Last week the Academies Show took place in the NEC, Birmingham - the perfect opportunity to discuss educational issues across the UK. Guest speakers included the National Association of Head Teachers general secretary Russell Hobby, CEO of the Active Change Foundation Hanif Qadir and College of Teachers Chief Executive and Registrar Professor Angela McFarlane. Playforce was also there promoting playground equipment and emphasising the importance of outdoor play.
Treasure Trove of Educational Resources
The Academies Show programme included a plethora of educational resources including: over 40 hours of conference content, over 200 exhibitors (including us!), finance & management, recruitment & skills, school buildings & facilities and technology & learning, as well as plenty of networking opportunities.
Playforce Academies Highlight
One of our favourite highlights of this year’s Academies Show was teacher Angela Meyer’s definitive list of how she could be the best teacher...suggested be her very own students! The list included “smile” and “give me challenging content and assignments.” This exclusive insight into student’s minds gives us a valuable insight into outdoor play as an educational tool.
What Playforce learnt from the Academies Show
Size does not matter with MATs, it’s about quality.
Over 75% of academy secondary schools observed as “good” or better.
The new world of improving schools is more horizontal than vertical.
Outstanding schools are more likely to be peer-led and collaborative.
Head teachers need to focus more on quality of pupil experience.
The key questions for deciding on an MAT structure include: How many schools? How many pupils? How close are the schools.
Collaboration between schools is essential for moving forwards.
Ready to prioritise outdoor education with the UK’s leading playground company for academies? Call us today on 01225 792660.
Have you seen our amazing new website yet? Take a look at www.playforce.co.uk today and check out Playforce shop to see how we can upgrade your outdoor classrooms and shelters.