2018 The @BeyondLevels #LearningFirst Farewell Tour

It is with very mixed emotions that Dame Alison and I share the news that 2018 brings the @BeyondLevels #LearningFirst Farewell Tour.

Many of you will remember those first few tweets in February 2016 that began the phenomenon that has been #LearningFirst. We have really been very humbled and proud of the way that thousands of colleagues across the country have responded to these events. Not least, all of our hugely generous hosts, sponsors and speakers. #LearningFirst is truly a movement that arose from the ranks – teachers doing it for teachers.

So why now? The truth is that it just feels like the right time. Dame Alison is now firmly established in her role as CEO of the Chartered College and as I look across the education landscape, I have much more confidence about the profession going forward, than I did back then in 2016. Does that mean that I think assessment is ‘sorted’? No, not at all but I feel very optimistic that it will be, because of the things I see happening across many areas of the country, where members of the #LearningFirst community are setting up and engaging in regional Chartered College events, are blogging, writing books and/or are initiating their own CPD events e.g. #ReadingRocks #BrewEd and many more. As we approach our 10th conference, the entire #LearningFirst community deserves to feel very proud of what they have achieved in a very short period of time.

So, what about this Farewell Tour?

We have four events planned for our final year:

Saturday 27th January 2018 – #LearningFirst Canterbury – book here

Saturday 10th March 2018 – #LearningFirst West Sussex (sold out)

Tuesday 26th June 2018 – #LearningFirst Edge Hill (Student/NQT focus) – limited ticket availability

Thursday 5th July 2018 – #LearningFirst Huddersfield (Student/NQT focus) – limited ticket availability

In light of the above, I have agreed with Canterbury an increase in capacity to allow for the fact that many of you may now wish to attend, as it is our last Saturday conference and the others planned will have only limited ticket availability.  

It would be wonderful to see as many of you there as possible, so we can share one last #LearningFirst party together.

Julie & Alison