HFL Education

HFL Education

HFL Education is a leading national provider of school improvement and business support services, training, and resources, which enable schools, educational settings and multi-academy trusts to deliver a great education.  We support those we work with to achieve successful long-term outcomes for their children.

  1. Reading Fluency: How and Why with the Education Endowment Foundation

    09/14/2022

    Reading Fluency: How and Why with the Education Endowment Foundation

    For our first podcast episode of the 2022/23 academic year, HFL Primary English Advisers, Kathy Roe and Juliet McCullion discuss all things Reading Fluency with special guests from the renowned Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).   Sarah Green is the former EEF Content Specialist for Literacy. She leads literacy in her Trust and works as Assistant Headteacher across mainstream and special secondary schools within The Prospere Learning Trust, South Manchester. She is also a Voice21 National Oracy Leader and an Evidence Lead in Education with Manchester Communication Research School. During her seventeen years in education, Sarah has taught English across a range of schools with a particular focus on improving literacy, oracy and SEND provision.  Alex leads the development and quality assurance of EEF tools, resources and training. He manages the coordination of multiple campaigns to ensure engagement with EEF evidence. Prior to joining the EEF in 2018, he worked as an English teacher for 15 years. He was director of the Huntington research school in York. You may well be familiar with his celebrated books such as ‘Closing the Vocabulary Gap’ and ‘Closing the Writing Gap’.  Find out more about HFL’s Reading Fluency Project.  The EEF Fluency tools, some of which were designed in collaboration with HFL, can be found here : https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/guidance-reports/literacy-ks2

    45 min
  2. That's like my mummies! - LGBTQ+ awareness, pride, and representation in education

    06/27/2022

    That's like my mummies! - LGBTQ+ awareness, pride, and representation in education

    At Herts for Learning we are committed to supporting and welcoming individuals from all backgrounds and lived experiences to feel connected, authentic and have a sense of belonging within our diverse community while supporting our core purpose. In this podcast we discuss  LGBTQ+ issues in schools and settings, including how teachers can implement a framework and what resources are available. We examine concerns raised around teaching children and young  people the topic of LGBTQ+, and the let 'children be children' debate; also, the recent 'Don't say gay' bill being implemented across the USA, and what the impact similar legislation would have on UK LGBTQ+ pupils. This episode was presented by Charlie Firmin, Content Marketing Assistant at Herts for Learning (HfL), who identifies as a gay woman and uses the pronouns she/her. Charlie was joined by Karin Hutchinson, Lead Wellbeing Advisor for HFL. Karin identifies as heterosexual and uses the pronouns, she/her. She began her working life as a teacher but left the classroom when the Thatcher government established Section 28 prohibiting the "promotion of homosexuality" by local authorities. She was instructed by her employers at the time to discontinue her pastoral support for a sixth former who was beginning their journey in identifying  as gay. Since 1997, she has worked in a range of roles involving a focus on equality in education and has led significant work on LGBT diversity and inclusion in Hertfordshire schools since 2003. Also joining Charlie was Michael Gray, who identifies as a gay man and uses the pronouns he/him. Michael has been working in primary education for over ten years including a time as a Primary  English Adviser at HfL. He is now working at Gamlingay Village Primary School (GVP) in Cambridgeshire where he is the soon to be assistant head . He is also the diversity lead for the Cam Academy Trust, of which GVP is a part of. For more information about Herts for Learning’s services towards supporting LGBQT education and other Wellbeing services, visit: https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/teaching-andlearning/pupil-wellbeing or contact wellbeing@hertsforlearning.co.uk.  To read more about Charlie and her experiences, read our latest blog, “Proud to be part of something more” visit https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/blog/proud-be-part-something-more To read blogs from Michael Gray and others from our company on topics that support equality,  diversity and inclusion, visit https://hfl.mobi/HfLPride

    36 min
  3. Being Black and British in Education

    04/21/2022

    Being Black and British in Education

    In a very special episode released to commemorate Stephen Lawrence Day on Friday 22nd April, Herts for Learning welcomes the Hon Stuart Lawrence to Ed Talks UK.  Stuart is the younger brother of Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack in 1993 at the age of 18. Stuart who was 16 at the time when the incident took place, now works as an educator and motivational speaker, dedicated to helping to transform the life chances of young people.  Joining presenter Jaysica Marvell, was Herts for Learning’s Head of Customer Services/EDI Officer, Andrew Brown, along with newly appointed Race Equality Adviser, Toks Olusamokun who talked to Stuart about the importance of developing anti-racism strategies and tools for schools. They also talked about the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, his work on The Black Curriculum, and finally his book, "Silence is Not An Option: Find Your Voice and Be Your Best Self” which was released on paperback on 7th April this year.  For more information about Herts for Learning and other organisations, please find the following helpful information.  Our upcoming 2022 Wellbeing Conference, “Building Futures: Growing pupil empowerment and agency”, takes place on Wednesday 15th June 2022. Amongst other esteemed guests and speakers, also features, Eugene Ellis, Director of The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network and Psychotherapist who will be giving his talk on: “Meeting the challenge of the race conversation”. For more information visit: https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/events/2022-wellbeing-conference-building-futures-growing-pupil-empowerment-and-agency  For details of the support and services for schools available from our Wellbeing Team including support on Equalities and Anti-bullying, anti-prejudice and anti-abuse: https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/teaching-and-learning/pupil-wellbeing  Read our blogs on Diversity and Equality: https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/blog?keywords=&sort_bef_combine=search_api_relevance_DESC&blog%5B0%5D=additional_tags%3A427 For more information about Stephen Lawrence Day, please visit: https://stephenlawrenceday.org/ Stuart’s latest book available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silence-Not-Option-Find-Voice/dp/0702316911/ For more information on The Black Curriculum visit: https://theblackcurriculum.com

    1h 10m

About

HFL Education is a leading national provider of school improvement and business support services, training, and resources, which enable schools, educational settings and multi-academy trusts to deliver a great education.  We support those we work with to achieve successful long-term outcomes for their children.