Workshops: Personal Wellbeing and Support
As with previous years, staff from within the Trust will be delivering a wide range of breakout sessions, this time focussed on the topic of personal wellbeing and support.
All these sessions take place between 14.20pm - 15.15pm in various classrooms across the school site.
Rooms have been allocated based on the sign-ups - although staff are able to switch sessions subject to capacity on the day.
Sign up to your workshop session here.
How Can We Improve Teaching and Learning in Our Departments?
Target Audience: Teaching Staff // Capacity: 60
The busyness of the school week can make it hard to pause and reflect on whether teaching and learning is really improving. This session explores why improvement is difficult and what can be done about it. It will cover evidence about effective teaching, evidence about behaviour change, how to plan and implement effective change, and how to create a culture of feedback, including giving difficult feedback well.
Teaching with Centralised Curriculum Resources in Class Teams
Cloud Design Box // Room
Target Audience: Teaching Staff // Capacity: 30
An engaging introduction to teaching with centralised curriculum resources using Microsoft Teams. The session focuses on organising and distributing teaching and learning materials across subject and class teams to improve collaboration and reduce workload. It covers centralising resources, attaching files to assignments and classwork, managing student access, and understanding the student experience, with guided demonstrations and practical tasks.
Teacher Pension Scheme Advice
Quilter // Room
Target Audience: Teaching Staff // Capacity: 30
A session to help teachers understand how to secure the income they need for a comfortable retirement. Topics include how pensions work (State Pension and Teachers’ Pension Scheme), when pensions can be taken, expected income, options for additional pension savings, ways to increase income, tax considerations including tax-free lump sums, and protecting income against inflation.
Soundbath
Jade Douse // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 25
A deeply restorative sound journey using crystal singing bowls and gong. The session is designed to calm the nervous system, reduce stress and restore balance. Suitable for anyone seeking deep relaxation. Participants will leave feeling calm, centred and restored. Please bring a yoga mat and blanket if possible. Falling asleep is a natural response; gentle waking may occur if loud snoring disrupts others.
Knitting
Elena (NHSG) // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
A gentle, practical knitting session providing space for creativity, calm and mindful focus.
From Pinch Pot to Coil Pot
Abel Kesteven // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
Local artist Abel leads a practical, hands-on clay session exploring techniques for creating pots using pinch and coil methods.
Board Games
Hannah (WHSG) // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
A relaxed session to enjoy a variety of board games, from familiar favourites such as UNO and Monopoly Deal to trying something new.
Nature Walk
Jess and Tracey (WHSG) // Meeting Point
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
A short walk around the school grounds combined with mindfulness tasks to support wellbeing and connection with nature. The session draws on evidence linking nature and improved mental health. Staff will be outdoors in all weather and walk on uneven terrain, so appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes are essential. Herbal tea will be provided at the end; bring a travel mug if desired.
Practical Wellbeing for Staff: Yoga-Inspired Techniques
Alfonzina (NHSG) // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
An interactive session offering practical tools to support long-term wellbeing. Participants will learn simple yoga postures and breathing exercises, with guidance on practising safely and confidently. The focus is on sustainable techniques to promote calm, focus and resilience in daily school life. Comfortable clothing recommended; yoga mats encouraged where possible.
First Aid
Hazel (NHSG) // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
This session covers a primary survey, including checking response, opening the airway, checking breathing, and calling for professional help. Staff will learn how to respond to a non-breathing casualty, perform chest compressions, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED), followed by practical skills practice (excluding rescue breaths).
Weekend Pastimes: DIY Projects and Boundless Membership
Jess (NHSG) // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
A beginner-friendly session exploring how simple DIY projects can improve both home environments and personal wellbeing. The session also introduces Boundless membership benefits available to civil servants, including family days out, nature walks, and free entry to venues such as Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London.
Midlife Matters: Menopause and Beyond
Dr Helen Sheppard // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
An expert-led session on recognising menopausal symptoms and current best practice in menopause management, including HRT, testosterone replacement and supplements. Lifestyle management strategies will also be covered, with opportunities for group and one-to-one questions.
Introduction to British Sign Language
Belinda (CHSG) // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
An introductory session exploring British Sign Language (BSL). Learning BSL can improve communication, mental stimulation and inclusion, offering a sense of achievement and connection. Participants will be provided with an online account to continue learning.
Cyber Crime
PC Jonathan Montanarini // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
An overview of the law relating to cyber crime, including the difference between legal and illegal online activity. The session covers common cyber threats such as password attacks, credential theft, unsafe websites and malicious downloads, with guidance on keeping staff and students safe online.
Mamma Mia Beginners Dance Workshop
Hannah and Becky (CHSG) // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
A fun, welcoming dance workshop inspired by Mamma Mia, suitable for complete beginners. The session focuses on connection, laughter and self-expression, offering a mindful and energising break from the working day. No prior dance experience required.
Speaking with Sensitivity: When Personal or Wellbeing Concerns Arise
Alexis (NHSG) // Room
Target Audience: Teaching Staff // Capacity: 30
A practical workshop introducing communication approaches for supporting colleagues with emotional or wellbeing concerns. The session focuses on empathetic listening, sensitive responses, maintaining boundaries, and knowing when and how to signpost for further support.
LGBTQ+ Staff and Allies Social
Eleanor and Alex (CHSG) // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
An informal space for LGBTQ+ staff and allies to meet, chat and connect. The session will include games, quizzes, snacks and conversation about inclusion and being out (or not) in the workplace. All are welcome.
Bee creative! Create your own ‘Bee Hotel’ for your garden
Alex (WHSG) // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 15
The Bee population is in decline so any help we can provide these amazing pollinators can’t be a bad thing. Designed for solitary Bee’s, these wooden constructions look great in any vegetation area. You will make your own hotel from pine wood using machines in the workshop. These include pillar drills, cordless hand drills, belt sanders and fretsaws. No experience necessary as I will show you how to use the machines safely.
Barclays – Financial Wellbeing
Barclays // Room
Target Audience: All Staff // Capacity: 30
Come along to explore practical tools and ideas to support your financial wellbeing. Colleagues from a range of backgrounds will be attending, with interests spanning ISAs, mortgages, savings, and more. This session is designed to be accessible and relevant for everyone in our school community.