Developing schools
Inspiring Futures Helen Jeys celebrates the GSA Conference of 2018
The life of a Head is a busy one and, often, it is difficult – for many reasons – to leave school for a few days. However, I never feel any shred of guilt for going to the annual GSA Heads’ Conference. Not only do I come away refreshed and re-energised but I know that the speakers will fill me with ideas that I will want to implement in my own school. The 2018 conference was no different. The theme, this year, was #inspiringfutures; how can we prepare our students for a world which we neither know nor can predict? In her opening speech, GSA President, Gwen Byrom, spoke of the roles we have in independent schools to transform the life chances of children through Bursaries and our duty to undermine the stereotypes often associated with our sector; to encourage those poor families to see an independent school as a viable option for their children and, thus, to really contribute to social mobility. She also spoke about an issue very pertinent to the GSA sector: that of ensuring that we expose young girls – particularly those of a primary age – to a diversity of role models, both male and female, so that girls’ career aspirations are not, by the age of 7, gender determined. We enjoyed a fabulous presentation by Professor Robert Winston who focused on the necessity of appreciating the ethics and humanity of science. He drew out wonderful links between Professor Robert Winston
48
Spring 2019
music and mathematics, the aesthetic beauty of the Tristan Chord and the natural affinity between the mind and music; all crucial to his argument that there is far more to science than an objective appreciation of Biology. Indeed, Winston argued, it is only if we understand ethics and humanity and encourage scientific literacy that we can impact the future progress of science in a meaningful way. Grace Barrett from the Self-Esteem Team gave a round-table presentation on the necessity of a cultural shift in schools to ensure positive mental health. She stressed the importance of treating mental health in the same way as our own physical health and encouraging students to be as open about their emotions as they are about physical injury. Mental health is an important area for all of us, in every school, and any strategy to help children and young people manage their mental health – both now and in the future - is one that needs serious consideration. The conference then encouraged us to consider inspiring the futures of our older students within the landscape of universities and apprenticeships. Sir Anthony Seldon, ViceChancellor of the University of Buckingham was – as always – an inspirational speaker. Seldon has always been a motivating force behind my own educational philosophy. From his days leading Wellington College and the introduction of lessons
