective CPD provision that is collaborative and excellent value – worthy of the time and cost effective.

We seek to make CPD high quality, useful and affordable, with impact that lasts longer than the day.

Get in touch to let us know your school priorities – we can discuss possible opportunities for CPD and share what works. No obligation; just a professional chat to get you thinking about the possibilities and get us understanding how to better support our community.

Examples of bespoke CPD we have already constructed:

Raising the Achievement of Boys

Twilight sessions with a pre-meeting to view the data, establish current practice, gauge main objectives and direct content of the session.

SEND package

A variety of courses covering many aspects of SEND provision, facilitated by the main professional bodies in each area (such as Autism, ADHT, Mental Health First Aid etc), and complimented with full school reviews, networking opportunities and mentoring.

Headteacher Well-Being Strategy

Headteachers from across Warrington were offered CPD, well-being activities, triads, mentoring, signposting and regular briefings to support mental health and well-being.

A study from the University of Sussex, School of Education and Social Work, has examined the perspectives of parents of children with SEND and their experiences of the return to school in September 2020 and home-learning during the latest lockdown. 

Whilst the report highlights many positives in the approaches taken by settings to reintegrate pupils in September, and the significant improvements in home learning provision, 54% of parents still fear that their children will be further behind their non-SEND peers.

However, the changes in schooling because of lockdowns were not always seen as having a negative impact.