Celebrating inspired learning
The second Festival of Learning at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) brought together educators from across Lincolnshire for a day filled with innovation and inspiration.
Bringing together the talents and passion of over 120 educators from the council’s Further Education Skills Teams – including InspireU, Adult Skills and Family Learning, and Apprenticeship Employer Provision Provider – the festival opened on an inspiring note.
Debbie Barnes, the county council’s chief executive, officially launched the event, commending the outstanding achievements of these service areas throughout the last academic year. The festival also celebrated the voices of InspireU learners, with five taking their seats on the learner panel.
The chair of the student council delivered an empowering opening speech, highlighting the vital role of continuous staff learning in uplifting and supporting learners. Adding to the day’s magic, the event’s official photographer was an InspireU learner with aspirations of becoming a professional photographer, skilfully capturing the festival’s most memorable moments.
Over the past 6 months the organising team have worked hard to create a lineup of workshops tailored to today's educational landscape.
Gav Knox, Senior Lead for Quality and Curriculum at InspireU and creator of the Festival of Learning, said: “This year's workshops addressed a range of topics, including coaching in education, making mathematics meaningful, artificial intelligence, learner panel discussions, resilience building and strategies to enhance working memory. It was a privilege for me to lead a workshop on the art of checking for understanding, sharing insights and strategies with fellow educators.
“What truly set this festival apart was the participation of workshop facilitators who are educators from within Lincolnshire County Council. This highlighted the incredible resource we have in each other, showcasing that collaboration and shared knowledge are fundamental to our growth and success.
“The day was filled with great energy culminating in an inspiring keynote address by Nathan Arnold. Nathan's words on the importance of self-care and the retrospective understanding of life truly resonated with all attendees, leaving us with valuable insights to carry forward.
“Here's to continued learning, growth, and collaboration in the journey ahead.”