The Academies Show took place this past week at NEC, Birmingham and I travelled up with my colleague Jon Gibson, Backdrop Education Services.
Backdrop provide consultancy on a range of things such as reviews of provision, training of staff, governors and learners with special educational needs.
Jon and myself go back to his days at Royal Wootton Bassett School where he was the deputy head. Now he runs his own consultancy company and I am part of his team he calls on when he needs advice about ICT SEN. Click here for more details of what Backdrop do at:-
http://backdropeducation.com/home
The Academies show impressed me by not only providing free parking at the NEC but a free lunch as well ( who said you can’t get a free lunch these days!) . Obviously the organisers would pick up the tab on this. Anyway , the show itself was a first for me and provided me an insight into the current trends in Academies which is school improvement and multi-academy trusts. All sounding like an LA to me!
Apart from the seminars I attended there were other stand comprising of companies representing recruitment agencies. I was told I was sure of a job as a teacher as there is such a shortage of teachers in the academies system.
Building works companies offering to design my academy. And finally teaching and learning outfits which offered help in teaching and learning. This being the most useful as far as John and myself were concerned. As well as the freebees which were quite good – TES provided a diary, NASEN had a SEND seminar stand running continually throughout this one day conference. I will mention these companies in a further blog. I am just recommending the exhibition if you have an interest in education being it teacher, professional or parent you would find the show interesting and useful. All for free I might add!
If you are in an Academy then please consider attending. The show is targetted for you! If AAS and Backdrop can be of service to you please contact me
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