Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Leeds Beckett to host UK’s largest teacher training event
From 18 July to 1 August education charity Teach First will host over 3,000 delegates as part of its 13th annual residential training event, Summer Institute. Delegates will include: Teach First 2014 and 2015 participants, university tutors plus school and business leaders. Across 2014, and now 2015, the event will contribute a total investment of £5.5m to the city of Leeds.
During the two weeks, Teach First will also host the Impact Conference 2015 (29 - 30 July). This unique education conference is the biggest in the charity’s history, with seminars, lectures, workshops and panel debates. Delegates will be able to network and collaborate with over 150 practitioners and peers in 140 sessions. They will also be able to explore resources and career opportunities at an exhibition of over 85 education and business exhibitors.
Speaking at this year’s Impact Conference will be Teach First’s Founder and CEO, Brett Wigdortz OBE, the television producer behind Blackadder and QI, John Lloyd and newly announced, the Right Honourable Nicky Morgan MP, Secretary of State for Education.
Speaking ahead of the event, Director of Leadership for Teach First, Reuben Moore said: “Teach First has worked closely with our colleagues at Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds over the last year, planning and preparing the venues and a packed programme. The event space provides the perfect setting in the heart of Leeds, where we can accommodate all of our participants and deliver our high quality training, as part of their two-year Leadership Development Programme.
“Our teachers are committed to helping more young people believe in themselves and helping to make a positive impact on society by closing the gap in educational inequality. Without the right space to prepare and train our participants, this would not be possible.”
Professor Susan Price, Vice Chancellor of Leeds Beckett University added: "It gives me great pleasure to welcome Teach First’s Summer Institute to Leeds for the second time this year. At Leeds Beckett University, we share Teach First’s vision and ambition, with a long and proud history of raising educational aspiration and supporting the success of students from very diverse backgrounds. We are proud to be part of this collaborative project and to be hosting such a high profile and significant event."
This year Barclays has been announced as the Impact Conference headline sponsor, who are supporting the event as part its 5 Million Young Futures goal to help young people build enterprise, employability and financial skills. 2015 also sees Pearson become the Impact Conference’s CPD sponsor, whose research shows that effective professional development for teachers is one of the most powerful ways of improving outcomes for learners.
Teams from Well Met at Leeds Beckett University and MEETINLEEDS at the University of Leeds worked together to secure the event for Leeds, which had previously taken place at the University of Warwick. Valued partners, first direct arena and accommodation providers Unite, University of Leeds, Grey Star and Campus Living Villages are set to provide additional venue space and bedrooms.
The two weeks are the culmination of the six week, nationwide Teach First Summer Institute. However, this is just the start of the training that participants will undergo as part of the two-year Leadership Development Programme, teaching in schools serving low-income communities across England and Wales. This includes Yorkshire and the Humber, where Teach First has placed over 500 teachers since 2009. This year, the charity will place 166 teachers across the region, including in Leeds and Sheffield.