Over the summer, CTE colleagues have been working with Bo Kelestyn and Gwen Van Der Velden from Warwick Business School to create a ‘recognition of prior learning’ Postgraduate Certificate for a Ukrainian Educational Leadership Summer School. The module received course approval from EPQ over the summer and will enable a progression route to the CTE MA in Professional Education for attendees.

Bo and Gwen welcomed our Ukrainian colleagues on Friday 8 September and a group of CTE colleagues attended a gala dinner to celebrate the group and all they have achieved recently.

As part of the summer school, Kate Ireland, Georgina Newton, Jonty Leese and Peter Kent and Theresa Mpofu (Lawrence Sherriff school colleagues), formed a panel of specialists speaking about ‘Change and transformation in Secondary Schools’. Our Ukrainian colleagues were particularly interested to find out from the panel:

• How were online skills used and developed in the Covid-19 period
• How do you feel about AI and what are the challenges/opportunities?
• How is the UK teacher education sector set up?
• How does partnership work in relation to teacher education?
• How do you support children in difficult situations/keep children safe?
• How do exams influence the educational landscape?
• What can the government do to prepare for a change in curriculum?

Following the panel, Georgina presented our Ukrainian colleagues with hand-crafted knitted sunflower brooches by members of her church congregation. They were gratefully received as an act of solidarity and support.

We look forward to seeing the reflections and development of leadership activity that will lead to the Postgraduate Certificate Leadership for Educational Transformation Ukraine for delegates of the summer school.