We couldn't be more excited to finally be hosting this year's conference. In the planning for over two years, delayed by 364 days and now just a few weeks until it arrives.

Within this newsletter you will find all the information you could possibly want to know about each element of the conference. However, if we have missed something please dont hesitate to get in touch. [email protected] or [email protected].

We would like to thank our exhibitors and most importantly our sponsors Lyfta, for supporting this event. Please do click the link and have a look at their offering. 

Lyfta is a story-based digital learning platform that helps schools to weave diverse narratives into the curriculum, build cultural capital, nurture social values and engage children deeply in learning across a range of topics. Getting started with Lyfta is easy, and free. Learn more about our highly-rated CPD and free trial access at www.lyfta.com.

www.lyfta.com

Lyfta is a story-based digital learning platform that helps schools to weave diverse narratives into the curriculum, build cultural capital, nurture social values and engage children deeply in learning across a range of topics. Lyfta invites students to explore and connect with real human stories from around the world through high quality, immersive content, including 360 spaces, short documentaries and rich media articles. The innovative platform also hosts over 160 ready-made, curriculum-linked lesson and assembly plans that teachers can easily adapt. Lyfta provides an accessible, engaging and impactful way to experience real people, cultures, and perspectives from around the world.

94% of teachers surveyed say that their students are highly engaged by or enjoy using Lyfta. Independent academic research has also shown that Lyfta's storyworlds reduce negative feelings around meeting people from different identities or backgrounds. 

Getting started with Lyfta is easy, and free. Learn more about our highly-rated CPD and free trial access at www.lyfta.com

Please do share the above and especially the link with your classroom teachers. This website has some fantastic resources to support the new RSE curriculum. 

Arrival is from 8:30am on both days and via the main entrance to The Barclay Stand, this is located opposite the main road and Morrisons car park.  

Norwich City Football Club is easily accessible by road, train and public transport.

Road: Norwich City Football Club is signposted along the major routes coming into Norwich such as the A11 and A47, with the postcode NR1 1JE taking you directly to the carpark, where you will find ample parking for several hundred cars. On arrival you will be facing the main reception, please go to the right of the stadium towards The Holiday Inn, following the path around the side of the stadium until you reach the entrance to The Barclay Stand. 

Train: Norwich Train Station is less than ten minutes on foot from Carrow Road. When walking out of the station turn left and follow Koblenz Avenue to reach the stadium. Alternatively, walk straight over at the traffic lights next to the entrance to the train station car park and continue through the Riverside Leisure complex to reach the stadium.

Public transport: Most buses coming into the city centre now stop at Castle Meadow or Norwich Bus Station, both are a 15-20 minute walk to the stadium. From Castle Meadow bus stops walk away from the city centre, following The Prince of Wales Road (the big hill) all the way to the bottom, where you will reach Norwich Train Station and then follow the directions above. From Norwich Bus Station there are a variety of equidistant routes to the stadium. We suggest using Google Maps to select the one you prefer, selecting walking not driving and then it can be followed to the stadium. 

Please note the venue is situated on multiple floors, if you require lift access this is not a problem, please do let Becky know in advance [email protected] so we can ensure you have the relevant information to access the lift. 

Refreshments are all being served in The Top of the Terrace from menus designed, trialled and selected by Delia and her chefs.

The Top of the Terrace has panoramic views of the stadium, 3 refreshment bays to avoid queues and ample seating to admire the views whilst you eat. 

Thursday 14th October

Arrival and coffee breaks

On arrival and at each of the coffee breaks freshly brewed tea and coffee will be available, alongside iced water and accompanied by a different treat each time including muffins, biscuits and cakes. 

Lunch

A cold fork buffet of poached salmon fillet with a green herb mayonnaise, home-cooked local smoked ham with Cumberland sauce and roast squash and sweet potato salad with curried mayonnaise.

Accompanied by warm new potato salad with a lemon and chive vinaigrette, Mediterranean roasted vegetable couscous salad with harissa dressing, freshly baked, warm granary and white bread rolls, and a salad of mixed leaves with sherry and balsamic dressing.

With two delicious choices for dessert; passion fruit brûlée or baked vanilla cheesecake with cinnamon cream and dark maple syrup

Friday 15th October

Arrival and coffee breaks

On arrival and at each of the coffee breaks freshly brewed tea and coffee will be available, alongside iced water and accompanied by a different treat each time including muffins, biscuits and cakes. 

Lunch

A hot fork buffet of archers pork sausages in cider with apples and juniper, marinated chicken with honey and ginger served with mango and sultana salsa and roasted Mediterranean vegetable lasagne served with mixed salad with sherry vinegar dressing

Accompanied by crusty bread, seasonal vegetables & new potatoes with olive oil and herbs. 

Another two delicious choices for dessert, this time from chocolate cheesecake with dark chocolate shards and chilled pouring cream or key lime pie

The exhibitor stands are in the refreshment area. Without the support our sponsor Lyfta and the other exhibitors we would not be able to make the conference happen, please do speak to them if you can. 

Please ensure you have made us aware of any dietary requirements by 1st October at the latest in order for us to ensure their is an appropriate alternative available to you. 

At the conference we have 12 workshops for you to select a choice of 4 from. Please view the programme below for full details

This year's key note speakers are Diana Osagie, James Heale, Andy Wood and Laura McInerney

Diana Osagie - Leader, Trainer, Entrepreneur, Author and Speaker.

Diana has over 20 years' experience in the education sector, including 6 years as a successful headteacher in a London secondary school; Diana works at the cutting edge of leadership development and has substantial success in developing school wide models that strategically enhance the quality of teaching and learning across the curriculum and can couple sound strategic vision whilst giving clear operational direction. 

Diana's website

James Heale - Leadership expert and coach

James Heale is a leadership expert with a track record of success at providing one-to-one executive coaching and personalised leadership development programmes to ambitious individuals and organisations. Following six, successful years as Headteacher of Vyners School and Executive Headteacher of the Vanguard Learning Trust in West London, he now serves as Director of Leadership and Development for Tower Hamlets Education Partnership and is also Strategic Lead for the School of PiXL leadership.

James' website

Andy Wood CEO of Adnams

CEO, NED and Educator with a history of working in food & drink, financial services, retail and HE sectors. A business development professional, skilled in Negotiation, Corporate Social Responsibility, Business Planning, Sustainable Business and Public/Private Partnerships. A believer in business being a force for good and responsible capitalism. Passionate about building brands and developing progressive organisational cultures.

Laura McInerney - Journalist, Teacher, Author, Speaker, App creator

Laura McInerney is a columnist for the Guardian and the former editor of Schools Week. She co-founded Teacher Tapp, the successful daily survey app answered by 8,000 teachers’ live. She was also once taken to court by Michael Gove for asking difficult questions!

Laura's website

Many of you joining us for dinner will head home or to your hotel room next door in between the day and evening to reconnect with your families, rest and change. 

For those that we be staying at the venue we have reserved a space for this purpose and are awaiting confirmation from the venue as to where this will be. Please check back here for updates and we will of course be happy to tell you on the day.

To ensure we have enough refreshments and a large enough space please let Becky or I know, ideally in advance, if you will be staying on with us in the interim.

There are coat areas where you are welcome to hang a change of clothes throughout the day if you wished to change before the evening, we will be reserving on specifically for this purpose, please speak to Becky or I on arrival if it is not clear from the signage. 

Alternatively, The Holiday Inn next door has a public bar and we are of course very close to the city centre which has a vareity of options to help you utilise your time.   

Thursday 14th October

Top of the City - located via the South Stand entrance, which is opposite the main car park/next to the Holiday Inn.  

Arrival from 7pm for a dinner at 7:30pm. 

The dress code for the evening is smart casual.

In order to faciliate reconnection and conversation we have opted not to provide after dinner entertainment this year. There is however background music and the bar and as always, there is a space should you wish to dance.    

Menu 

Starters

Leek, Onion and Potato Soup with Cream and Chives

Smooth Chicken Liver Pâté with Cognac and Homemade Pear Chutney

Thai Fishcakes with Sesame and Lime Dipping Sauce

Mains

Poulet aux Riesling
served with Steamed Buttered Potatoes and Herbs and Green Beans in Shallot Butter

Californian Grilled Cod Fillet (a cheese and breadcrumb topping)
served with Chunky Coriander and Lime Tartare Sauce, Steamed Buttered Potatoes with Herbs and Braised Peas with Rocket and Spring Onions

Wild Mushrooms in Madeira en Croute with Foaming Hollandaise served with Buttered New Potatoes
with Herbs and Seasonal Vegetables

Desserts

A Very Chocolatey Mousse with Softly Whipped Cream

Meringue with Vanilla Mascarpone Cream and Passion Fruit

Bramley and Cox’s Apple and Almond Crumble served Warm, with Chilled Proper Custard

Please click here to make your selection by 1st October at the latest.

If we have been made aware of a dietary requirement you will have been contacted seperately with an alternative menu to meet you requirments. Please contact Becky if you need an alternatve menu.  

To help minimise any impact of COVID at the conference we have taken a number of steps, each of which are detailed below. 

1. Out of courtesy to everyone who will be at the event, we would kindly ask everyone to undertake a LFD test prior to arrival on both days and to not attend if they are experiencing any COVID symptoms. We are asking this of both delegates and exhibitors. NCFC have their own policy with their staff which they will also be following to keep everyone safe. 

2. We have ensured as much seating as possible in each of the spaces we are using and are utilising T.V. screens to enable you to spread out if you wish, without impacting on your experience or ability to view what is being presented. 

3. We have asked the venue to come in to the rooms in use during the coffee breaks and change out water glasses and so forth to prevent accidental use of one used by someone else as well as increased cleaning of all facilities in use by our delegates. 

4. We are using all of the refreshment bays available in The Top of the Terrace to help spread delegates out when queuing and reducing the number of people using the same utensils to serve their food. 

5. Bottles of hand santiser will be available on entry to the venue, each of the rooms we are using for key notes and workshops as well as in The Top of the Terrace to use before serving food.  

All the resources shared by the keynote and workshop speakers will be shared with delegates in a zipped file via email within a week of the conference. 

If on receipt you believe there to be something missing, please do not hesitate to contact Becky or I and we will endeavour to source it from the speakers for you and share it with all delegates. 

Your feedback is vitally important in helping us improve the conference for the next year as well as identifying topics that you would like covered before then in our virtual and face to face updates.

A link to a feedback survey will be sent alongside the resources from the conference, we would gratefully appreciate your responses.