For this episode, special guest Sufian Sadiq joins hosts Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner to discuss CPD, community engagement, and leadership in education. The conversation focuses on the interplay between meticulous planning and passionate engagement. It is clear throughout the conversation that Sufian has mastered the ability to engage and plan to make schools, communities, and learning thrive.
Community Engagement
In part one of this episode, the group discusses Sufian’s role at the Chiltern Learning Trust, primarily the CPD they provide and the community stewardship they take on in the communities they serve.
One example of the CPD resources they discuss is a series of walkthroughs that Tom and Sufian did in one of the Chiltern schools, providing amazing curricular support and coaching to teachers.
Defining Community Engagement on the Micro-Level
In the second part of the episode and throughout this whole conversation, the trio discusses the true definition of community engagement, particularly understanding the community you serve. As Sufian explores, DEI is a major part of his work. One of the often overlooked factors in those conversations includes discussions of class and background.
What is Going in Your Students Lives
Sufian explores the factors contributing to a disconnected education experience for many students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Things like the elevator they have to take down from their apartment to go to school to the types of conversations they have in class are things that teachers often don’t get, and it causes friction in the classroom.
Sufian challenges these expectations. He asks: how can you teach and engage students if you do not know the factors of their everyday lives?
Sustainable Aspirational Learning
The episode closes by discussing the difference between knowledge acquisition and aspirational curriculum. Sufian explores that when given the right tools and resources, you can create learning environments for students to thrive. However, if you engage students and understand their backgrounds, you can begin to inspire them to broader long-term success.
As Emma points out, adding an interpersonal approach to learning adds a sustainable element to every lesson. There may be days when a lesson doesn’t particularly engage every student; however, when thinking and teaching aspirationally, you can connect with every student.
Watch more episodes of Mind The Gap to learn about making education work globally.
-
edCircuit is a mission-based organization entirely focused on the K-20 EdTech Industry and emPowering the voices that can provide guidance and expertise in facilitating the appropriate usage of digital technology in education. Our goal is to elevate the voices of today’s innovative thought leaders and edtech experts. Subscribe to receive notifications in your inbox
View all posts -
Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specializing in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. His books include Teaching WalkThrus, Rosenshine’s Principles in Action, and The Learning Rainforest Fieldbook. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and works in schools and colleges across the UK and worldwide.
View all posts -
Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Turner is the author of Be More Toddler: A Leadership Education From Our Little Learners, Let’s Talk About Flex: Flipping the flexible working narrative for education, and Simplicitus: The Interconnected Primary Curriculum & Effective Subject Leadership.
View all posts -
Sufian Sadiq is the Director of the Teaching School at Chiltern Learning Trust, with responsibility for overseeing two regional Hub areas in the South East of England. Chiltern Teaching Schools are one of the largest providers of CPD to the sector nationally. He is a passionate activist within the educational landscape around race, equity, and inclusion. Sufian is a Fellow and Board Member of the Chartered College of Teaching and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors. He plays an active role in numerous charitable organizations as a Trustee and also holds key governance roles within educational organizations.
View all posts