This week we welcomed nearly 200 educators and parents to our annual Bryanston Education Summit, an event that mixed high-profile keynote speakers with workshops exploring teaching, learning and adolescent wellbeing.
The day opened with an interactive presentation by Googlebox star and educator, Baasit Siddiqui, followed by cricketing legend Kumar Sangakkara who drew parallels between leadership on the sports field and in education.
Secondary School Teacher of the Year, Oli McVeigh, joined Ferndown Upper School, Deputy Head Deneen Ketchington unpacked their award-winning boys’ mentoring programme, while returning favourite Amjad Ali shared practical strategies for supporting pupils with special educational needs. Every delegate received a complimentary copy of Ali’s new book SEND in Schools.
Elsewhere, former English teacher-turned-academic Dr Haili Hughes tackled staff workload and positivity; psychologist Dr Lindsay Browning mapped sleep patterns in teens; and Alanna Fraser of Character Compass demystified the online “manosphere” influencing many boys. Alicia Drummond, founder of The Wellbeing Hub, talked about how to have open conversations with teenagers at home.
Adding a splash of colour to the Bryanston lawn was a retro double-decker bus from James Shone’s “I Can & I Am” foundation, offering pupils and visitors a mobile resilience workshop.
Bryanston staff also took centre stage with science teacher Dr Ben Pullan hosting a fireside chat with Kumar Sangakkara; PE teacher and double Olympian Beth Rodford leading a session on elite-sport mindsets with top hockey coach James Morris.
Commenting on the milestone event, Stephen Davies, Education Summit Director, said: “A decade on, the summit proves that when schools, families and experts work together, every child benefits. We’re already planning how to make the next event even better.”
