Technology is now driving education, with teachers relying on IT tools every day to deliver dynamic lessons and streamline day-to-day tasks.

In our latest blog post, our Director of Digital Strategy James Clarke discusses his top three IT tools for teachers…

Microsoft Teams

For quick and easy communication all in one place, James recommends Microsoft Teams. 

James said: “Teachers can create virtual classrooms to share assignments, provide feedback and encourage discussions. It also integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft 365 tools, like Word, Excel, and OneNote, making it easy to share resources and work with students in real-time. It’s a versatile and reliable solution that makes everyday tasks much simpler.”

Canva

When it comes to creating resources which are both visually appealing and easy to digest, Canva is a user-friendly tool which can be accessed for free. 

“Teachers can use Canva to create eye-catching lesson plans, presentations, worksheets, and classroom posters with ease. Its intuitive interface and extensive library of templates, graphics, and fonts make it accessible for any teacher, regardless of their design experience.”

“Best of all, Canva for Education provides access to most of the premium features for free!”

Generative AI

 AI has taken the world by storm in recent years and it’s also proving to be a game-changer for teachers. The right AI tools can save time, inspire creativity and enhance teaching methods. 

“ChatGPT can assist with creating personalised lesson plans, generating creative writing prompts, or even answering student questions in real-time. Similarly, tools like Google Gemini can break down complex topics into easily digestible explanations or help design engaging visual aids.”

 “There are now hundreds of AI tools available to help teachers. As a starting point, check out Oak National Academy’s free AI-powered lesson assistant Aila and Mark Anderson’s guide to 32 AI tools for teaching and learning.”

If you’re looking to improve your teaching practice, visit the HISP Teaching School Hub here to explore its full range of courses and CPD opportunities.

The HISP Teaching School Hub has achieved Institutional Member status with the Chartered College of Teaching!

The hub's membership recognises its work to empower local teaching workforces with professional development and qualifications. 

As part of the hub’s membership, it will benefit from access to a network of like-minded professionals, cutting-edge research and innovative teaching practices to strengthen the hub’s offering.

The College aims to champion high standards in education and provide teachers with a voice in shaping the future of the profession.

Deputy Director of HISP Teaching School Hub David Higginbottom said the hub’s partnership with the College is an investment in teaching workforces across the region.

He added: “The College works hard to elevate the status and expertise of educators across the UK. I am immensely proud of our membership - it will significantly enhance the professional development opportunities we deliver to local teachers and the HISP TSH team.

“We always encourage pupils to never stop learning, and the same is true for teachers at any stage of their career. Our offering is driven by the latest research and best practice, fostering a culture of continuous improvement where we always stay ahead of the curve.”

The HISP Teaching School Hub is part of HISP Multi-Academy Trust and offers high-quality education, resources and support for teachers. You can find out more here.

One of our schools, Test Valley near Longstock in Stockbridge, has taken on a brand new name and look!

Test Valley School has transitioned to become Danebury School, with pupils returning in new colours this September. 

Since partnering with HISP, the school has undergone a significant number of changes: strengthening the leadership team, teaching staff, pastoral team and non-teaching staff in a bid to create a more supportive and challenging culture where all pupils can thrive.

The school is nestled in the heart of the beautiful countryside and is just a stone’s throw from the famous Danebury Iron Age Hill Fort. After consultations with all stakeholders, the Danebury School name was chosen because of its local relevance within the community.

Uniforms have shifted from green to navy blue - reflecting HISP’s blue colours and the school's partnership with the trust. Pupils have enjoyed being involved in choosing a more practical, comfortable and affordable uniform.

Head of School Nicky Goodridge said she was looking forward to welcoming this exciting new change.

Nicky added: “As a team we are very excited to be embarking on this new chapter in our school’s history. These changes reflect a reinvigorated commitment to achieving our vision - to build an ambitious learning environment where high expectations promote excellent learning habits and success is experienced by all.

“We are proud of the school’s heritage and will hold tight the nuances which make the school so unique. We are passionate about our values of kindness, excellence, resilience and empowerment. They underpin our culture and will not change. We look forward to building an even brighter future together as Danebury School.”

Executive Headteacher Jo McKeown said: “We’ve been working with Danebury School over the past 18 months, and we have supported the school to rapidly make some key improvements.

“As Danebury School moves forward to the bright future which lies ahead, it will be doing so with a new character and a new look that really puts it on the map.” 

She went on to say that: “Children at the school have been involved in our transition to Danebury school. Their next step is to co-create the ‘houses’ that will be part of our school.”

Last week, Thornden School welcomed its parent and pupil community to enjoy an Iftar Ramadan meal together - a traditional community meal for Muslims to break their fast after sunset during the Ramadan period. 

The school’s Muslim students and their families came together to break their fast with dates and a drink followed by prayer. After this, all guests sat down to enjoy a lentil curry with bread and samosas provided by local community groups. 

The meal was an opportunity for the whole school community to come together and celebrate Ramadan. Invites were sent out to all students - regardless of their cultural background. 

Headteacher at Thornden School Caroline Lowing has said she was thrilled to see so many guests at the meal. 

Caroline added: “This meal means so much to our students - one student came to thank me and said she just couldn’t believe that this was happening at her school.

“Thornden is a really diverse school with a range of students from different backgrounds and cultures. We want students to be able to bring their whole authentic selves to school.

“The meal was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our community. In the future, we want to plan a whole calendar of events like this one to bring together our parent and pupil communities.”

National School Governors’ Awareness Day has been created to raise awareness of governance in our schools and celebrate the contribution that governors and trustees make. It’s a vital role to help schools to overcome challenges, set clear targets and build an improvement strategy that works. 

A few members of our central team have chosen to act as school governors. Here’s what they had to say about their role and what they’ve gained from it…

Why did you choose to be a school governor?

David Higginbottom: “I really wanted to make a difference to a school within our local community and utilise my skills, lived experiences and expertise to help shape the school's strategic direction.”

Kelly Robinson: “I first became involved as a governor as a parent. I thought it would help me understand what the school was offering my children. I understood how schools work, the challenges within the sector and how I can help my child at home as a parent. Four years later, when my youngest child went on to secondary school, I wasn't ready to give up my governance role, so when a governor vacancy came up at the secondary school - I applied and became a parent governor there as well for a further eight years!”

Georgina Crooks: “I have been a school governor for six years and enjoy supporting the school with its strategic development to ensure it can offer the very best possible experience for its pupils. I am Chair of the Education committee and Safeguarding Link governor. Not only do I enjoy working alongside school leaders, but I value talking to pupils and staff and the wider community on school visits and at stakeholder forums. They give you invaluable insight into how to support and challenge the school, moving its development forward.”

Why is the role so important? 

David Higginbottom: “The primary role of a school governor is to hold the Head and school leadership to account, ensuring the strategic direction of the school, along with ethos and values, but in a supportive way. This external support and challenge is essential for every school. It ensures that the school is being well managed and that decisions are being made in the best interest of its pupils.”

Kelly Robinson: “The pace of a school environment is like no other - often there is no time for the operational leaders to take a step back and see what strategic impact you're having on a day to day basis because you're tasked with running the school and the myriad of daily challenges that brings.  Governance provides support and challenge to school leaders when effective, a critical friend to help the wood be seen from the trees and help shape the strategy. Giving something back to the community is very important and has a lasting impact on young people - the fact that it's so rewarding is an added bonus.”

Georgina Crooks: “I think the role of governor is important as it is a unique opportunity to contribute to the local community, support educational excellence and influence the direction and success of the school.”

How has the role supported your development and what opportunities has it offered you?

David Higginbottom: “The role has given me an insight into the management side of a school, developing and enhancing my own leadership skills. It has given me the opportunity to be involved in headteacher appraisal, data analysis and has developed my understanding of school finance and budget management.”

Kelly Robinson: “I chaired the finance committee as a governor. As an accountant and with a sound understanding of school finance, I found it's brought an extra layer to my role that others may not have. It's not all about the finance, but instead the impact every decision has on the learners in our Trust. I have been able to provide internal governance to the organisation, as well as the training courses I attended as a governor providing sector oversight not normally experienced in my role. Plus anyone that works in education will know there are about one million acronyms, so this gave me a head start when I first started working within the education sector!”

Georgina Crooks: “Being a governor has enabled me to refine my leadership skills as I have been part of strategic planning and setting the school's priorities as well as shaping its vision and values. Ultimately, being a governor gives me the opportunity to have a positive impact on children's education and their future prospects by helping shape the environment in which they learn and develop.”

Find out more about National School Governors' Awareness Day here: https://web.strictlyeducation.co.uk/nsgad

Colleagues from across our schools came together for a day of learning, collaboration and discussion about how we can work together to shape a curriculum which challenges, inspires and nurtures each and every one of our pupils.

We were also delighted to welcome guest speakers Bennie Kara and Marc Rowland who shared some valuable insights into how we can best support disadvantaged learners and build a more diverse curriculum.

Bennie Kara is an experienced teacher and the co-founder of Diverse Educators, a training company championing diversity, equity and inclusion in the education sector. Marc Rowland has worked with the Department for Education, numerous local authorities and over 500 individual schools to support their inclusion strategies. 

We’re so pleased to be able to welcome such inspiring speakers for our inset day, and we hope everyone who attended took away lots of valuable new insights. 

Thank you to all of our colleagues for your hard work organising the day!