Beyond Education

What happens when you gather a select, cross section of HR Leaders to discuss current issues on all things HR? Recruitment Director, Liz Nevitt, speaks to a panel of experts to explore areas on Inclusion & Diversity, Mental Health & Well Being and the benefits of working within a collaborative culture.

Paul Andrews is a well known businessman in Kent. He speaks candidly about his origins of working at a paper mill, then he progressed into IT and how his knowledge of tech opened up opportunities to FTSE 100 listed companies such as Citibank and Goldman Sachs. It's no surprise having been borne from a family of entrepreneurs, with his Grandmother owning six shops back in the early 1900's, that Paul was naturally destined to run his own business. He is the CEO of JobsInKent and Fruitworks, a successful co working space in Kent. Paul accidentally found his niche in becoming a motivational speaker and is a respected business mentor.  A charismatic and engaging personality, Paul is a keen supporter of the small business community and his great sense of humour is felt throughout this interview. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did recording it!

Today we are speaking with Paul Donkersloot, the CEO of KWEST Multi Academy Trust. Paul is an expert within the SEN education sector, having specialised in SEN and special schools for over 40 years. Paul discussed the challenges to implement change, how the Education Reform programme focused on academic outcomes than supporting children with special needs appropriately, such as learning life skills. Paul highlights how changing attitudes has enabled these schools to welcome diversity & inclusion,  to be more transparent and are better supported by society and mainstream schools. The underlying message is to have the right process in place at the Early Years Foundation Stage which will ensure every child receives the right start to a good education. We hope you enjoy it!

What happens when you bring five education thought leaders to the table for an open forum of discussion on the challenges of leadership, financial governance and a fair education system for all children? A spectrum of ideas, opinions and experiences of how education has evolved. How inclusion and diversity is the foundation of a creative and collaborative experience for our children. Exam results are necessary measurables, however, the end destination is the child reaching those goals and how the education system can do more to support this, from investing in Early Years through to Post 16 education and beyond. Enjoy this insightful conversation!

We chat with Andy Riches, ex CEO of LEAP Multi Academy Trust on all things education from his beginnings as an NQT teaching Maths which quickly pivoted into Design &Technology, to his rise through the ranks of Head of Department, to Headteacher and ultimately CEO  of a small MAT in the Midlands. Andy has experienced first hand the challenges of social and economic impact on schools and why there isn't a 'fit for all' curriculum. We talk about how this challenge is an opportunity for Senior Leaders and expert stakeholders to get behind this conversation and to make a difference!