1. AI – Actually Interesting and Absolutely Impactful - Stewart Brown and Bruce Murray, HTs in East Lothian
Fed up with all the rhetoric around AI with its over promising and under delivering? This session will outline 5 simple ways to use readily available AI tools to reduce your workload and add value. From making sense of large bodies of content; creating staff CLPL; analysing data and taking the pain out of planning we will walk you through an interactive session that will change your current practice. If time permits, we might even throw in some fun stuff too! Come along with your laptop ready to work alongside us or just sit back and take it all in.
2. Rediscovering and Reimagining a 7–11 Pedagogy - Graeme Young, North Lanarkshire/CfTE
By rediscovering and reimagining classroom practice once commonplace in Scottish primary schools, Cathedral Primary in Motherwell developed a pedagogical approach that contributed to an ‘excellent’ evaluation for Learning, Teaching and Assessment in its May 2025 inspection. Inspectors noted that “this pedagogy has transformed all children’s learning.”
This workshop sets out the case for a distinct 7 – 11 pedagogy and introduces Cathedral’s tried‑and‑tested model for learning and teaching in the Primary 3 – 7 classroom. It highlights how a clear understanding of the ‘why’ behind practice empowers teachers to make meaningful, intentional change and, ultimately, evidence‑based improvements that make a real difference for children.
3a. Cancer in the school community - Kerry Craig, Centre Head, Maggie's, Glasgow
Cancer in the school community can have a profound and significant impact. This workshop will provide space/time to reflect on the some of the physical, practical and emotional challenges that cancer can bring and explore how we can better support pupils, families and colleagues affected by cancer.
3b. Wellbeing 1, Find Your Strength “Leading Yourself”: Building Resilience Through Movement, Mindset and Recovery - Gael Simpson
Resilience isn't about asking people to simply cope with increasing pressure, it's about creating the conditions where people can perform, recover and flourish.
In this interactive workshop, Gael explores how movement, mindset and recovery form the foundations of sustainable wellbeing at work. Drawing on research, leadership experience and real-life stories, participants will discover practical strategies that strengthen resilience, improve energy and reduce the impact of stress in demanding workplaces.
Taking a holistic approach and considering the connection between our physical, emotional and psychological health, delegates will leave with simple, evidence-informed techniques they can use immediately to support themselves and others.
Participants will explore:
- Why resilience is built through everyday habits rather than extraordinary moments.
- How movement can improve wellbeing, focus and emotional regulation.
- Practical approaches to managing stress, protecting energy and prioritising recovery.
- Small changes that create healthier individuals, stronger teams and more resilient schools.
This workshop is ideal for leaders looking to move beyond wellbeing awareness and towards creating healthier, more sustainable ways of working.
About Gael:
With over 15 years of leadership experience across education (teacher, HT and QIO), and health, I bring a wealth of expertise in mentoring, coaching, and empowering individuals and groups to improve their wellbeing and personal outcomes. My values are grounded in integrity, authenticity, and a person-centred approach, principles that guide every session, programme, and interaction.
Before launching my own business, I served as Lead Specialist in Wellbeing & Growth at NHS Grampian, leading transformative workforce initiatives for over 17,000 staff, with a focus on wellbeing, personal development, and skills-based learning.
Previously, as Quality Improvement Manager with Aberdeen City Council, I led multi-agency projects to enhance health, wellbeing, and educational outcomes, earning local and national recognition for leadership, innovation, and collaboration.
Recognised through awards such as Head Teacher of the Year (Pride of Aberdeen Awards) and finalist for Leading Collaboration (Aberdeen Star Awards), I bring a proven record of inspiring others, strengthening communities, and making a meaningful difference to the people I support.
4. Whole school professional learning: low bureaucracy-high impact - Carrie Nicol (HT) and Susan Clelland (DHT), Berryhill Primary & Nursery Class, North Lanarkshire
Berryhill Primary & Nursery Class has been on a journey. It started with a collaborative enquiry project on numeracy seeking to address a known issue in school (resulting in…) and developed into a sustained, all-staff, culture of professional enquiry and collaboration.
Sometimes there can be a belief that when probation is completed, enquiry stops and delivery begins. This is firmly rejected in Berryhill. This session will take you through the key steps in the evolution of one school’s standards-driven approach to creating a sustainable culture of professional learning – from Collaborative Action Research to class improvement plans, sharing the impact of some of the successes they have experienced along the way.