The count down is on to the World Education Summit (21 to 24 March) and we would like to invite all practitioners from across our Northern Alliance council areas to come together with us for some exclusive wraparound sessions.

Our Signposting Guide highlights a number of sessions linked to Michael Fullan’s Four Right Drivers, and we’re looking at our work across the Northern Alliance through this lens.

The four presentations with highlighted backgrounds will be followed by bespoke sessions led by some of our local authority education leaders, giving us all an opportunity to reflect and delve deeper into how what we’ve heard connects with the work we’re all doing on a daily basis. These are open to all practitioners across our eight council areas and we hope you will join us.   

Joining instructions will be emailed to you and will also be available within the World Education Summit platform.

You’ll notice one of the highlighted presentations involves our very own Northern Alliance QIM Kathleen Johnston who is presenting alongside Professor Michael Fullan as one of just a handful of Scottish educators taking to the world stage at this year’s event.

Laurence Findlay, Lead Officer for the Northern Alliance and Director of Education and Children’s Services for Aberdeenshire Council, will be leading one of the wrap around sessions.

He explained why these are so worth taking part in: “The Northern Alliance is investing in all of our practitioners by funding access to the World Education Summit because it presents a huge opportunity. It’s a chance for all practitioners across our council areas to benefit from world-leading insights, to access a whole suite of professional learning opportunities throughout the year and to come together with colleagues and address shared challenges.

“We’re also aware that while it’s beneficial to think global, we also have to act local. It’s beneficial to consider things in our urban and rural Scottish contexts. The wraparound sessions will be a chance for discussion among likeminded colleagues from across our local networks. We look forward to seeing you there!”

Practitioners from all schools and early years settings across the eight Northern Alliance council areas can sign up for free places at this year’s World Education Summit. This is fully funded by the Northern Alliance and means you can enjoy year-long, flexible access to professional learning tools and talks as part of ‘Summit Central’, as well as the conference itself from 21 to 24 March.

If you are not signed up already, you must register using a bespoke Northern Alliance registration link to gain FREE access. Everything you need to know about how to register has been shared with lead education officers and professional learning leads within each local authority. It is also available via our Northern Alliance SharePoint site in Glow. You’ll be able to access a padlet with lots of key pointers and information as well as a bespoke registration page. You can register as an individual or one person from your school or setting can upload participants on behalf of a group.

Northern Alliance Curriculum Workstream Lead Kirsty Campbell added: “We are so excited that you will be joining us at the World Education Summit next week. Not only will you have free access to the live presentations from some of the greatest minds in education, passionate teachers and brave leaders from every corner of the world, but we are offering you the opportunity to join colleagues from across the Northern Alliance in our facilitated wraparound sessions.”

The Summit is the largest annual virtual gathering of the greatest minds in education, passionate teachers and brave leaders from every corner of the world. Over 200+ speakers will present over 4 days (21-24 March) on 10 stages, across 10 themes.

If you are struggling to access Glow or haven’t been able to find the registration details via your local authority, then please get in touch by emailing kirsty.campbell@argyll-bute.gov.uk