Webinar: What are the key priorities for all schools from September 2021

In this webinar, we heard from Sameena Choudry, Rachel Macfarlane and Professor Dame Alison Peacock as they talked about their work in pursuit of greater equity through a range of practical strategies proven to work in schools. The discussion highlighted one of the core priorities that leaders and individual class teachers need to attend to from September 2021.

Shared resources:

• Download the audio transcript
• Download Rachel’s slides
• Download Sameena’s slides
• Equitable Education: What everyone working in education should know about closing the attainment gap for all pupils
• Obstetrics For Schools: A Guide To Eliminating Failure And Ensuring The Safe Delivery Of All Learners
• Members can get a discount from Crown House Publishing books

About our presenters:

Rachel Macfarlane

Director of Education Services, Herts for Learning

Rachel Macfarlane is the Director of Education Services at Herts for Learning. From 2007 until 2018 she was a National Leader of Education, serving as Headteacher of three contrasting schools over a sixteen year period. In 2011 Rachel joined Ark Schools to set up a new co-educational, all-through academy for 4-18 year olds in Ilford, East London. This was judged to be outstanding in all areas by OfstedThe Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services... More in 2014 and again in 2018.

From 2009-2018 Rachel was Project Director of The London Leadership Strategy’s Going For Great (G4G) Programme, which involved working with leaders of outstanding schools to share good practice and produce case studies for dissemination to London schools.

Rachel has written and contributed to a number of books on the themes of educational disadvantage, the features of great schools and learning power approaches to education. Her latest book, Obstetrics for Schools, addresses the disadvantaged gap and how to overcome it.

Twitter: @RMacfarlaneEdu

Sameena Choudry

Senior Learning Standards and Effectiveness Officer, Doncaster LA
Founder, Equitable Education
Co-founder, WomenEd

Sameena Choudry is the founder of Equitable Education, an educational consultancy specialising in closing the attainment gap. She is also co-founder of #WomenEd, a grassroots movement for connecting existing and aspiring women leaders in education. She has worked as a teacher, lecturer, ITE tutor, examiner, senior leader, adviser and has had senior officer roles within four LAs. She is also a trained Ofsted inspector and was the youngest and first female Asian Justice of the Peace in her hometown. Sameena has worked with hundreds of schools to improve educational outcomes for pupils with specific needs who, with additional support, can and do achieve highly. She has contributed to a number of publications and regularly speaks at educational conferences on issues relating to equity, diversityThe recognition of individual differences in terms of race, ... More and social justice.

Twitter: @EquitableEd

Professor Dame Alison Peacock

Chief Executive, Chartered College of Teaching

Prior to becoming CEO of the Chartered College of Teaching, Professor Dame Alison Peacock was Executive Headteacher of The Wroxham School in Hertfordshire. Her career to date has spanned primary, secondary and advisory roles. In 2018, she became an Honorary Fellow of Queen’s College, Cambridge, one of the first ever female Fellows admitted. She is also a Visiting Professor of both the University of Hertfordshire and Glyndwr University.