Summer Schools

The Summer School is a 3-day residential event which provides an inspirational forum for teachers to step away from the classroom and rediscover their love of their subject.

The intention is to generate discussion about the specific contribution to education made by the subject in question, and to investigate how it should best be taught.

The philosophy of the Summer Schools is rooted in the beliefs that underpin our work. We believe that:

• Subject knowledge, subject rigour, and enthusiasm for communicating them are essential requirements for effective teaching
• Education should be seen primarily as the process of acquiring knowledge and understanding and not just skills
• Assessment should be designed in such a way as to encourage and enhance good teaching
• The importance of the role of the teacher in society needs to be promoted

Each course sets out to explore and question some current thinking about education, and thereby to develop among practising teachers a consensus based on shared values, offering a vision of education which is independent and rooted in love of subject. Delegates have the opportunity to engage with leading academics and writers from their chosen fields and to present the conclusions of their discussions to senior representatives of those bodies determining the country’s educational policy.

The Summer School is usually held towards the end of the summer term when teaching commitments are reduced by the absence of classes taking public exams. Past Summer Schools have been held in different parts of the country so as to encourage attendance by a geographically wide range of teachers.

 Subjects covered are:

• English
• History
• Science
• Geography
• Maths
• Modern Foreign Languages