Alite 2003

Making it Happen

Once again the sumptuous surroundings of the Café Royal, London played host to Alite's national conference on 20th June. The theme of Alite 2003 was Making it Happen, a mantra which ran throughout the variety of inspiring keynotes and presentations.

Alistair Smith began the day by outlining Seven Steps to Happen. In his own inimitable way, Alistair took the audience through the landmarks needed to bring about lasting change in a school or organisation. He regaled those listening with anecdotes that reinforced his message, and provided practical ideas for the delegates to take away and apply to their various contexts.

The first of the case study slots followed Alistair's upbeat beginning. This was to be one of three sections in the day where delegates would be able to choose from a total of fourteen presentations provided by practitioners who are making it happen in their classrooms, schools and Zones across the country. There was something for everyone, from creating a climate for learning to curriculum innovation; from encouraging learner independence to pioneering leadership and schools of the future today. Comments from the day confirmed the success of the aim to provide practical examples of what has been done and how. Words like inspirational, refreshing, thought provoking, innovative and excellent came up time and again.

Visionary was how many responded to the keynote of Dame Sheila Wallis, who shared her thoughts on areas as diverse as the structure of the school day and ways to retain the talented in the profession. Later in the day Dame Pat Collarbone provided her own vision, this time looking closely at leaders learning and suggesting how the NCSL could support the change process.

Having faced challenges throughout his life, it was no surprise when Simon Weston rose to the challenge of captivating his audience in the post-lunch slot. The word 'inspiring' could have been termed specially to describe the talk by this Falklands veteran. His presentation, Fostering Talent, Transforming Lives, told of his charity's work with deprived young people, though it was his own journey to that point that left delegates with a lump in the throat. He told his story with humour, but Simon's courage shone through as an inspiration to everyone in the room.

As delegates left, most spoke of a reinforcement of their own values, or of being given the motivation to begin or continue the work in their own arenas. At least one school manager discussed the notion of returning with more colleagues next year. It was an incredible day from which everyone took something away.

An overview of the work of the case study practitioners, together with the keynote speeches, was summarised in the conference book, Making it Happen. In it, teachers, Heads and Zone leaders tell their own story of how they made it happen, and continue to do so, for the learners in their part of the world.

To read more about what delegates thought of Alite 2003, click here.

If you missed the conference, and would like to read more about the case studies you can order your copy online!