Senior Leader Inspirations

During 2025-26 we will be hosting termly online briefings for all senior leaders. These will give you an opportunity to reflect, connect with others and consider improvement priorities. Places are unlimited for member schools.

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Assessment that supports learners’ progress

Autumn term: Thursday 13 November 2025, 15:45 – 17:15

Assessment needs to successfully fulfil many functions – providing meaningful feedback for learners, teachers and leaders, plus informing decision-making in classrooms and across the school. In this session, we will hear from two schools in the network on how they have successfully embedded approaches to assessment that are clear and impactful.

Michael Watson, Headteacher, Hunters Bar Junior School
Creating a culture of continuous improvement: vision, strategy and alignment. Fifteen years after completing the SSAT EFA programme, Hunter’s Bar Junior School are still continuing to embed formative assessment. Headteacher, Michael Watson will share how, in an ever-changing educational landscape, a dedicated focus on formative assessment has proven to be an immensely powerful tool, not just for improving individual learning outcomes, but for fostering a positive, forward-thinking school culture.

Sam Martin, Senior Assistant Headteacher, Kennet School
Years on from the GCSE reform and having redesigned their KS3 curriculum model to support a drive for knowledge, Kennet School needed to shift the focus onto ensuring assessment is fit for purpose. Pupils are required to know more (and do more) at GCSE level and beyond. How can we support pupils and staff in managing this gear change and additional workload? Sam Martin shares Kennet School’s assessment model that supports both robust knowledge retention as well as scaffolded approaches to knowledge application – all while minimising impact on teacher workload. In addition, she will share the vision and strategy behind supporting both pupils and staff along this journey, empowering them to take ownership in the identification of gaps and errors, and adapt their teaching to address this

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Student leadership with impact

Spring term: Wednesday 14 January 2026, 15:45 – 17:15

At SSAT, we are proud to have championed student leadership for several decades. Effective student leadership can have a profound experience on the development of young people – building expertise and confidence. It can also play a significant role in school improvement, supporting pupil engagement and a positive school culture. In this session, you will hear about the approach to student leadership taken by schools in the network and learn about how evidence and research can inform impact.

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Inclusive schools

Summer term: Thursday 18 June 2026, 15:45 – 17:15

With increased focus on inclusion for pupils with SEND in mainstream schools, this session will support schools in the network to share practical ideas and strategies. This is an opportunity for senior leaders to hear from schools in the network with established inclusive practice and to explore how colleagues are responding to changing expectations.

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Members can view recordings of the 2024-25 Senior Leader Inspirations series here: View 2024-2025 recordings