The Educator Magazine U.K. May-August issue - Magazine - Page 44
Educating for
meaning and
purpose
A conference to support
flourishing in schools
Sevenoaks School 17 October
This autumn, Sevenoaks School
is hosting its biennial teaching
and learning conference, which is
designed to support primary and
secondary teachers and
educators to help students lead
more fulfilling educational lives.
a decline in the notions of meaning,
purpose and a sense of wonder. The main
reasons pertain to increasing pressure
associated with examinations and applying
to university. We are inviting educators to
examine how schools can counter this trend
and use self-reflection, goal-setting and
extra-curricular activities to bring meaning
back for these students.”
What to expect?
Meaning and purpose is also one of the
five flourishing domains identified by the
Harvard Human Flourishing Program, with
which Sevenoaks School has worked closely
with since 2020. Find out more about the
Flourishing Project here.
The one-day programme includes keynote
presentations, talks and informal, practical
workshops and interactive sessions
designed to help flourish. The conference
will answer questions such as:
• How can we integrate purpose-driven
learning into standardised curricula?
• How can school cultures nurture
intellectual curiosity and learning
engagement?
• How can AI be used in a meaningful way?
• How can creativity in the classroom be
developed?
• How can teaching and learning
practices attend to the needs of
neurodiverse students?
• How can older students learn
through play?
It will also address overarching issues, for
example, principles associated with curriculum content and design and will examine
how to incorporate meaning and purpose
into different subject and classroom-focused activities.
Why educate for meaning and
purpose?
Conference co-ordinator and Director of
Institute of Teaching and Learning at
Sevenoaks School, Mark Beverley, says:
“Meaning and purpose are common in a
number of frameworks that describe human
flourishing and wellbeing. Our own research
shows that as our students mature and
progress through their school years, there is
Why attend?
The conference will explore actionable
ways primary and secondary teachers can
engage students more meaningfully in
their learning The conference will provide
teachers with the chance to reflect on the
practical application of research findings as
well as consider ways to improve their own
teaching practice.
There will also be plenty of networking
opportunities to connect with fellow
teachers and educators.
State schools can attend the conference
free of charge, by booking a state school
ticket.
Who is speaking?
The chosen speakers are experts in a
diverse range of subject areas. Through
their key note presentations, and informal
workshops, attendees will gain insight
and learn about how to put research into
practice and leave the conference feeling
inspired.
Speakers include:
Bradley Busch, Chartered Psychologist and
Director at InnerDrive. He co-authored the
international best-selling books, ‘The Science
of Learning: 99 Studies Every Teacher Needs to
Know’ and ‘Teaching and Learning
Illuminated: Big Ideas, Beautifully Illustrated’.
Martin Robinson FRSA, Speaker, Consultant,
Teacher and author of Curriculum
Revolutions: A practical guide to
enhancing what you teach (2022),
Curriculum: Athena vs the Machine (2019),
Trivium 21c: Preparing young people for the
future with lessons from the past (2013) and
Trivium in Practice (2016)
Dr Claire Badger, Head of Teacher
Professional Development at InnerDrive and
co-author of ‘Creativity for Teachers:
A Cognitive Science Approach’
Victoria Cook, Lead Researcher at the
Chartered College of Teaching
Joanna Hughes, Group Director of EdTech at
Berkhamsted Schools Group and blogger
“This Teacher Blogs”
Dr Sirja van Zyl, Clinical Psychologist with
a special interest in neurodivergence and the
assessment of autism and ADHD in children
and young people.
Sam Webster, Deputy Head (Innovation) at
Caterham School. She leads on classroom
innovation with a focus on interdisciplinary
curriculum design and the use of emerging
technologies, including AI.
Dr Ruth Unsworth, Lecturer in Education
Studies at University of Glasgow and currently
authoring ‘Socio-materialism and the Study
of Classroom Practices’ for the Bloomsbury
series, ‘Social Theory and Methodology in
Education Research’ and co-editing the ‘BERA
Guide to Place-Responsive Pedagogy in
Outdoor Learning’.
Stephen Bailey, Deputy Head Academic at
Queen’s College
Dr Paul Davies, Deputy Head Pedagogy and
Learning at Queen’s College London where he
is the Chartered College of Teaching Research
Champion.
The “Educating for Meaning and
Purpose” Conference takes place on 17
October 2025 at Sevenoaks School.
Register for tickets online now, these are
free for state school educators.
