Opening Minds Conference 2008

The 2008 Opening Minds Conference was held at the RSA on Tuesday 13 May 2008.

Conference highlights

Opening Minds is a competence-based curriculum framework which gives teachers the flexibility to make connections between subjects and prepares pupils more effectively for the world beyond school. Results are impressive in terms of pupil attainment, motivation and behaviour. Opening Minds produces self-confident and independent learners.

Building on its success, the project is now focussing on changes to the way learning is organised in schools in order to make it more relevant to the demands placed on it by life in the 21st century.

Delegates heard presentations from :

Michael Gernon, RSA Tipton Academy Principal
Download Michael Gernon's presentation (PDF, 54 KB)
 
Paul Hammond, Deputy Head, Oasis Academy
Download Paul Hammond's presentation (PDF, 9 MB)

Mick Waters, Director of Curriculum, QCA
Download Mick Waters' presentation (PDF, 63 KB)

Panel session

The panel sessions included contributions from Wayne Shand, Head of Economic and Urban Policy for Manchester City Council. MCC are currently exploring the potential for a 'Manchester Curriculum' - where the curriculum content would be drawn from Manchester's rich cultural, social and economic heritage located within a forward-looking and global context. Wayne was keen to share early thoughts and to get feedback from the conference delegates.

We were also delighted to have David Martin attending: Education Consultant with the European Commission. David has been working with the RSA on plans for a European wide competence-based project. Around 32 schools located across Europe would work with some of our Opening Minds schools to develop a range of competence based modules of work that are proving to be so successful in these schools. Again, the work is just at planning stage, but he welcomed the opportunity to discuss current plans and receive informed feedback.

Also joining us for the panel sessions were representatives from two Opening Minds schools, both of which were featured in the recent Teachers TV programmes: Whitley Abbey School in Coventry and Hinchley Wood School in Epsom.

Lorraine Allen, Headteacher at Whitley Abbey, is expanding the scope of Opening Minds through Key Stage 3. Alan Griffiths, Deputy Head at Hinchley Wood, currently uses Opening Minds in Year 7 but is looking to expand it to Year 8. Hinchley Wood was also part of the recent QCA project exploring assessment methods for competences and Personal Learning and Thinking Skills.

Missed the conference this year?

You can access downloads of presentations and speeches from the event below.

Presentation

Michael Gernon, RSA Tipton Academy Principal
Download Michael Gernon's presentation (PDF, 54 KB)
 
Paul Hammond, Deputy Head, Oasis Academy
Download Paul Hammond's presentation (PDF, 9 MB)

Mick Waters, Director of Curriculum, QCA
Download Mick Waters' presentation (PDF, 63 KB)

Speeches

Download the conference introduction (MP3, 9 MB)
Download Michael Gernon's speech (MP3, 43 MB)
Download Paul Hammond's speech (MP3, 34 KB)
Download Mick Waters' speech (MP3, 31 KB)
Download the Q&A (MP3, 54 MB)

Find out more on the RSA Education blog.