CONFERENCE FOCUS

With student behaviour issues, attendance concerns, social media incidents and mental health issues all on the rise, the role of the Head of Year and developing those who are in post and aspiring to take on the role has never been more important.

This forward-looking, innovatory conference is aimed at ambitious Heads of Year who are looking to become outstanding in the role, staff preparing to take the next steps in their career, as well as senior leaders who are responsible for spotting potential and strengthening their pastoral teams.

This vibrant and exciting conference will address and explore the key challenges and opportunities the Head of Year faces, providing strategies and approaches to ensure buy in from staff and students, with focuses on what makes an outstanding head of year, investigating student underperformance and developing excellent tutor teams.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Hear from leading experts and practitioners who are driving improvements in pastoral leadership
• Learn more about what the Head of Year does, the decision making, key challenges and common mistakes
• Find out more about how to conduct subject comparisons, identify progress trends, collaborate with department heads and teachers to tackle underperformance
• Develop effective strategies for leading and engaging in difficult conversations with staff
• Take away practical strategies to deal with Issues that arise from student interactions on social media
• Know how to effectively manage severe behaviour and attendance
• Gain an understanding of how to write and design successful personal development programmes

PROGRAMME

Introduction & Welcome:

The Behaviours of an Outstanding Head of Year

• What does a Head of Year do? The decision making, the key challenges and common mistakes
• Managing and leading tutor teams; the approaches, methods and strategies needed to inspire and develop others
• Communicating the vision, conveying the culture – how do you build it in, get the message across and maintain high expectations and high reward?
• How do you develop yourself to ensure you become an outstanding leader?

Morning Break

The Role of the Head of Year in Raising Academic Achievement

• Conducting subject comparisons and identifying progress trends, collaborating with department heads and teachers to tackle underperformance
• Monitoring, tracking, assessing and analysing rapid progress data
• Identifying vulnerable students and groups before it’s too late
• Implement targeted interventions and provide support, recognising the impact of effective feedback

Professional Learning: Empowering Your Team to Engage in Controversial Debates with Students

• Developing tutors to effectively discuss challenging and sensitive topics with students
• Ensuring tutors create the right climate for students to engage in debates, discussions, and expression of individual opinions
• Identifying vulnerable students and groups before it’s too late
• Developing effective strategies for leading and engaging in difficult conversations with students

Lunch

Breakout Strand 1

1A: Dealing with Serious Issues from Student’s Social Media Interactions

• Dealing with severe issues arising from social media such as racism, bullying, and the sharing of inappropriate or sexual images
• Establishing robust processes, systems, and guidelines to effectively manage incidents on social media, including from Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook
• Implementing staff CPD, equipping them with confidence and the necessary skills to address severe online issues
• Involving parents in the response to severe online interactions and fostering their active engagement

1B: Academic Intervention: A Contemporary Approach

• Academic intervention – Investigating the full picture with all related staff
• The role of the Head of Year in making interventions work
• Coherent tracking opportunities: leveraging reporting and tutoring systems
• Support+: A coaching/mentoring approach case study

Break

Breakout Strand 2

2A: Tackling Severe Behaviour & Attendance

• The responsibilities of the Head of Year in tackling severe behaviour and attendance issues
• Effectively managing severe behaviour incidents – making the right decisions
• Addressing and tackling the impact of severe absenteeism and EBSA
• Implementing strategies to effectively engage with parents on issues of severe behaviour and attendance

2B:Creating the Right Environment to Maximise Student Personal Growth and Development

• How the Head of Year creates the conditions conducive to maximising personal growth and development in their year group
• Ensuring students are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses
• Enriching student experiences through wider curriculum opportunities and onward destinations
• Developing and nurturing student character by instilling moral values, embracing diversity, and promoting respect and kindness