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BET Futures
We believe that collaboration, openness and innovation are key in providing the best opportunities for our community. Adapting to change, sharing what works and what doesn’t and thinking innovatively have all been key characteristics of successful schools during the last few years of national turbulence. Discussions around ‘what works’ in teaching and learning have never been as frequent or as meaningful.
To galvanise this, BET launched a think tank in September 2021 called BET Futures. This brought together practitioners (including teachers, IT technicians, learning support assistants and administrators) to discuss the latest thinking in education forums, to complete research and to share their findings with one another.
Whilst there is a huge amount of existing research available in the educational sector, it does not always translate into practice ‘on the ground’. BET Futures aims to shrink the gap between research and practice.
For further information about BET Futures, including how to get involved, please expand the headings below.
| BET Futures serves four purposes: |
|---|
| 1. Positions the Trust as an organisation whose ethos is to transform schools, but is also innovative, evidence led and committed to the best outcomes for our pupils. |
| 2. Improves the offer for all of pupils by reviewing and sharing what works internally but also from other schools and research groups such as the EEF and NFER. |
| 3. Influences the Trust’s priorities, policies and in-school CPD offer to ensure it reflects the latest thinking and really challenges our staff. |
| 4. Ensures we retain excellent practitioners who may not wish to progress via leadership roles. They will gain a breadth of experience and network outside of their school. This could link to bringing greater impact and profile to projects which are completed via, for example, NPQs on Leading Teaching. |
| During 2022-23, BET Futures explored three questions: |
|---|
| 1. How can technology be best harnessed educationally and operationally? Click here to read our blog summarising the findings. |
| 2. How can we guarantee all BET pupils have the same opportunities beyond the curriculum? Click here to read our blog summarising the findings. |
| 3. How do we ensure our pupils are learning to behave? Click here to read our blog summarising the findings. |
Findings were shared with headteachers and the BET board at a summer event with researchers presenting their ideas and recommendations.
| During the 21-22 academic year, BET Futures answered three big and important questions: |
|---|
| 1. Is our curriculum fit for the demands and challenges of 21st century life? How can we best respond educationally to the challenges of, for example, COVID, climate change, Black Lives Matter and Everyone’s Invited? |
| 2. How can technology be best harnessed educationally and organisationally? How do we ensure our pupils have the competitive edge in the future in terms of technological skills? Is our organisation as efficient as it could be? If remote education continues to advance at the pace the last eighteen months has shown, should teaching ever revert to how it was pre-COVID? |
| 3. How can we tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of our pupils at transition points? |
The BET Futures 2023-24 launch is on the 4th October at 3.30pm to explain more and and agree the research questions for this year. These will be around the following themes:
- Technology, including the opportunities and challenges posed by AI.
- The inclusive curriculum.
- Sustainability in our environment and curriculum.
If you would like to sign up to take part, please discuss this with your headteacher and then click on the form here.
If you are interested in learning more about BET Futures, please email Penny Alford, Chief Education Officer: alfordp@bourne.education.
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@BourneTrust - May 6
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@BourneTrust - May 3
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@BourneTrust - May 2
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We're excited to be at the #SAAShow today at ExCeL London! Chris Goodall, Head of Digital Education, is sharing the stage with Sir Anthony Seldon for 'Let's get critical - teaching students and educators to challenge AI', and Tom Corry from @ChertseyHigh will talk about careers! pic.twitter.com/wkgV9deVQU
@BourneTrust - May 1
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With lots to do, Brooklands Museum is a wonderful school trip. Enjoy action-packed days of workshops, tours, aircraft, buses and cars. Our activities are designed to inspire Key Stages 1-4, through to Higher Education.https://t.co/YV7lSa7b1blearning@brooklandsmuseum.com pic.twitter.com/hnEAO08TB3
@BourneTrust - April 24
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At Bourne Education Trust, we are committed to fostering sustainable practices in our schools. This Earth Day, we celebrate our secondary schools who have eliminated plastic bottles and single-use packaging for meals - projected to save 640,000 single-use items from landfill! pic.twitter.com/O0jiFDzfUA
@BourneTrust - April 22
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We are delighted to inform you that Mrs Regis has been appointed as permanent Headteacher of Hampton High!Please find a letter regarding this appointment from Mr Paul Hemmings, Education Director from @BourneTrust on our website here: https://t.co/auzgwAX2lM#hampton_high pic.twitter.com/y5ctaOKIVw
@BourneTrust - April 15
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Last week our Head of Sixth Form Ms Pleavin visited @twickenhamsch and @hampton_high with four of our Year 12 students to talk to them about life at Teddington Sixth Form. We hope the students enjoyed the visits and hope to see them in the future! #Teddington #SixthForm pic.twitter.com/XSJmqGq3FV
@BourneTrust - March 14