Please note, the OAT Annual Leadership Conference 2024 has now taken place. The slide decks used in the workshops below, and those used by our keynote speakers, will be made available here soon.
We have planned a selection of workshops, delivered by experts from across our schools, and the wider sector. You will have the opportunity to attend four workshops across both days.
We’ll allocate your workshops based on your preference, and you’ll be notified of your assigned sessions upon registration on day one. If you don’t select your workshops by the deadline, we’ll assign sessions for you.
Click on the tabs below for information about the workshops available in each area.
Effective implementation of great teaching
Target audience: Ideal for principals, governors, and those who did not attend the OAT Teaching Conference in July
In this session, leaders will learn how to drive expertise and school improvement by applying the mental model of teaching, alongside key principles from the OAT teaching priority.
Group rehearsal: what it is, why it matters and how to do it well
Target audience: Ideal for principals and those who missed the OAT Teaching Conference in July
In this session, we will explore the principles and effectiveness of group rehearsal in developing teacher expertise and effective classroom habits, focusing on how models and rehearsal drive teaching quality and school improvement.
Developing teachers’ adaptive expertise: a framework for impactful professional development for teachers with greater expertise
Target audience: Most suitable for colleagues familiar with the mental model of teaching and involved in leading teacher development
In this session, we will draw on research around teacher expertise to provide a framework for sharpening professional development and building teachers’ adaptive expertise, addressing challenges we face in making PD valuable for all staff.
Leading behaviour
Target audience: All
This session will address the gap between established behaviour routines and their classroom implementation, focusing on how leadership can reset expectations and model strategies to support teacher expertise and consistent enforcement of classroom norms.
Behaviour journey: key principles to transform behaviour culture
Target audience: All
This session explores strategies for implementing a clear behaviour curriculum. It evaluates potential pitfalls and explores how leaders can foster a sustainable, positive culture around behaviour, rather than relying on quick fixes.
Shifting culture and cultivating climate
Target audience: All
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast” is a widely used phrase in education, but what does culture truly mean, and how can it be shaped? This session explores the concepts of culture and climate, featuring an OIEA case study that highlights what was done and how it was achieved.
Building pupil motivation: moving from compliance to engagement
Target audience: All
Consistent rules, routines and expectations are a core component of a successful school – they provide a safe environment for children and staff – but can we do more? This session will focus on how schools can enhance their existing systems to foster pupil engagement – leading to positive outcomes such as increased attainment, attendance and pupil wellbeing.
Lexonik: a platform for motivating pupils
Target audience: Secondary colleagues only
This session will highlight Tenbury’s implementation of Lexonik, examining its strengths, areas for improvement, and next steps to enhance reading outcomes, while also sharing insights from their recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024 and strategies for using Lexonik to support struggling readers.
Raising attainment: implementation discussion
Target audience: All
A panel of OAT Principals share their reflections on the implementation of the OAT improvement priorities in their academies. An opportunity to share best practice, and discuss challenges.
Managing pupil attendance
Target audience: All
This session will offer a strategic overview of pupil attendance and its importance in student success, along with best practices from Cliff Park Ormiston Academy. Attendees will gain insights into effective strategies for enhancing attendance rates and fostering a culture of regular attendance in their schools.
Building a culture of inclusion by design
Target audience: All
In this session, we will explore the challenge of how we develop all teachers in our academies to provide inclusive classrooms, adapted to needs, in the first instance to all children. We recognise that an inclusive culture goes beyond the classroom, but will focus on this aspect, in line with our Trust priorities.
Enrichment as driver to improve outcomes
Target audience: All
This session will explore the literature behind a range of successful enrichment type programmes. Delegates will be invited to explore what high-quality enrichment looks like and to consider what the implications of this are for OAT and the enrichment provision we want to offer.
LGB responsibilities, oversight and scrutiny
Target audience: Governors
Workshop on governor responsibilities, how to perform your role and provide constructive challenge across all areas.
Curriculum planning and subject spotlights
Target audience: Governors
This session will provide governors with a range of practical strategies to ask senior leaders probing questions around how the schools’ curriculum is broad and ambitious for all pupils. It will also review what a robust subject spotlight should include and how governors can contribute to these directly, as well as how they can effectively scrutinise spotlights undertaken by leaders in the school. The final part of the session will look at how governors can bring together this evidence to quality assure leaders’ judgement of the quality of education in the school.
The power of relationships: building a strong foundation from cradle to career
Target audience: All
This session will explore the power of strong relationships in shaping children’s futures through Reach Academy Feltham’s Cradle-to-Career model, currently being explored in five OAT communities. We will examine how strong connections among families, schools, and the community create conditions for children to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
