Leading and Managing Multigenerational Teams 2025-26

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A new session brought to you by Alban Education on Leading and Managing Multigenerational Teams

With changing expectations in the workplace, what are the behaviours and trends that are occurring in your schools and how are you equipped as a middle and senior leader to manage these, sometimes conflicting, workplace expectations and behaviours.

This session will be repeated on 3 separate occasions and you can choose from the options below.

After booking you will receive a link to indicate your chosen session.

Date Time Venue
Thurs, 30 April 2026 2:00-3:30pm Springmead Primary School, Hillyfields, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 2HB
Mon, 18 May 2026 2:30-4:00pm Sandringham School, The Ridgeway, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL4 9NX
Wed, 20 May 2026 4:00-5:00pm Online – joining link to be shared after booking

What are the objectives or outcomes?

These session will explore themes how:

  • To deconstruct generational stereotypes and move beyond common myths and misunderstandings.
  • To identify key areas of division in changing expectations in the workplace.
  • To be able to recognise unconscious bias to support your generational biases and in turn strengthen your own leadership style.
  • To support staff retention and well-being.
  • To consider the range of external trends that impact the expectations and demands of our workforce.
  • To recognise and incorporate key Gen Z behaviours and expectations in your organisation.

Who is this course for?

  • Middle Leaders
  • Senior Leaders
  • Support staff
  • Governors

Meet the facilitator

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vocal Health for Teachers 2025-26

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Alban Education are delighted to be offering this voice workshop entitled, ‘Vocal Health for Teachers,’ in partnership with Lydia Shariff, Opera Singer and former teacher.

This will take place on Wednesday, 29th April 2026 from 4pm to 5.30pm at Sandringham School.

Session Overview

Who is this course for?

All teachers and leaders

Meet the Facilitator

Lydia Shariff is an opera singer and former teacher with a great passion for vocal health and education. In her opera career she has worked with companies including Royal Ballet and Opera and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and her performing has taken her to sing internationally to Paris and The Netherlands.
Lydia qualified as a secondary school music teacher with the Alban Federation in 2018 before completing her NQT year at a through school academy in Tower Hamlets teaching from years 1 up to sixth form.

Literacy in Every Classroom | Secondary 2025-26

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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 held at Sandringham School as follows:

  • Friday, 12th June 2026 – 09:00-15:15, refreshments and lunch included

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.

Mental Health First Aid training Spring Cohort 2025-26

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Become an accredited mental health first aider!

Alban Education are excited to work in partnership with Mental Health First Aid England to bring to you this outstanding CPD opportunity in the experienced hands of Vas Hirani.

This training will take place over two days at Sandringham School from 08:30 hrs to 16:30 hrs on the following dates:

  • Thursday, 12th March 2026
  • Friday, 13th March 2026

Refreshments and lunch will be provided.  Attendance is compulsory on both days to achieve certification.

There is a maximum number of 16 delegates on this programme.

Brief Overview

Train as an MHFAider® and you’ll get three years of MHFAider Support and Benefits to help you feel empowered and confident in your role. With MHFA England® training you will be accessing the very best evidence based MHFA® course available. Our training is grounded in research and developed with clinical practitioners. It is proven to increase MHFAiders confidence in supporting people with mental health issues. With our new offer, training doesn’t stop when the course comes to an end. We provide continuous support for MHFAiders – well beyond your initial certification – so you are confident, empowered and motivated to carry out your role.

MHFA TRAINING FLYER
FURTHER DETAILED INFORMATION HERE

Who is this course for?

This course is ideal for individuals who would like to become an MHFAider® to gain the knowledge, awareness, and skills to spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health, be confident to start a conversation, and signpost a person to appropriate support.​ Open to anyone in a school community, teachers, leaders, support staff and governors.

Meet the Facilitator

Flourishing Teacher Programme 2025-26

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NEW! Flourishing Teacher Programme – Launch Spring 2026

NEW national programme in partnership with the National Society of Education and delivered locally and online. Aimed at those beyond ECF, perhaps 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 Wellbeing; tailored coaching. Investing in flourishing teachers to support and sustain their ongoing retention and enjoyment of our profession.

CANCELLATION ON THIS PROGRAMME IS REQUIRED BY 5TH DECEMBER.  AFTER THIS DATE A LICENCE FEE WILL BE PAYABLE IN THE EVENT OF NON-ATTENDANCE.

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

Module Dates
Induction and Module 1: Purpose Wednesday 7th January 2026
Sandringham School, St. Albans
9.00 – 2.30
Module 2: Relationships Wednesday 25th February 2026
Virtual
2.00 – 3.30
Module 3: Teaching and Learning Tuesday 21st April 2026
Virtual
9.00 – 10.30
Module 4: Resources and Expertise Wednesday 10th June 2026
Virtual
2.00 – 3.30
Module 5: Wellbeing Tuesday 8th  September 2026
Virtual
3.15 – 4.45
Consolidation and Celebration Event Wednesday 4th November 2026
Sandringham School, St. Albans
1.00 – 4.30
DOWNLOAD FLOURISHING TEACHERS PROGRAMME BROCHURE HERE

Who is this course for?

  • 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.

 

Network | Art Teachers and Leaders 2025-26

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Join our fun, creative and informal Art Network. We aim to create a supportive and creative community where art teachers can connect, share ideas and collaborate with one another. Offering opportunities for ongoing professional development through practical workshops, webinars and guest speakers and sharing our resources.

Face to face twilight sessions will be held termly from 4pm to 5.30pm at Sandringham School. The network will be charged at £30 in advance for the year or £10 per session when joining part way through.

Session 1: Monday, 6th October 2025

Session 2: Monday, 2nd February 2026 – Printmaking

Session 3: Monday, 1st June 2026

Last year’s activities included:

Collage based workshop.                     Creating a textiles piece with Sara Button

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Sketchbook making

Who is this course for?

  • Primary and secondary art teachers from ECT to HODs.

Meet the facilitator

Sarah Gidden, Sandringham School

Sarah is a fine artist specialising in oil painting and photography. Sarah has taught art to all ages from infants to University of the third age. With over 20 year teaching experience she is passionate about art and education. After becoming a mum to twins in 2011 Sarah enjoyed a career break to raise her family and develop her art skills further. She has exhibited in many galleries including The Collective Gallery , The Nude Tin Can and St Albans Museum as well as Courtyard Arts in Ware and The Broadway in Letchworth.

 

Liz Kelly, Director of Learning (Visual Arts and Arts Coordinator), Sandringham School

Network | MFL Teachers 2025-26

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This network is a chance for teachers of MFL to meet to discuss current issues in secondary phase languages education, to form good cross-school relationships and share best practice.

The network will consist of three face to face sessions which will run from 4pm to 5.30pm at Sandringham School on the following dates:

  • Session 1: Monday, 29th September 2025
  • Session 2: Monday, 16th March 2026
  • Session 3: Monday, 11th May 2026

This programme is £30 in advance or £10 per session when joining part way through the year.

Who is this for?

Heads and Seconds in Languages Departments, Teachers of MFL

What are the objectives or outcomes?

On this programme participants will:

  • Discuss changes to the MFL curriculum.
  • Discuss the challenges facing teachers of MFL.
  • Share best practice.

Areas of focus

The course will include:

  • Facilitated sessions.
  • Reflection and review.
  • Planning next steps.

Meet the facilitator

 

David Williams, Sandringham School

 

 

Fleur Baikie, Sandringham School

Healthy and Toxic relationships & Empowering young people 2025-26

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Alban Education are delighted to be running, ‘Healthy and Toxic relationships & Empowering young people,’ in partnership with Links Multi Academy Trust during the Spring 2025-26 term.

This session will take place in the Spring Term on a date to be confirmed (not 7th Oct) from 4pm to 5.30pm at Sandringham School.

Please email cpd@albaneducation.co.uk to express your interest for this session

Understanding what a  healthy relationship is can be very confusing to young people especially since it can look different for different people and can evolve over time. There are many nuances involved, and the idea of a “healthy relationship” can vary depending on personal values, culture, and past experiences. But at its core, a healthy relationship should promote well-being, growth, respect, and mutual happiness.

Empowering our young people to understand the dynamics of healthy and toxic relationships is essential for their personal development, mental well-being, and future happiness. Through education, communication, emotional intelligence, and support, we can guide them toward forming healthy, respectful relationships while also equipping them with the tools to recognize and escape toxic environments when necessary.

Meet the facilitators

Links Academy Trust

Fiona Haynes, Outreach Manager

Fiona’s career started in television where she was employed by Yorkshire Television as a video editor for 15 years. She worked for the News, Documentary and Drama Departments.

Following a move to Hertfordshire in 1998, Fiona changed career to work in schools. She was employed by Sandringham School supporting the Media Department, then moved to the Links Academy teaching Media and managing the network. Since then, she has set up and managed an Inclusion Centre within a school in Hemel Hempstead, worked for the Local Authority as an Integration Officer and now manages the Outreach Team at the Links Academy supporting secondary schools across Welwyn, Hatfield, Hertsmere, St Albans and Harpenden with managing behaviour.

 

Tracy Backhouse, Higher Level Outreach Worker

Tracy Backhouse began her career in HR leading on several programmes at British Telecom, namely their Graduate Recruitment programme, Fastrack leadership programme and BT’s Apprenticeship programme where she also completed her MSc in HR Management and gained her CIPD.

After 15 years with BT, Tracy joined a Law firm as their HR Business Partner managing a team of 18 across offices in St Albans and the City where she was responsible for developing and delivering HR initiatives in line with the firms’ objectives. Alongside this, Tracy designed and introduced a staff mental health programme, to support employee’s well-being.

Tracy began studying for her diploma in Psychotherapeutic counselling in 2019 accruing over 100 clinical hours as a bereavement counsellor for the charity Cruse, whom she still volunteers for on a weekly basis.

Tracy joined Links Academy in January 2022, working on site at Hixberry as Pastoral Leader with responsibility for behaviour and as a Deputy DSL for safeguarding. In April 2023, Tracy joined Fiona in the Outreach team supporting young people who are experiencing social, emotional, mental health and behaviour difficulties across Secondary schools in St Albans and Harpenden. This includes:

  • 1-1 support
  • Group work
  • Staff training
  • Reintegration support
  • Managed move support
  • Signposting and advice & strategies

Network | Maths Teachers 2025-26

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This network is a chance for teachers and ECTs of Mathematics to meet to discuss current issues in secondary phase mathematics education, to form good cross-school relationships and share best practice.

The network will consist of termly face to face sessions all running from 4pm to 5.30pm at Sandringham School.

  • Autumn Session: Date to be rescheduled

In the first session we will focus on closing gaps between:

  • PP and non-PP
  • boys and girls

and ensuring that LPAG students achieve the best grade possible whilst also ensuring that UPAG students achieve top grades.

  • Spring Session: Date to be agreed at the end of the Autumn session
  • Summer Session: Date to be agreed at the end of the Spring session

This programme is £30 in advance for three sessions or £10 per session when joining part way through the year.

Who is this course for?

Teachers of Mathematics, ECTs (Mathematics)

What are the objectives or outcomes?

On this programme participants will:

  • Confidently plan well sequenced lessons
  • Design and deliver purposeful questions, supporting the needs of all students
  • Discuss setting, mixed attainment and the mastery approach to teaching Mathematics
  • Support teachers new to teaching KS4 or KS5
  • Share best practice

Areas of focus:

The course will include:

  • Mathematics planning and delivery
  • Cognitive overload and knowledge retention
  • Supporting all students to become successful mathematicians
  • Difficulties faced by Maths teachers

Meet the facilitators:

Sarah Pope, Head of Maths and Computing, Simon Balle All-through School

Becoming an Effective Learning Supervisor 2025-26

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Alban Education are running our successful Becoming an Effective Learning Supervisor session again during the Spring term on a date tbc.

Please contact laura.lusardi@albantsh.co.uk if you would like to be added to the waiting list for this programme.

The session will focus on:

  • What does the role entail?
  • How you can make a difference
  • Behaviour and Class management tips
  • Feeling part of the school community

 

Who is this course for?

New & existing Cover / Learning Supervisors to the role.



“I loved how the course was organised and delivered; it made everything feel so clear and easy to follow. I genuinely feel like I came away with so much valuable knowledge.”

Meet the Facilitators

Lily Pratt, Consultant

Lily has been the lead learning supervisor at Sandringham school for over 5 years.

She believes cover supervisors play a vital role in guaranteeing that learning takes place in the absence of the class teacher by creating a continuity that ensures the lesson has meaning and allows for student progression.

 

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

Our 5 Pillars

Early Career Framework

Appropriate Body Services

National Professional Qualifications

CPD

Initial Teacher Training

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