As the idea of the 'learning school' has begun to grow over the last few years, one woman has been right at the heart of this revolution.
Jackie Beere has been a leading player in this transformation, as a teacher, an Advanced Skills Teacher (for which she was awarded an OBE), an advisor to government and bodies such as the Specialist School and Academies Trust, an in-demand speaker, an author and, in recent years, as a successful headteacher of a genuine learning school (a post she has recently left behind in order to develop the national and international platforms for her work).
In recent months her contributions to the world of education have included staff and leadership training for personalised learning, working as School Improvement Partner for a Local Authority, working with headteachers and leadership teams to instigate rapid improvement of standards, creating innovative leadership solutions on a Redesigning Headship project for the National College for School Leadership and From Satisfactory to Excellent Teaching – using her experience as an AST and AST assessor to train teams to aim for the very best practice in the classroom.
She has even found time to add to her growing list of written work, writing and producing materials to develop emotional intelligence in leadership, staffrooms and classrooms.
In fact, there are few people in education today who have not only brought to life all the ideas and innovations associated with 21st century learning but also developed and tested so much material that is making into way into mainstream teaching.
(One example she is particularly proud of is introducing into her former school the exciting and innovative Opening Minds competency-based curriculum that really can make a difference in helping KS3 students develop transferable skills and learn to think independently.)
And as a passionate teacher as well as school leader and speaker, she can look at innovations in learning from all sides, combining practical classroom-based ideas with insights from her experience with workforce remodelling, developing lead practitioners, transforming learning and even creating the inclusive ethos for Every Child Matters.
She is also an accredited assessor for both AST and Excellent Teacher status, not to mention a qualified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner.
Recent feedback from conferences where Jackie has been invited to speak include comments such as:
- It’s so good to hear such enthusiasm and passion for learning
- We wanted you to be inspiring and thought-provoking and you certainly achieved both...you managed to inject a burst of energy into Friday afternoon and captured the essence of the day with clarity
- I could listen to Jackie for hours
- Loads of great practical ideas and a really inspiring style
- Jackie's main impact was probing us to think about what kind of school and what kind of learners we need to develop in our schools in the 21st century
- I will be planning to incorporate Jackie's ideas into small scale studies as well as whole school development
- For Jackie's prices click here
- People who benefited from Jackie have also enjoyed Mike Brearley
So, if you're looking practical learning strategies for the classroom or ideas, innoavtions and inspirations to help your school become a learning school then please call the Independent Thinking office on 0709 239 9617 or e-mail us at learn@independentthinking.co.uk
Articles written by Jackie Beere:
Books written by Jackie Beere:
TV Programmes with Jackie Beere: