Past Events
Aimhigher: Celebrating Success 2008
Tuesday 13th May 2008
9.00am – 3.30pm
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, Hillsborough
Over 140 delegates attended the Celebrating Success 2008 event, which took place on Tuesday 13th May at the Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, Hillsborough.
Danny Dorling, The University of Sheffield, presented a thought provoking talk to delegates around monitoring progress towards a fairer education system. Delegates also had the opportunity to hear about some of the important and motivational Aimhigher projects currently being run across South Yorkshire and plans for Aimhigher South Yorkshire as it moves into a new phase of activity for 2008-2011.
Guest speaker, Ray Hearne, delighted delegates with his interactive talk, which included a number of poems and songs all of which communicated the value of education and inspiring the younger generation to aim higher.
The day was interspersed with inspirational performances from Edlington School Choir and Rotherham College of Arts and Technology – Student Band.
Delegate comments:
‘Excellent band, more of this needed on future events as it was very uplifting. Ray Hearne – fantastic – very appropriate. Edlington School Choir – fantastic – very talented kids.’
‘The performances broke the day up well and reminded me constantly of what can be achieved by our young people. All performances were very inspirational.’
‘Content was excellent. Great to get an overview of Aimhigher activity and the fantastic performances broke the day up nicely.’
‘Diversity was excellent. Enthusiasm and concrete examples of approaches that enthuse pupils eg. Science Day, Playing for Success. Excellent video clips brought the ‘flavour’ to life!’
Downloads:
Please click on the speakers below to download individual presentations as PowerPoint files. Please note Professor Danny Dorling's presentation is not available, however you can download a PDF document relating to his presentation.
Presentations:
Keynote Speech: Professor Danny Dorling, The University of Sheffield
Kate Atkinson, You, Science and Beyond, Aimhigher Barnsley
Robert Walker, Sheffield City Council, Stepping Up Project
Kirsty Wadsley, The University of Sheffield
Warren Fearn, WaK Studios
Allan Johnson, Aimhigher Co-ordinator Sheffield, Looking Forward for Aimhigher South Yorkshire
Hilary Gibbons, Aimhigher Co-ordinator Rotherham, Looking Forward for Aimhigher South Yorkshire
Please click here for the event programme.
Vocational Progression to Higher Education
Tuesday 18th March 2008
9.00pm – 4.00pm
Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Delegates at the fourth of this year’s CPD programme were treated to a packed event at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster that covered a broad range of topics around the subject of vocational progression to higher education.
Speakers from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, local universities, Foundation Degree Forward and local apprenticeship partnerships delivered informative presentations to approximately 60 delegates, while the day was interspersed with workshops focusing on regional projects and topical issues.
Delegate comments:
“All speakers were excellent, a very interesting day.”
“I have learnt a lot about apprenticeships and expanded my knowledge of more 14 – 16 options.”
“Great selection of speakers and subject content.”
Downloads:
Please click on the speakers and workshops below to download individual presentations as PowerPoint files.
Presentations:
Keynote: A view from Government, David Stephen, Department for Children, Schools and Families: 14 – 19 Reform Group
The Local Universities’ Response to Diplomas, Sue Armstrong, University of Sheffield, and Phil Bloor, Sheffield Hallam University
Keynote: Apprenticeships, Peter Hill, Metskills, and Steve Tagg, Sheffield Forgemasters
Foundation degrees – the way forward for vocational progression? Gordon Lakin, Foundation Degree Forward
Workshops:
2. Unionlearn
Please click to download the event programme.
Building Financial Futures 3
Thursday 7th February 2008
Brooklands Hotel, Barnsley
9.00am – 4.00pm
Around 50 delegates attended the third Building Financial Futures event, which took place on Thursday 7th February 2008 at Brooklands Hotel, Barnsley.
Pam Eccles and Karen Fuller of Personal Finance Education Group (pfeg) delivered an enthusiastic and interactive morning presentation on financial capability in schools, and Jane Woodford from Rotherham Credit Union Development Agency talked about financial inclusion strategies for boroughs in the afternoon.
Workshops covered: benefits and HE; working with 11 – 14 year olds on financial literacy; students and graduates recent financial experiences; and enterprise in schools. Delegates participated in two out of the four workshops over the course of the day, and feedback received was very positive.
Delegate comments:
“Very well balanced and an interesting combination of presentations/workshops. Really enjoyable. Worthwhile. Picked up number of new contacts and lots of information. Best of these events yet.”
“Meeting with students – excellent resource.”
“I found the state benefits and HE funding particularly useful. I intend to develop information to be included in our current material.”
“One of the best conferences I have been to.”
Downloads:
Please click on the speakers and workshops below to download individual presentations as PowerPoint files.
Financial Capability in Schools, Pam Eccles and Karen Fuller, pfeg
Financial Inclusion Strategies for Boroughs, Jane Woodford, RCUDA
Workshop 1: State Benefits and HE
Workshop 3: The Student Financial Journey: Recent Experiences
Workshop 4: Enterprise Education – A School Perspective
Disability: Diagnosis, transition support and the journey through higher education
Wednesday 12th December 2007
9.00 – 4.00pm
Royal Victoria Holiday Inn, Sheffield
The Disability: Diagnosis, transition support and the journey through higher education event held at the Royal Victoria Holiday Inn, Sheffield, on Wednesday 12th December 2007 was attended by over 60 delegates from around South Yorkshire.
The morning was led by Jagdish Barn, Educational Psychologist from FocusPsychology Ltd, who delivered a fascinating and highly informative session on diagnosing dyslexia in speakers of other languages. The session comprised of a lively presentation interjected with questions from the audience, followed by a case study task for the delegates and a review of the accompanying case study report.
Four students from Sheffield's universities contributed to the day by speaking about their own experiences and journeys as students with disabilities, in the Student Journeys, Student Voices slot that took place after lunch, and Sarah Cheetham of Sheffield Assessment Centre gave a comprehensive talk covering the processes involved in assessing Disability Student Allowance (DSA) applications.
Delegate comments:
“Everything was a learning experience – positive.”
“I thought Jagdish’s presentations was really interesting. It was very appropriate to illustrate that there may be other factors affecting learning, apart from dyslexia. A really excellent day, thank you.”
“Interesting to hear real students’ experience of education and within HE. Makes the subject actual, real.”
We would also like to express our thanks to the event's exhibitors:
Clear Links Support http://www.clear-links.co.uk/
Barry Bennett Ltd http://www.barrybennett.co.uk/
Higher Futures http://extra.shu.ac.uk/higherfutures/
Tintavision
Katy Tynan
Downloads
Please click on the speakers below to download individual presentations as PowerPoint files.
Jagdish Barn, FocusPsychology Ltd
Sarah Cheetham, Sheffield Assessment Centre
Please find below some additional information from Jagdish Barn, that may be of interest, as well the Case Study and Case Study Report used at the event. Please click on the titles to download the Word documents.
Work with Early Years Providers and Schools
Work with Colleges and Universities
Assessment information for colleges and universities
Course Evaluation Form
Case Study
Please click here to download Katy Tynan’s profile, one of the students who took part in the Student Journeys, Student Voices presentation.
Widening Participation: Evaluating, Measuring and Evidencing Impact II
Tuesday 16th October 2007
9.00am – 4.00am
Holiday Inn, Rotherham
Around 50 delegates from across South Yorkshire attended the first event in our CPD programme for 2007 – 08 at the Holiday Inn, Rotherham, on Tuesday 16th October 2007.
Widening Participation: Evaluating, Measuring and Evidencing Impact II was concerned with looking at methods of generating better evidence than currently exists by enabling WP practitioners to acquire the skills of gathering and interpreting evidence.
Annette Parker, Teaching and Learning Consultant from Rotherham MBC, led an upbeat and engaging morning session on PASS (Pupil Attitudes to Self and School), and the informative and comprehensive afternoon session given by Tamsin Bowers-Brown, Joanne Gledhill and Peggy Haughton, focused on the function and analysis of focus groups as a tool to carry out research and gather data.
Delegate comments:
“Thanks to Annette – an excellent presentation! I shall certainly be looking at PASS in more detail.”
“Focus Groups presentation] posed some interesting points to consider when conducting qualitative research.”
“Well timed. Thought provoking.”
“Excellent – time flew by.”
We would like to thank the speakers for their contributions, the delegates for attending, and EKOS Consulting for exhibiting at the event. If you would like to find out more EKOS Consulting, please visit http://www.ekosgen.co.uk.
Downloads
Please click here to view the event programme.
