LEO Professional Learning Newsletter 

Wednesday 20th September 2023

LEO Professional Learning Opportunities 2023-2024

LEO Professional Learning Opportunities 2023-2024


There are lots of professional development opportunities on offer for 2023-2024.

Take a look at our new LEO Professional Learning Brochure here which contains the dates and times of upcoming training sessions.

LEO Conference - The Digital Future


Coming soon … #LEOConference23. 

This year’s theme is ‘The Digital Future’ and we’ll be sharing the outcomes of a year long research project on the impact of #PedTech at @LEOacademies. Find out more & book online today!

The website can be found here.

Register your place here.

Creative Teacher Programme

Classroom practitioners will become more reflective and creative, gaining a deeper understanding of the pedagogy that ensures a significant impact on the progress of, and relationships with, pupils and colleagues. Through this programme you will become a more self-regulated and independent thinking professional.

The dates for this programme are as follows:


Tuesday 17th October 9:30am-11:30am - Cheam Park Farm (KS2) Community Room

Tuesday 7th November 9:30am-11:30am - LEO Academy Trust Offices, 314 Malden Rd, Sutton SM3 8EQ

Thursday 23rd November 9:30am-11:30am - LEO Academy Trust Offices, 314 Malden Rd, Sutton SM3 8EQ

Monday 4th December 9:30am-11:30am - Cheam Park Farm (KS2) Community Room


Course led by: Rachel Teixeira, Vice Principal & Michael Raney, Vice Principal

Click here to book your place.


Outstanding Teacher Programme

Classroom practitioners will gain a deeper understanding of the latest innovative pedagogy and develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to make a significant impact on their pupils and inspire others to become outstanding practitioners within a coaching culture.

The dates for this programme are as follows:


Tuesday 7th November - 9:30am-11:30am - Cheam Park Farm (KS2) Community Room

Tuesday 21st November - 9:30am-11:30am - Cheam Park Farm (KS2) Community Room

Wednesday 29th November - 3.00pm - 5.00pm - Online

Tuesday 5th December -9:30am-11:30am - Cheam Park Farm (KS2) Community Room

Wednesday 10th January -3.00pm - 5.00pm - Online

Tuesday 16th January -9:30am-11:30am - Cheam Park Farm (KS2) Community Room

Click here to book your place.


Power of Coaching  Programme

Practitioners will gain a deeper understanding about the power of coaching and the impact that great coaching has on learning - being able to confidently apply several strategies to deepen the thinking of pupils; inspire colleagues to develop and grow; and become a more reflective and energised professional. As a credible coach, professionals will be able to coach informally, formally and in a structured way using the OLEVI Analytical Coaching programme.

The dates for this programme are as follows:

Thursday 28th September - 3pm - 5pm (Online)

Thursday 12th October - 3pm - 5pm (Online)

Led by: Alison Day, Executive Principal & Catherine Lester, Executive Principal


Click here to book your place.


Outstanding Leadership in Education Programme

The programme recognises that all people are leaders, and that developing leadership ensures that well balanced challenge and support creates impact. You will engage with evidence-informed leadership pedagogy to discover how to lead and manage individuals, classes, teams, and projects more effectively for greater impact.

The dates for this programme are as follows:

Thursday 9th November - 2pm - 4.30pm - LEO Training Room, Cheam Common Junior Academy

Thursday 23rd November - 2pm - 4.30pm - LEO Academy Trust Central Offices, 314 Malden Rd, Sutton SM3 8EQ

Thursday 7th December - 2pm - 4.30pm - LEO Academy Trust Central Offices, 314 Malden Rd, Sutton SM3 8EQ

Thursday 11th January  - 2pm - 4.30pm - LEO Academy Trust Central Offices, 314 Malden Rd, Sutton SM3 8EQ

Thursday 25th January - 2pm - 4.30pm - LEO Training Room, Cheam Common Junior Academy

Thursday 8th February - 2pm - 4.30pm - LEO Academy Trust Central Offices, 314 Malden Rd, Sutton SM3 8EQ

Led by: Alison Day, Executive Principal, Catherine Lester, Executive Principal, Graham Macaulay, Director of Innovation and Growth

Click here to book your place.


Outstanding Teaching Assistant Programme

Classroom support staff will become more reflective, confident, and creative through gaining a deeper understanding of high-quality classroom pedagogy. You will develop the attributes to make a significant impact on the outcomes of, and relationships with, both pupils and colleagues.

The dates for this programme are as follows:

Wednesday 27th September - 9am-12pm - Brookfield Primary Academy, Room of Requirement

Wednesday 18th October - 9am- 12pm, Brookfield Primary Academy, Room of Requirement

Led by: Prathayini Wright, Principal & Kate Ashworth, Principal

Click here to book your place.


Senior Outstanding Leadership in Education Programme

The best senior leaders have an aspirational vision and know how to balance challenge and support, successfully overcoming complex barriers to achieve significant and sustainable impact. The programme will provide greater clarity, grow confidence, and develop competence of senior leaders, enabling strategic reflection on organisational improvement.

The dates for this programme are as follows:

Thursday 16th November - 2pm - 5.00pm - LEO Academy Trust Central Offices, 314 Malden Rd, Sutton SM3 8EQ

Thursday 30th November - 2pm - 5.00pm - LEO Academy Trust Central Offices, 314 Malden Rd, Sutton SM3 8EQ

Thursday 18th January - 2pm - 5.00pm - LEO Academy Trust Central Offices, 314 Malden Rd, Sutton SM3 8EQ

Thursday 1st February - 2pm - 5.00pm - LEO Training Room, Cheam Common Junior Academy

Thursday 22nd February - 2pm - 5.00pm - LEO Academy Trust Central Offices, 314 Malden Rd, Sutton SM3 8EQ

Thursday 7th March - 2pm - 5.00pm - LEO Academy Trust Central Offices, 314 Malden Rd, Sutton SM3 8EQ

Click here to book your place.


Early Career Teacher Training - English

First Year ECTs

Date: 4/10/23

Times: 9.30am-12.00pm OR 1pm-3.30pm

Led by: Mr C Perrott LEO Director of English & Mrs J Watson, Curriculum Leader High View

Venue: In-Person, LEO Training Room, Cheam

Common Junior Academy

Professional Learning Spotlight

Curriculum Strategy Training

Senior leaders from across the trust met last week to explore and discuss the new LEO Academy Trust curriculum strategy.

They explored the Trust strategic approach to the curriculum.

 Progression models 

Building rich schemata 

Substantive and disciplinary knowledge.

Thank you Mrs S Wilkinson for a great session!

LEO System Leaders Programme 

Senior Leaders from across the Trust, focused their learning on Strategy & Improvement and  Change Management. 

A great opportunity to explore leadership strategies & school improvement models.

Thank you to Mrs A Day and Mr P Hedger for a thought provoking session.

Publications, Vlogs, Blogs and News

Research School Network: How can we help teachers to build knowledge? With our ​‘Getting evidence into the classroom’ programme starting soon, Amy Carlile explores Effective Professional Development.

7 September, 2023 —

By Amy Carlile, ELE, Greenshaw Research School.


When it comes to professional development (PD), we all know that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. However, there are some key mechanisms that have been shown to be effective in improving teacher practice and pupil outcomes.

Click here to find out more.

From EdTech to PedTech

Changing the Way We Think about Digital Technology


By Fiona Aubrey-Smith, Peter Twining


Aimed at teachers and leaders looking to create greater impact on teaching and learning through the use of digital technology in schools, From EdTech to PedTech translates research on the effective integration of digital technology in education into relevant, accessible, and practical guidance for teachers and school leaders. This much-needed handbook bridges the gap between knowing ‘what works’ and knowing how to make it work for you and your learners.

Preview the book here.

Checking for understanding


By Peps McCrea


Responsive teaching is about making small course-corrections to our teaching as we go. This rests heavily on us having a secure knowledge of what our students know (and don’t know) at every point along the way.

Which is why great teaching entails regularly checking for understanding.


Click here to find out more.

How to simplify some text using AI

By Text Help

Want to try out a cool beta feature in Read&Write? Simplify AI uses OpenAI to rewrite text using simpler words and sentence structure. When you’re on a website, click the Simplify icon on the Read&Write toolbar and then look for the AI icon in the top right corner of the Simplify page. Click this icon to get a simplified, shortened version of the text.

Click here to find out more.

EEF blog: PLanning for Progress - Four key resources for the new academic year

By Kirsten Mould -  EEF Senior Content Manager

September is here and children and staff across the country are starting a brand-new term, at the top of a brand-new academic year.

There’s a sense of renewed determination that accompanies this time, as educators and leaders prepare to get to know new classes and new children– and consider how best to set them up for success.

Click here to find out more.

External CPD Opportunities 

Effective Professional Development

Three FREE sessions will run online on Zoom and take place on consecutive Mondays at 3.45 – 4.45pm in the Autumn term.


Session 1 – Evidence overview: Professional Development. With Amy Carlile.

Date: Monday 2 October. 3.45 – 4.45pm.

Attendees: CPD leads, middle and senior leaders


Session 2 – Evidence Takeaways: How to structure department PD.With Steve Trafford.

Date: Monday 9 October. 3.45 – 4.45pm.

Attendees: Middle leaders


Session 3 – Evidence Takeaways: Insights into adult behavioural change.With Phil Stock.

Date: Monday 16 October. 3.45 – 4.45pm.

Attendees: Middle and senior leaders


Please complete the form to attend: https://docs.google.com/forms/…

'Gender equality in and through picture books for EYFS and primary years’ CPD EVENT and BOOK DISCOUNT - Tuesday 26th September - FREE -

 Aimed at Early Years and Primary School teachers and leaders, hosted by Heath Books and Lifting Limits - It will be a practical session that includes time to explore our fantastic book selection. Lifting Limits will provide context around gender equality in education and the power of books to challenge gender stereotypes. There will be two different sessions (afternoon and twilight) available to book with a maximum of two teachers per school.

Refreshments will be provided.


Session Details: There will be two sessions of the same talk for convenience:

The Venue: Heath Educational Books Willow House, Willow Walk, Sutton, Surrey SM3 9QQ

Session 1 will be from 1.30 to 3.00pm

Session 2 will be from 4.30 – 6.00pm

 

Click here to book. 

Exploring the revised 'Reading Framework'

Tuesday 10th October 

3.45pm-4.30pm


The webinar will:

Click here to find out more.

WWF Training Courses

There are lots of free training courses available on the WWF website. 

Climate Change and Climate System

ESD: Driving change towards sustainable schools



Click here to find out more.

LGFL School Staff Training 

LGfL in school support, training and conference events are integral parts of the LGfL Energise curriculum service provided at no extra charge for schools.


Click here to see the training opportunities that are on offer.

Inclusion 2024 Live - Youth Sports Trust


These live sessions will provide virtual CPD content for as many practitioners as possible to enable them to deliver meaningful and inclusive opportunities for young people with SEND. Delivered by expert practitioners and young people, every day from Monday 23 to Friday 27 January, the sessions will be available to watch both live and recorded.

Click here to find out more.

Free short online course: Learning for a Sustainable Future

Join a personal and professional global learning journey towards a sustainable future. What on Earth could be more important?


Click here to find out more.

Becoming a Google Certified Coach


A Google Certified Coach is someone who is :


→ Eager to support educators

→ Wanting to drive impactful technology into classrooms

→ Looking to learn research-proven strategies & skills


Does this sound like you? 

Click here to find out more.

On-demand training at your fingertips


View the Google on-demand series of webinars designed to help schools and educators in the UK and Ireland get the most out of Google Workspace for Education and Chromebooks.

Whether you are an educator, Senior Leadership or IT Administrator you can find a session to suit you. 


Click here to find out more.

Adobe Professional Development Courses


Find out all about the free professional learning opportunities on offer from Adobe.


Creativity for all

Adobe Creative Cloud Express in the Classroom

Engaging Video Projects in the Classroom

and many more...

Click here to find out more.

Inclusive Ed Bootcamp: How to meet the needs of a diverse range of students

How can we better meet the needs of a diverse range of students? Sign up for our Inclusive Ed Bootcamp for help and advice. A free webinar series featuring Kate Griggs, the CEO of @MadeByDyslexia.


Throughout the series you will learn about:

Click here to find out more.

Free online professional development webinars for educators


Oxford University Press has a range of digital webinars to help you continue your professional development online. You can find links to recordings of previously-held webinars, as well as register your interest for upcoming sessions. The recorded webinars are available to watch on demand via Brainshark and you will receive a CPD certificate after watching each one.


Click here to find out more.

Financial Education - Free Online Teacher Training


Complete a free online course, in your own time and at your own speed…

The engaging eLearning courses are self-paced and take between 1.5-2.5 hours to complete.  Along the way you will:


Click here to find out more.

Developing Reading for Pleasure


Join the Open Learn FREE Developing Reading for Pleasure  badged online course.

Developing the skill to read and the will to read are interrelated, however, this course focuses on the latter; it is an exploration of Reading for Pleasure and its significance for children’s lives and development. You will consider current research, debates and challenges that impact on children’s reading and gain knowledge and strategies to help you promote reader engagement across schools, homes and communities.

Click here to find out more.

Online PE CPD for Teachers

England Football's Online PE CPD for Teachers course is designed to increase confidence in the delivery of engaging, inclusive, high-quality Physical Education lessons through the invasion game of football.

Click here to find out more.

LEO Training Twitter Page! 

Are you following @LEOtraining5 on Twitter yet?

If you would like to stay up to date on all things training at LEO Academy Trust and beyond then make sure you follow @LEOtraining5 on Twitter.

Click here to to visit the page now.