Network | History Teachers 2026-27

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Alban Education are delighted to continue into the second year of our History Teachers Network for 2026-27.

Face to face twilight sessions will be held termly from 4pm to 5.30pm at Sandringham School on the following dates:

  • Thursday 5th November 2026
  • Thursday 25th February 2027
  • Thursday 3rd June 2027

This network is £30 for all three sessions or delegates joining part way through the year will be charged at £10 per session.

Who is this course for?

All history teachers – any experience welcome

What are the objectives or outcomes?

On this programme participants will:
  • Discuss opportunities and challenges linked to all key stages of the history curriculum (KS1-5)
  • Reflect on the impact of curriculum reform since 2019 and the progress made with regards to representation in the history curriculum
  • Consider the use of oracy in the history classroom
  • Share best practice amongst delegates
  • Develop local history knowledge and embed into curriculum topics

Areas of focus:

The course will include:

  • Facilitated discussion
  • Developing pedagogy
  • Ideas for collaboration
  • Reflection and review

Meet the facilitator:

Ruth Davies is currently Assistant Director of Learning of History at Sandringham School and has over 20 years of teaching experience across a range of secondary schools in Leeds, Hertfordshire and North London. She has previously been both Head of History and Head of Humanities and has worked across schools to ensure history departments collaborate and support each other with curriculum development. As an experienced Edexcel examiner and participant in Parallel Histories, Ruth is committed to ensuring CPD offers the opportunity for informative collaboration and ideas on practical classroom implementation.

Flourishing Teacher Programme for Secondary Phase 2026-27

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Flourishing Teacher Programme for Secondary Phase 2026-27

Running for a second year this is a national programme in partnership with the National Society of Education and delivered locally and online. Aimed at secondary school teachers beyond ECF, in Years 4 – 8 of their teaching journey – developing depth of thinking on the art and craft of excellence in pedagogy; exploring five modules on Purpose, Relationships, Learning, Resources and Expertise and Wellbeing and tailored coaching. Investing in flourishing teachers to support and sustain their ongoing retention and enjoyment of our profession.

BOOKING/CANCELLATION ON THIS PROGRAMME IS REQUIRED BY 11TH SEPTEMBER.  AFTER THIS DATE A LICENCE FEE WILL BE PAYABLE IN THE EVENT OF NON-ATTENDANCE.

After 11th September, late bookings may be considered subject to availability but there will be no option to cancel and no guarantee of a place on the programme.

 

Starting October 2026 – this is a one year programme which will take place on the following dates:

Module Dates
Induction and Module 1: Purpose Friday, 9th October 2026
Sandringham School, St. Albans
9:00-2:30
Module 2: Relationships Tuesday, 24th November 2026
Virtual
09:15-10:45
Module 3: Teaching and Learning Wednesday, 3rd February 2027
Virtual
9:00-10:30
Module 4: Resources and Expertise Friday, 12th March 2027
Virtual
13:30-15:00
Module 5: Wellbeing Thursday, 29th April 2027
Virtual
2:00-3:30
Consolidation and Celebration Event Friday, 18th June 2027
Sandringham School, St. Albans
12:00-15:30
DOWNLOAD FLOURISHING TEACHERS PROGRAMME BROCHURE HERE

Who is this course for?

  • Secondary School Teachers in years 4 – 8 of teaching.
  • Experienced classroom practitioners wishing to enhance their teaching practice in a transformative development space.

Meet the Facilitators

Karen Taylor-Paul NPQEL FCCT FRSA is the Director of the Alban Teaching School Hub which oversees outstanding professional development for teachers at all stages of their careers across over 300 schools in Hertfordshire.  Her teaching career started in secondary Music teaching and Arts leadership before moving onto wide-ranging senior leadership roles. Karen’s role now encompasses system leadership across all school phases from Initial Teacher Training through to Executive Leader and Trust development; she ensures DfE policy and system change are implemented in schools across the whole Golden Thread of professional development.   Karen’s work aligns with the DfE Recruitment and Retention remit for Teaching School Hubs and also promotes the work of subject hubs and Universal RISE to ensure school leaders and teachers are informed on the best evidence-based professional development opportunities for their schools to benefit the outcomes of every child.  Karen sits on a number of regional and national professional development advisory boards.

There will also be invited speakers across a range of topics.

 

Annabel Brown

Annabel Brown is a former EEF Research School Director and current NPQ Facilitator at Alban Teaching School Hub, with extensive experience in supporting schools to embed evidence-informed practice. As a Senior English Advisor and experienced English teacher, she brings a wealth of expertise in curriculum design, coaching, and professional development, all grounded in her ongoing classroom practice. Through her leadership of the Literacy Network, Annabel draws on her background in whole-school improvement, disciplinary literacy, and reading fluency to support literacy leaders and teachers in developing strategic, research-informed approaches that make a real impact.

 

Mental Health Knowledge for Managers 2026-27

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Mental Health Knowledge for Managers is available on a rolling basis and will be undertaken online, at your own pace, in 25 minute blocks amounting to 3 hours total training time.

Please book to the left and full instructions will be shared with you for you to undertake this programme.

Brief Overview

Designed using the latest statistics and real-world scenarios, this fully accessible course brings together seven streamlined modules in one package.

Course modules:

  • Supporting employee mental health.
  • Understanding equality.
  • Managing workplace stress.
  • The mental health conversation cycle
  • Understanding reasonable adjustments.
  • Managing performance.
  • Balancing life and work.

Who is this course for?

Open to anyone in a school community, teachers, leaders, support staff and governors.

Meet the Facilitator

Mental Health First Aid England.

Literacy in Every Classroom | Secondary 2026

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Strong literacy underpins success in every subject. This one-day course supports all teachers in responding to the new Ofsted inspection toolkit and curriculum review, with a focus on practical strategies that make a real difference in classrooms.

Participants will explore the latest evidence on effective reading, writing, oracy and vocabulary instruction, and examine how literacy development connects to disciplinary knowledge in their own subjects. The course balances research with hands-on examples, helping teachers identify and address the specific literacy demands of their curriculum area.

Throughout the day, participants will have guided time to plan how to integrate and sustain these approaches within their school context. Whether you teach English, science, or art, this course will help you build pupils’ confidence and independence as readers, writers, and communicators—embedding literacy as a shared responsibility across the whole school.

This session will be rescheduled for Autumn 2026 – book to the right or please email cpd@albaneducation.co.uk to register your interest.

Who is this course for?

Teachers and leaders of all subjects in secondary schools.

Outline for the day

Time Session Focus
8:45 – 9:00 Arrival, Tea & Coffee Informal welcome and networking.
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome & Introduction Setting the scene: why literacy matters across subjects.
9:15 – 10:15 The Big Picture: Literacy in Secondary Schools Research evidence; Ofsted, curriculum review and national priorities; disciplinary approaches; exploring common barriers to literacy.
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 11:30 Reading Reading complex texts; adaptable classroom strategies.
11:30 – 12:30 Writing Case studies from different subjects; writing in disciplinary forms; vocabulary instruction.
12:30 – 1:00 Lunch will be provided
1:00 – 2:00 Oracy Practical strategies to increase opportunities for talk in the classroom.
2:00 – 3:00 Implementation Planning Workshop Dedicated time to apply strategies to own school context; drafting an action plan.
3:00 – 3:15 Plenary & Next Steps Sharing key insights; signposting further resources and networks, evaluation.

Meet the facilitator

Annabel Brown

Annabel Brown is a former EEF Research School Director and now works as a Facilitator with Alban Teaching School Hub and a Literacy Specialist with New Wave English Hub. She has extensive experience supporting schools to embed evidence-informed practice and improve outcomes through sustainable approaches to teaching and learning.
A Senior English Adviser and experienced classroom teacher, Annabel brings expertise in curriculum design, coaching, and professional development. Drawing on her background as an Assistant Headteacher, she supports schools to strengthen whole-school improvement, disciplinary literacy, and reading fluency – helping teachers develop strategic, research-informed approaches that make a measurable impact on pupils’ learning.

Contact Us

Alban Education
Sandringham School
The Ridgeway
St. Albans
Herts, AL4 9NX

Email: cpd@albaneducation.co.uk
Phone: 01727 799560
Laura Lusardi: ext 4251
Marketing & Communications Manager

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Contact Us

Alban Teaching School Hub
Sandringham School
The Ridgeway
St. Albans
Herts, AL4 9NX

Email: enquiries@albantsh.co.uk
Phone: 01727 799560

Sophie Walsh: ext 4281
Business Director

Laura Lusardi: ext 4251
Marketing & Communications Manager

Victoria Angel: ext 4400
Appropriate Body Services

Dan Smith: ext 4548
Early Career Teachers

Jo Cavanagh: ext 4271
email: teaching@albantsh.co.uk
Initial Teacher Training

Alban Education Courses