As a welcome back to the new term for our partner schools we were delighted to welcome Sarah-Jayne Blakemore (FRS FBA FMedSci FRSB CPsychol) who is Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge and co-director of the Wellcome Trust PhD Programme Neuroscience at University College London. She delivered the keynote lecture on The Adolescent Brain and Mental Health.

This was followed by a short business meeting with our steering group reps on a round up of 2023-2024 and all that is to come in 2025.

A Thursday evening to Friday afternoon Residential in November for Headteachers with external speakers.

This is at the Village Hotel Elstree. Speakers for 2025 include Margaret Mullholand on SEND and inclusion and Geoff Barton on his work on the Oracy Commission.

A Wednesday evening to Friday afternoon Residential in June for Headteachers with external speakers. This is at the Haven Hotel, Sandbanks, Poole.

We were delighted to welcome Tom Sherrington, to deliver our key note for this session. He has over 30 years’ experience in schools and has many publications. The session focused on the Teacher Walk-Thru series and how to use them in our own Settings.

This was followed by Thrive, whoare working with a number of our schools. They delivered an interactive 60-minute session covering a pocketed version of: Leading Emotionally Healthy Secondary Schools | The Thrive Approach. They also shared information about their apprenticeship programmes for colleagues across the HCA.