Network | Sixth Form Leaders 2026-27

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Alban Education are delighted to continue the Sixth Form Leaders Network for the academic year of 2026-27.

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

  • Tuesday 20th October 2026
  • Wednesday 10th February 2027
  • Thursday 17th 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?

Sixth Form Leaders

What are the objectives or outcomes?

  • To share best practice to support post 16 students
  • To discuss changes to the post 16 educational landscape
  • To discuss common challenges that face sixth form

Areas of focus:

The course will include:

  • Changes to the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework and its implications for post 16 education
  • Changes to the academic landscape
  • Careers Education/UCAS
  • Pastoral care
  • Independent learning

Meet the facilitator:

Head of Sixth Form: Sara Calverley, Sir John Lawes School

As Head of Sixth Form, Sara has overall responsibility for the academic and pastoral wellbeing of our students. Sara has 20 years experience of supporting students in preparing for life beyond KS5, and has been both a curriculum and pastoral leader in 4 outstanding schools, both in the UK and internationally. In addition to her role as Head of Sixth Form, she also teaches Sociology and Psychology A Level and delivers the EPQ qualification. Sara is also a qualified mental health first aider.  Sara lives in Harpenden and has two children.

Network | Secondary Literacy 2026-27

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Alban Education are delighted to be running our successful Literacy Network for Secondary Phase which will promote most recent research, resources and approaches for Literacy within the current Ofsted framework.

Booking in advance will secure one place on all three sessions for your school however a different staff member may attend each session if the focus is more relevant for them.

Your booking is for all three sessions in advance.  Delegates may join part way through the year and will be charged on a pro-rata basis.

Face to face sessions will be held at Sandringham School termly as follows:

  • Tuesday, 20th October 2026 – 09:30-11:00
  • Friday, 12th March 2027 – 09:30-11:00
  • Tuesday, 11th May 2027 – 09:30-11:00

Sessions will focus on:

Empowering Literacy Leadership: Designed to build subject leadership expertise in literacy through evidence-informed input, practical tools, and peer collaboration.

Current and Relevant Content: Each session explores national priorities (e.g. Reading Framework, Ofsted focus, English Hubs) and timely topics such as oracy, disciplinary literacy, transition, and AI in education.

Collaborative and Reflective Structure: Sessions include input, case studies, group planning, and peer sharing—creating space to reflect on and plan for impact in your setting.

Who is this course for?

Suitable for any secondary school leaders, teachers, teaching assistants, librarians who have any responsibility for literacy across the curriculum.

What are the objectives or outcomes?

  • To offer practical ways in which schools can successfully adapt their current provision of literacy, to maximise impact
  • To examine the key literacy demands within the current Ofsted framework
  • To share the most recent research and resources to support literacy provision in schools
  • To provide a networking opportunity for schools to collaborate and share best practice

Meet the facilitator

Annabel Brown

Annabel Brown is a Literacy Specialist with the DfE English Hubs and an experienced facilitator across ITT, ECTP and NPQs. She supports secondary schools to strengthen reading and whole-school literacy through evidence-informed practice.
A former EEF Research School Director, Assistant Headteacher and Senior English Adviser, Annabel has extensive experience in school improvement, curriculum development and professional learning. She is passionate about helping schools develop research-led strategic approaches to literacy that improve outcomes and enable all pupils to access an ambitious curriculum.

Sixth Formers into Teaching 2026-27

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Join our LIVE ZOOM MEETING on Wednesday, 21st October 2026 at 4pm to find out more about delivering our Sixth Formers into Teaching programme in your school setting.  Book to the left of this page to receive the joining link.  Please check your junk folder if you do not receive this immediately.

Who is this for?

Secondary Phase | Heads of Departments, Sixth Form Leaders, Careers Advisors

Meet the facilitator

Carolina Unsain, Head of Spanish, Sandringham School

Carolina is an experienced Head of Spanish at Sandringham School and a teacher of Spanish and French. She is passionate about teaching and learning and has lead staff development and curriculum changes in the MFL department over the last eleven years. She has a background in TESOL (Teaching English to Students of Other Languages) and has worked in international environments in the UK and abroad leading the academic provision for students of primary and secondary age as well as adults. She is hoping this session will give you the tools and structure to deliver this new exciting programme and inspire future generations of teachers.

Network | Design & Technology and Food & Nutrition Teachers 2026-27

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Welcome to our established Design & Technology and Food & Nutrition Teachers network for 2026-27.

This network is a chance for Teachers of Design and Technology and Food and Nutrition to meet to discuss current issues in Education, to create cross school relationships and share ideas and best practice.

Termly sessions will take place from 4-5.30pm on the following dates:

Session 1: 12th October 2026
Session 2: 18th March 2027
Session 3:  8th  June 2027

Venue will be confirmed prior to each term.

Sessions will be £30 for the year in advance or £10 a session if joining part way through the year.

On this programme participants will:

  • Discuss current best practice and new ideas.
  • Discuss ways we can stay up to date with our ever-changing subject.
  • Discuss how we can use blended learning within our subject area.
  • Share quick wins and teaching and learning tips.
  • Share ideas on how best to set- up industry links in the community and how to harness them to provide opportunities for students

Areas of focus:

  • Sharing good practise.
  • Inspiring students with industry links.
  • Networking with other colleagues.

Who is the course for?

All teachers of Design and Technology from ECTs to HoDs.

Meet the facilitator

Scott Tweeddale, Head of Technology, St George’s School

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
9:00-14:30
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
14:00-15:30
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.

 

MTPT Supporting Working Parents 2026-27

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Hear from the CEO of MTPT and look at your strategy for supporting working parents in your organisation

In the midst of our ongoing recruitment and retention crisis, we know that we need to do all we can to fill vacancies with quality practitioners, and hold on to valuable staff.  But more often than not, our focus falls onto recruiting new trainees into the profession, and retaining them beyond the first 3-5 years.  With recruitment targets missed again and again, it’s a system that doesn’t seem to be working.  So what are we missing?
Join Emma Sheppard, founder of The MTPT Project, the UK’s charity for parent-teachers, to understand how concentrating our efforts on a different group of teachers – women aged 30-39 – will have a greater impact not just on teacher retention, but on recruitment, quality of teaching and learning and the overall health of our workforce.
She’ll share little-known statistics about this mid-career demographic, the largest group to leave teaching every year, as well as what we can do to support them to remain in the profession.  You’ll finish the session with an improved understanding of Schools Workforce Census data, strategies that you can implement immediately, and a vision for a longer term plan for retention, equality and wellbeing.

This session will be held on Monday, 19th October 2026 from 2pm to 3.30pm at Sandringham School.

Speaker

Emma Sheppard
Founder of The MaternityTeacher PaternityTeacher Project

 

The MaternityTeacher PaternityTeacher Project
The UK’s charity for parent-teachers.
Inspiring, empowering and connecting teachers choosing to complete CPD on parental leave.

Book in a call with me: www.calendly.com/emmasheppard

🌐 www.mtpt.org.uk

📷 Find us on Instagram

👋 Find us on Facebook

🔗 Find us on LinkedIn

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.

MTPT Sustain and Grow Group Coaching Sept 2026 Tues cohort

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Overview
A six-month coaching programme for parent-educators seeking sustainability and growth in their personal and professional lives.

Working in our schools can feel all-encompassing at the best of times. Add a young family into the mix and life can quickly become overwhelming and stressful. At The MTPT Project, we see too many amazing, experienced colleagues burn out, feeling forced to choose between their careers and their families.

But teaching, leading and supporting in schools can be compatible with family life – even the most family-friendly career choice going!

Join us on our Sustain and Grow group coaching programme this September to take control of your work and home lives.

BOOK DIRECT ON EVENTBRITE HERE

All sessions run live online (zoom) from 3.30pm to 4.30pm

Dates and Session Content 2026-27

As part of an empowering community of parent-teachers in similar situations, we’ll explore six key topics over six sessions:

  • Tuesday 22nd September – Reducing Overwhelm
  • Tuesday 6th October – Managing Time and Energy
  • Tuesday 10th November – Rationalising the Inner Critic
  • Tuesday 1st December – Living Our Values
  • Tuesday 12th January – Strengthening Boundaries
  • Tuesday 2nd February – Brave Conversations

Sessions will run online (Zoom) on Tuesdays, 15:30-16:30. If you cannot attend the live dates, hybrid or fully recorded access to the programme is available.

Who is the programme for?

Parents of young children who are in teaching, leadership, central Trust or support staff roles in our schools. The programme is suitable for colleagues who have recently returned from parental leave, all the way up to parents with a child aged five or younger.

Our Sustain and Grow group coaching programme is fully inclusive of all parents – it’s not just for mums!

Who is our facilitating coach?

Emma Sheppard is the Founder of The MTPT Project. With twelve years’ experience of teaching and leading in challenging contexts, working both full and part-time as a middle leader and mother to two young children, she knows the emotional, logistical and physical battles that we go through as parent-teachers.

After founding The MTPT Project in 2016, Emma qualified as a coach in 2022, secured her ACC with the ICF in 2023 and has been delivering 1:1 and group coaching since 2017.

Emma creates a calm, open space where coachees feel confident to share and move forwards with their goals in a safe space where challenge is gentle but insightful, and the focus is on making things better.

Workshop places are fully-funded for state-school colleagues in England thanks to support from our regional school, MAT and TSH partners. Please do thank your local organisation on social media or in person for their support.

Emma Sheppard
Founder of The MaternityTeacher PaternityTeacher Project
Inspiring, empowering and connecting teachers choosing to complete CPD on parental leave.

Book in a call with me: www.calendly.com/emmasheppard

www.mtpt.org.uk

Instagram: @mtptproject

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-mtpt-project/

Facebook: @The MTPT Project

MTPT Return to Work Workshops 2026-27

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For teachers, school leaders and support staff returning to work after a period of maternity, adoption or shared parental leave.

Returning to work following a period of maternity leave can be a nerve-wracking experience, exacerbated by the emotions surrounding leaving a small baby for the first time.

But with our 90 minute workshop, we’ll get you feeling confident and prepared for your return!

As well as detailing key legal information and sharing expectations of best practice, you’ll benefit from a coaching-style approach giving you the headspace to consider what you need now, the boundaries you can set, what you want your life to look like as a parent-teacher, and the chance to share tips to get organised at home and at school.

If you can’t make our live dates, please explore the recorded version of the workshop.

BOOK DIRECT ON EVENTBRITE HERE

All sessions are online from 09:30 to 11:00

Autumn 2026

  • Thursday, 1st October
  • Monday, 7th December

Spring 2027

  • Tuesday, 26th January
  • Tuesday, 9th March

Summer 2027

  • Tuesday, 4th May
  • Tuesday, 8th June
  • Friday, 9th July

RECORDED ACCESS HERE

This workshop is fully-funded for state school colleagues in England (teachers, leaders, support staff, central Trust colleagues, and those intending to return to state school settings following parental leave / a caring-related career break.)

 

Case Study

As part of a regional Teaching School Hub partnership in the South East, Alban Teaching School Hub are proud to be supporting The MTPT Project’s Return to Work Workshops throughout the academic year 2024-25.

This 90 minute interactive webinar offers colleagues in the South East the opportunity to prepare logistically and emotionally for a confident return to work following a period of maternity, adoption or shared parental leave.

Ensuring the programme is fully-funded for state school colleagues is just one of the ways that Alban Teaching School Hub is addressing recommendations in the recent Missing Mothers report by The New Britain Project and The MTPT Project, which found that only 38% of mother-teachers surveyed were satisfied with the maternity leave and transition support provided by their school.

Fleur Baikie, a secondary middle leader in Hertfordshire attended a Return to Work workshop in February 2025.  Fleur said she enjoyed, “having some time to really think about returning to work without interruption and with the support of Emma (the facilitator) and the other parents at the workshop.”  She loved the “concrete examples” shared and says the workshop has increased her confidence about returning to work.

Find out more about The MTPT Project’s fully-funded Return to Work workshops, including upcoming dates and other regional Teaching School Hub sponsors on Eventbrite.

Emma Sheppard
Founder of The MaternityTeacher PaternityTeacher Project
Inspiring, empowering and connecting teachers choosing to complete CPD on parental leave.

Book in a call with me: www.calendly.com/emmasheppard

www.mtpt.org.uk

Instagram: @mtptproject

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-mtpt-project/

Facebook: @The MTPT Project

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
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Victoria Angel: ext 4400
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Dan Smith: ext 4548
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Jo Cavanagh: ext 4271
email: teaching@albantsh.co.uk
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