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.

 

Using AI in education settings: facilitation of the DfE support materials 2025-26

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Join Dan Smith, one of the contributors to the DfE teacher support materials for the safe and effective us of AI in schools, as he helps you navigate and work through the programme in a collaborative and constructive way to suit your school’s needs.

3 face to face facilitated sessions across the Autumn and Spring term of 2025-26 to take place at Sandringham School from 4:00pm to 5:30pm on the following dates:

  • Session 1: Tuesday, 14th October 2025
  • Session 2: Tuesday, 9th December 2025
  • Session 3: Thursday, 19th March 2026

Who is this course for?

All teachers and support staff in education

Resources

Resources that you will be guided through are ‘Using AI in education settings: support materials from the DfE.’

The three sessions will cover the four modules included in these support materials:

Understanding AI in education: module 1

Interacting with generative AI in education: module 2

Safe use of generative AI in education: module 3

Use cases of generative AI in education: module 4

Meet the facilitator

Dan Smith

Deputy Director of Teaching School: Early Career Lead

Previous Computing Hub lead, Dan has been at the forefront of Computing education, including Artificial Intelligence for many years. His work too as Deputy Director of the TSH has seen him lead EdTech initiatives in support of the Early Career Framework in conjunction with Best Practice Network.

Network | History Teachers 2025-26

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Alban Education are delighted to launch a History Teachers Network for the academic year of 2025-26.

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

  • Thursday 6th November 2025

The first session will be looking at the topic of ‘considering controversial history’ and the use of sensitive language in the classroom.

  • Thursday 26th February 2026
  • Thursday 4th June 2026

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

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 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.

Middle Leadership Ready! 2025-26

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Alban Education are delighted to run this four session programme providing essential skills for outstanding middle leadership.  This will be cross-phase with specific primary and secondary facilitators every session allowing delegates to benefit from tailored training specific to their individual setting.

What are the objectives or outcomes?

This programme will support you in:

  • Reflecting on your personal strengths
  • Developing skills of leadership
  • Exploring your own vision and values
  • Drawing together theory and practice
  • Sustaining effective leadership

Who is this course for?

  • For colleagues new to middle leadership roles
  • For colleagues moving to middle leadership roles
  • For aspirational middle leaders

Twilight sessions will take place at Sandringham School from 4.00pm to 5.30pm on the following dates:

Session 1 Wednesday, 19th November 2025 Management or leadership? Understanding leadership styles
Session 2 Monday, 26th January 2026 Leading effective meetings and managing people
Session 3 Wednesday, 4th March 2026 Application of data (including tracking SEND data)
Session 4 Wednesday, 13th May 2026 Coaching and unlocking potential

A minimum of 75% attendance is required in order to receive certification on this programme.

Meet the facilitators

Primary Lead | Leanne Bridges

With 14 years experience, Leanne is a dedicated primary school teacher specialising in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.  She currently works across both primary and secondary education settings and holds qualified SENCO accreditation.  Leanne also has a strong background in leading Music and Physical Education within the primary setting.  She is passionate about integrating the arts into her teaching to enhance engagement and learning outcomes.

 

Secondary Lead | Amy Stothard, Director of Learning, Music, Sandringham School

Amy Stothard is an experienced form tutor and is currently the Head of Music at Sandringham School. She has been working in education for 13 years and has worked with tutor groups and students with a wide range of needs. She is passionate about the impact that form tutors have on the day to day experience of students, their wellbeing as well as on their longer-term outcomes.

 

 

Secondary Lead | Fleur Baikie, Sandringham School

 

 

Network | Secondary Literacy 2025-26

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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:

  • Wednesday, 5th November 2025 – 09:30-11:00
  • Friday, 6th March 2026 – 09:30-11:00
  • Tuesday, 12th May 2026 – 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 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

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