The Barrow Brilliant Futures Education Conference, held at Barrow Town Hall on Friday 25 September, marked the beginning of the delivery phase of the Brilliant Futures programme, delivered by Westmorland and Furness Council and part of the work of Team Barrow under the Barrow Rising banner. The conference brought the innovation and insight of a national education conference directly to Barrow, tailored to local priorities. The programme of expert speakers and practical workshops was put together in collaboration with Barrow schools and the Department for Education.
The Brilliant Futures Fund is a £5 million investment in the educational outcomes of children and young people in Barrow, to foster ambition, support learning and equip them with the qualifications and skills to build a brilliant future. Closing the gap faced by disadvantaged pupils in the area is a core element of the work of the fund, to enable them to access the same opportunities as other young people their age.
Professor Janet Lord OBE, Chair of the Barrow Education Delivery Group said:
“This conference is the start of a journey that will be shaped by our schools, to support them in the excellent work they are doing in the Barrow community. It was evident at the conference that everyone cares deeply about closing the gap in opportunity faced by some of our young people. This is a real chance to build on the outstanding work being done by Barrow’s schools, and support them where they say they need it most.”
Alongside the featured education experts, Tyler McDermott a Barrow 6th Form student from Hindpool, spoke to represent the views of young people in the town, and took an active role in the panel discussions. Tyler spoke of the importance of education in providing opportunities for young people and the crucial role of teachers in developing and supporting their ambition.
Milorad Vasic, Strategic Director of Children’s Services at Westmorland and Furness Council said:
“This has been a valuable opportunity to spend time with our Barrow school leaders and listen to them share their experience and insight, both in the workshops and throughout the day. We are committed to ensuring that the work of the Brilliant Futures Fund addresses the needs of the children and young people in Barrow, and directly improves the opportunities available to them. The majority of our Barrow schools are rated good by Ofsted, so we have a really solid foundation from which to take things forward. I was particularly pleased Tyler was able to join us to represent young people in Barrow in education right now, and we will continue to include young people in the conversation.”
Keynote speeches were delivered by Professor Jonathan Sharples, of Manchester Metropolitan University on evidence informed leadership and Jane Fletcher, CEO of Aldridge Education who spoke on the benefits of collaborative working. Practical Workshops were delivered by education experts on themes chosen by Barrow schools which included Inclusive Mainsteam and Adaptive Teaching, Purposeful Transition, Attendance and Processes and Leadership & Accountability.
Feedback from delegates on the day reflected that the content resonated with developments in their own setting, provided great practical examples and expressed excitement about future opportunities for collaboration.
Professor Julie Mennell, Vice Chancellor of the University of Cumbria and Team Barrow Skills and Education Workstream Sponsor said:
“Working in collaboration with our schools, the first programmes to be taken forward by the fund will support Head Teacher professional development, provide additional capacity to meet the Enrichment framework and support transition from primary to secondary education. We will be able to expand on the detail of these projects and the delivery timelines in the coming weeks. We recognise that school leaders are the experts in the front line challenges and opportunities in education in Barrow, and they will be central to ensuring the fund reaches its full potential in delivering meaningful impact.”