The document summarizes the upcoming SSAT National Conference in December 2012. The conference will bring together school leaders and teachers to discuss how to innovate learning and redesign schooling for the 21st century. Key topics to be explored include developing student-centered learning, encouraging collaboration, fostering creativity and entrepreneurship in the curriculum, and creating a culture where teachers feel empowered to take risks and try new approaches. The conference aims to provide networking opportunities and showcase innovative practices from schools in order to inspire educators and generate practical ideas to improve teaching and learning.

2. There has never been a more important time
for the teaching profession to come together
to define the purpose of our education system…

3. We don’t believe that education should be measured solely by
exam results.
We believe that students need a curriculum that will prepare them
for the challenges of the 21st century.
We believe that you – the school leaders and teachers who know
education better than anyone – are best placed to lead the redesign of
schooling to shape a world-class education system.
We know we can’t work harder, so we need to work smarter.
School leaders must be empowered to support teachers to
try new approaches, to do things differently to do them better.
We call this innovating learning, which is the theme of
this year’s conference.
As the UK’s only independent membership organisation for all schools,
with the largest UK and international network, SSAT exists to work with
you to lead this agenda – by schools, for schools.

4. That is why the SSAT National Conference 2012 brings together a world-
class line up of speakers - and more outstanding practice from schools -
than ever before…
…to explore the big questions surrounding how we can innovate learning
and redesign schooling to prepare students for the 21st century.
Questions like…

5. How do we develop a model of teaching that is centred around teachers
and students co-constructing learning?
Ewan McIntosh has spent the last five years developing a
set of pedagogies that engage students in co-
constructing their curriculum and understanding their own
learning - freeing the reins of learning from the hands of
the teacher.
Ewan’s keynote will:
• suggest processes to create the space for innovation
• explore what collaborative, student-designed, and
student-led learning looks like
• provide practical ideas to develop effective project-
based learning through ‘Design thinking to put more
learning in the hands of students’.
Co-construction

6. What are the building blocks to ensure students, teachers, and schools
are better able to work together to address shared challenges?
Eric Mazur’s ‘Flipped Learning’ approach is now employed by
educators across the world. It involves students working through
material in advance, bringing to the classroom problems and
questions they have identified, and working collaboratively to
solve them, with the teacher’s role to support and guide.
Professor Mazur will share how he developed this approach.
Two schools will present a showcase to share their experience
of ‘flipping the classroom’.
Bill Lucas is co-director of the Centre for Real-World Learning at
the University of Winchester. Bill’s work has transformed how
teachers work together collaboratively. His keynote will be on
‘Pedagogy unplugged – how the learning sciences can help
leaders, teachers and pupils create outstanding teaching and
learning.’ He will unpack the pedagogies behind peer teaching and
demonstrate why these approaches are so effective in developing
deep learning.
Collaboration

7. How do we design a curriculum that offers academic rigour while
encouraging the creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship that learners
need to develop for life in a globalised world?
25 year old Emily Cummins is an award-winning innovator and young entrepreneur.
By the time she left school, she had designed a sustainable refrigerator ‘powered’
by dirty water. She spent five months in Africa training local people to make her
fridges - tens of thousands are now in use in sub-Saharan Africa.
Emily will share her story to examine how she was able to develop the skills that
have helped her develop solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems
– and will argue for a curriculum that enables other students to do the same.
‘If we allow students to be innovative and make things they
are passionate about, they’ll start to see the bigger picture.
I want today’s students to realise that they really can
make a difference and design something that can
change people’s lives.’
Creativity

8. How can school leaders encourage teachers to innovate learning?
Is the drive for accountability an icon of conservatism, or can it be
an agent of innovation?
How can leadership bring about lasting change and influence the redesign
of schooling?
‘There are no limits to what our teachers can achieve if we support
them in the right way.’ Dylan Wiliam will open the conference with a
challenge to current policy by asserting that it is teacher expertise
not academic achievement that has the greatest impact on learning.
Dylan will focus on how leaders can embed AfL and create a
culture in which teachers are actively encouraged to take risks.
Don Passey is the leading academic in understanding how digital
technologies can enhance and support learning. Don will share his
recent research on the use of learning technologies and unpack how
leaders can create a culture in which creativity can flourish.
‘For me, culture is something that is managed and created by vision
and leadership, and within that, the elements of co-construction,
collaboration and creativity emerge, develop or are created.’
Culture

9. SSAT’s 20th National Conference is the event
of the year for school leaders and teachers to
debate and share their responses to these questions.
Extensive networking opportunities
- build and extend your contacts with UK and international schools
See outstanding and innovative practice
- more school rondevals than ever before
A variety of keynotes, workshops and showcases
- discuss ideas with keynote speakers
Immersive professional development
Be inspired, energised and get practical ideas to take back to your school
Together, we can set the agenda to innovate learning
and redesign schooling, but we need YOU to be there
to add your voice and represent your school.

10. Book your place:
www.ssatuk.co.uk/nationalconference
SSAT’s 20th National Conference
4-5 December 2012
AAC, Liverpool