GEM One Day Conference

Monday 9 July 2007

LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM MANIFESTO:

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE HERITAGE SECTOR

Bishopsgate Institute, London

This one-day conference will give you an opportunity to find out more about the implementation of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto across the heritage sector, and to debate and influence its development.

The aim of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto is to ensure that all young people have a variety of high quality learning experiences outside the classroom environment, and to “make a difference” to the amount and quality of learning outside the classroom.

The heritage sector is defined here to include museums, libraries and archives; historic houses, sites and environment; local history; science and discovery centres; and zoos and aquaria. John Stevenson (Director, GEM) has been asked by the DfES to represent the heritage sector on a national advisory group, and is developing a heritage sector partnership to encourage full participation, ownership and involvement in the drawing up of a manifesto action plan.

Who should attend from the heritage sector?

Providers: senior learning & access professionals; managers with responsibility for education
Specialist Advisors: subject associations; special interest groups
Users: head teachers, teachers, directors of children’s services, governors, parents with a particular interest in using the heritage sector to enhance teaching and learning

Learn more about:

“Out & About” package of training and guidance for teachers
plans for a new family of safety and quality badges
evaluating quality provision
“making the case” communications strategy

Join in discussions on:

involving all stakeholders in the heritage sector partnership; the development and delivery of the Manifesto Action Plan; and the communications campaign
what should be the key elements of the “out & about package”
how to develop a simple but effective safety/quality badge scheme
how best to “make the case”
actively involving users in ensuring their needs are met

PROGRAMME

09.30 Registration & refreshments

10.00 Welcome to Bishopsgate Institute
Anna Salaman, Director of Public Programmes

10.05 Introduction to the aims and objectives of the conference, and the role of the Heritage Sector Partnership in encouraging full participation, ownership and involvement in the drawing up of a manifesto action plan.
Dr John Stevenson, Director, GEM

10.20 “Out & About” Package
How this package (which has been put out to tender) will address the key barriers to high-quality learning outside the classroom opportunities for children and young people.
Peter Carne, LOtC Learning Champion, DfES

10.40 Evaluating Quality Provision
An insight into quality provision and its contribution to raising achievement in schools. The possible impact on monitoring and evaluation in schools, including Ofsted and the new SEF (Self Evaluation Form).
Mike Tones, LOtC Learning Champion, DfES

11.00 Breakout Sessions 1
How should the heritage sector work with schools and the successful bidder in (a) mapping existing advice, guidance and training opportunities; and (b) developing a continuing professional development framework for teachers and support staff, headteachers, governors, providers and local authority staff?

11.30 Feedback from Breakout Sessions 1

11.40 Health & Safety: The HSE perspective, and the factors to be considered in developing the revised Health & Safety for Pupils on Educational Visits (HASPEV) guidance
Ian Park, Outdoor Education Advisers Panel

12.00 Breakout Sessions 2
Discussion of the desired contents of the planned “light touch helpful guidance” – in particular that to do with risk management – and what should be mandatory.

12.30 Feedback from Breakout Sessions 2

12.45 Lunch & Networking

13.45 Safety & Quality Badges
An overview of existing accreditation schemes and those in development, and the factors to be considered in developing a universal scheme.
speaker to be confirmed

14.05 Breakout Sessions 3
How can we bring together existing safety and quality badges/accreditation schemes – or develop a new one – to form one easily recognised and understood system for schools and other users?

14.35 Feedback from Breakout Sessions 3

14.45 Making the Case
The essentials of the campaign to “make the case” for learning outside the classroom.
Beth Longcroft, Band & Brown

15.05 Breakout Sessions 4
Discussions of ways we can help to develop the key messages; provide the evidence and assist Band & Brown in their communications campaign.

15.35 Feedback from Breakout Sessions 4

15.45 Refreshments & Speed Manifesto Dating
An opportunity to meet and network with members of the LOtCM Heritage Sector Partnership; form partnerships to help implement the Manifesto; find ways of participating in the development of the Manifesto

16.30 Conference ends

Speakers and members of the LOtCM Heritage Sector Partnership will lead the breakout session discussions.

Delegates will be able to fill in a contact sheet enabling them to be kept informed of news and further developments, and to pledge their support for the Manifesto in whatever way they think is appropriate.

Full notes of the conference and breakout sessions will be collected together and distributed to delegates.

This conference is being subsidised by the DfES.

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