Fire extinguishers at the ready for conference

AMONG the many festive TV treats on offer, you may have enjoyed the 2022 Christmas Lectures from the Royal Institution (Ri), broadcast on BBC Four in late December.

The 2022 lectures, with one of the world’s leading forensic investigators, Dame Sue Black, included trademark demonstrations and audience participation. Early viewing figures suggest they were as popular as the previous year’s lectures, which enjoyed the highest ratings for a decade.

But creating three seamless hours of primetime TV takes months of careful planning, and NEU members played a crucial role thanks to our formal partnership with the Ri, signed in October 2019.

With tickets to the lectures’ filming in the Ri’s theatre allocated through a Wimbledon-style ballot due to their popularity, the Ri also offers free tickets to schools in disadvantaged areas of the UK. This year, the NEU was able to help, linking the Ri up with reps at some schools that hadn’t engaged with the Ri before.

Feedback from the students shows that over 80 per cent felt their understanding of what scientists do had increased, while twothirds said they had a better understanding of science’s place in our lives. The Ri’s own audience analysis indicates the highest ever levels of diversity, another area that the Ri is committed to progressing.

The NEU is looking forward to welcoming the Ri to our annual conference in April, when its professional science presenters will be showcasing CPD activities offered through the Ri’s Science in Schools programme. Fire and explosions will be involved – risk assessments have been submitted… n The 2022 Christmas Lectures will be available on BBC iPlayer until December, and on the Ri website with a back catalogue of lectures dating back to 1966. Visit rigb.org

Register now for NEU leadership convention

THIS year, like the last few years, has been very demanding for those in leadership roles. It can be tempting to feel that identifying time to think, consolidate and learn is a luxury.

In spite of this, the union is inviting leaders to create a day to focus on themselves – by attending the leadership convention 2023. It takes place on Thursday 9 March at the Hilton DoubleTree Tower of London Hotel.

We’ll offer vital updates on issues such as funding, teacher retention and the pay campaign. We’ll try and inspire you with fresh ways to think about the complex challenges you face.

We offer, perhaps most importantly, the opportunity to have time with other senior leaders.

The convention will feature breakout sessions including: n Tackling the retention challenges through life-friendly leadership n Thinking about the needs of disadvantaged learners and how to empower them and your staff. n Visit neu.org.uk/neu-leadership

Our keynote speaker Dr Kenny Frederick, a founding member of the helpline Headrest, will talk about inclusive leadership and the courage to lead differently. She will draw on her extensive experience in schools and present some practical ideas.

The session will also cover the importance of wellbeing for you and your team, and how to support staff to promote positive behaviour and think about the effects of trauma.

This is a free event for NEU leadership members and registration is now open.

ON Saturday 14 January, the NEU’s support staff conference was held in person for the first time since 2019.

The atmosphere was one of solidarity and it was great to see support staff members once again being able to network with each other.

Conference was opened by NEU president Louise Atkinson, who spoke about her past experience working as a teaching assistant and as a teacher. She explained how hard it is to work in a class with no teaching assistant and still be able to support and include everyone.

Louise introduced NEU joint general secretary Mary Bousted, who praised the valuable job that support staff do and how vital they are to a school. She spoke about the increase in NEU support staff member numbers to over 50,000 members.