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2009, Cyprus

YearHost CountryVenueDate FromDate To
2009 Cyprus Intercontinental Aphrodite Hill 27 January 31 January
 
Speakers
Name Lyn Whyte
Summary

Lin Whyte has been the head teacher at Bar Hill Community Primary School, which is midway between Cambridge and Huntingdon, for almost 12 years. Prior to that, she was a head teacher in two other local primary schools and her headship career spans over 27 years. She has led her schools through three successful OfSTED Inspections and leads on inclusion and creativity in her school. Lin is also a consultant leader for NCSL (since 1997) and tutors on programmes such as the National Professional Qualification for Head teachers and Leading from the Middle (NPQH). Over the years Lin has written many articles on school leadership and has been the curriculum section editor for Croner, the school Governors’ Manual since 1997. Apart from her teaching degree and Advanced Diploma, she has an MSc in Educational Management from Sheffield University

Name Dr Grant Bage
Summary Chief Executive, Eastern Leadership Centre Grant Bage has led change and learning at all levels including classrooms, schools, universities, local authorities, regional and national development programmes. He is a trained and experienced teacher, trainer and curriculum developer with many publications, media credits and innovative projects to his name. This combination of public and private sector experience has been a perfect apprenticeship for his current leadership role in the 3rd Sector, as Chief Executive of the Eastern Leadership Centre (ELC). Based near Cambridge, ELC’s charitable mission is to challenge and support those who can lead the improvement of children and young people’s lives. Grant joined ELC in 2006 having previously been the National Director of NESTA’s Learning Programme. This invested £3.5 million annually in innovative projects across the UK education sector, working within schools and colleges but also across a broad range of science, technology and art
Name Dr Colin Conner
Summary Dr Colin Conner was Operational Director for Evaluation and Impact at the National College for School Leadership until May 2008, where he led the evaluation programme coordinating the evidence of the College’s impact. Following a successful teaching career, he moved into initial Teacher Training at Homerton College in Cambridge where he directed the Post Graduate programme. His next post was at the Cambridge Institute of Education which has an international reputation for school based and teacher development focused research. The Institute became part of the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education in 1985 and Colin was appointed as co-ordinator of the Master of Education programme and was instrumental in setting up specific programmes for local authorities in Hertfordshire and Essex. His particular research interests focus on leadership, assessment and evaluation and he has written and presented widely in relation to each of these areas.
Name Professor Geoff Southworth OBE
Summary Professor Geoff Southworth was Deputy Chief Executive and Strategic Director of Research and Policy at the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) until August 2008. He began his career as a teacher and then head teacher before moving to the University of Cambridge to direct school management courses and conduct school-based research into leadership and school improvement. In 1997 he was appointed Professor of Education at the University of Reading. In 2002 he moved to the NCSL where he was responsible for the strategic direction of the College’s research, evaluation and policy activities. He was promoted to Deputy CEO in 2005. He has written many articles and a number of books on school leadership. He has been a school governor, an adviser to the Department for Children, Schools & Families and a consultant to local authorities. He was awarded an OBE for services to education in the 2008 New Years honours.
Report & Feedback

British Schools in the Middle East Annual Conference 2009 When Cyprus was chosen to be the venue for the 2009 conference we knew it would be a challenge to organize such a prestigious event, as neither of us live there permanently. Using our holidays and ever reliant emails we believe we put together a well received and memorable conference.

We knew Cyprus would provide an interesting alternative to the usual Arab settings for conference and indeed the opportunities to go out and explore the countryside were well received.

The Intercontinental Aphrodite Hills Resort was the venue chosen to host the 27th annual BSME conference. The conference was opened by Mrs Poulli , The Minister for Secondary Education in Cyprus. Ms Heather Forbes representing the British Council was invited to open the exhibition. Delegates from schools located as far apart as Libya and Pakistan, met for four days to discuss a range of educational matters, including the UK government’s proposal of inspecting overseas schools following a British style curriculum. Conference business matters also focused on the development of BSME with its own accreditation system and co-ordination of professional development opportunities throughout the region. Approval was also given to a revised constitution.

The main focus of the conference however was on the development of leadership skills. These sessions were well led by a strong team of highly respected professionals in the field of school leadership. Professor Geoff Southworth, OBE, Dr Colin Conner, Dr Grant Bage and Lin Whyte provided inspiring and thought provoking material aimed at keeping delegates up to date with cutting edge research and information around themes related to leading high quality schools.

In addition , the Heads Good Ideas sessions on De Bono’s Thinking Hats (presented by Wendy Bataineh, Ian Fellows and Nick Wilson, from St Christopher’s School, Bahrain) and The Fish Philosophy (presented bt Geoff Turner and Alison Wilkinson from GEMS Wellington International School, Dubai) continued this popular “in-house” sharing of ideas between current practising BSME heads.

As always the conference was accompanied by a large educational exhibition with 107 Associate Members offering an ever widening range of resources and services. Many local Cypriot international schools took up BSME’s invitation to attend the exhibition.

Delegates also gave support to the various social events that had been organized, including the Quiz Night –many thanks to John Allcott for helping to keep the score! Thanks should also go to John for organizing the popular golf tournament on Friday morning, which over twenty die-hard delegates took part in, despite the rain and wind! This followed on from the Gala dinner held the night before at the Columbia Beach Resort Hotel, where BSME members really took to the floor, and danced the night away.

Carole Godfrey –Executive Committee Member, Local Organiser

Jan Brettingham –Local Organiser

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