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INSET Day Training with Bold Voices

During our training days, colleagues continued their work on curriculum development, embedding literacy and challenge into our teaching, and considered how we can continue to tackle gender discrimination. As part of this training, we invited in Bold Voices to deliver a workshop to all staff at St Clement Danes School. The focus of this training centred around the continuum of gender-based violence, (applying the theory of the continuum to testimonies from young people to see how these issues play out in reality for them), and modelling challenge, i.e. to consider why it is necessary to create a culture of challenge within school by practicing a 'calling out' and 'calling in' strategy, in order to create spaces for education and discussion around gender.

The workshop was organised by Associate Assistant Headteacher Ms Ramsbottom, who has led the work conducted so far with Bold Voices and is our Personal Development Lead at school. The workshop was challenging and provoking, considering different scenarios and how small 'throw away' comments can lead to a culture that tolerates gender stereotypes and how this can be harmful. It also considered the use of social media and stories young people will be following and engaging with. 

Following the workshop, staff met in pastoral teams and year groups to discuss how we can further address stereotyping, language use and ensure equality for all in our school. These were productive discussions that will help to further embed our equality objectives. In addition to our pastoral work, we will continue to revise our curriculum and approaches to SMSC to ensure discussion continues around equality, diversity and our school values. 

 

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30th January

Teachers commended for transforming Design & Technology education

We were delighted to read that our Design and Technology teachers, Miss Yalley and Mr Hadley were featured in the Design and Technology publication.  The article discusses the transformation of the Design & Technology (D&T) department at St. Clement Danes School over the past five years. It discusses how Mr Hadley and Miss Yalley took ownership of the subject, implementing a new subject ethos based on trust, excellence, respect, and safety to foster student responsibility and independence. Key Initiatives & Changes Revamping Projects & Curriculum Introduced more challenging design projects at earlier years (Years 8 & 9). Shifted focus to design skills, problem-solving, and justifying choices over just practical outcomes. Prioritized quality over quantity in student projects. Notable projects: Year 7: Robot concepts Year 8: Articulated lamps Year 9: Branded dispensers & modular speakers Encouraging Inclusion & Diversity Created a girls-only club to boost female participation in GCSE Product Design. Sixth-form girls mentor younger students, building confidence and community. Design Ventura Competition Integrated mock coursework with the Design Ventura competition. Encouraged teamwork and prototyping to improve engagement. Use of AI & Technology Introduced cloud-based tools to make learning more accessible. Leveraged AI for idea development and communication. Professional Development & Industry Links Participating in the Teachers in Residence program to gain industry insights. Adopted industry models like the Double Diamond Design Process and Scrum-based project sprints to enhance student learning. Established workshops with industry professionals to inspire students, especially girls, to pursue design careers. Key Takeaways for Educators Adapt curriculum to student needs and school culture. Pilot new initiatives as clubs first to gauge student interest. Encourage student feedback to refine teaching methods. Be open to change and continuously evolve teaching strategies. The article ultimately encourages educators to embrace creativity, experimentation, and student collaboration in D&T education. We are very proud of our teachers for their continued hard work and dedication for each of their subject areas. Congratulations to Mr Hadley and Miss Yalley for their inspiring article and the incredible work they’ve done to transform Design & Technology at St. Clement Danes! Their dedication to fostering creativity, inclusion, and industry connections is truly commendable, and their impact on students will undoubtedly be long-lasting.