The Scottish Teachers for Enhancing Practice (Step) conference has been running annually since 2014 with the exception of a two-year break during Covid. It has always been well attended and attracted a variety of enthusiastic workshop leaders sharing practice and resources. This year was no different, with almost 100 delegates and 13 workshops - and it really showed the value of in-person CPD.
Some of the most prominent voices in Scottish education were there, including Professor Walter Humes and David Cameron, the education consultant and former education director. There was an opening address from the education secretary Jenny Gilruth, while Education Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority also attended.
This was, then, a great opportunity to learn from those with vast experience of education in Scotland and those looking to take forward reform.
The rise in online platforms and networking since Covid has, in some ways, made professional learning a lot more accessible in recent years and the debate continues about the benefits of face-to-face events. These are, by definition, less accessible for those who do not live nearby, and there are inevitable costs for delegates and organisers alike.
Yet, the Step conference has always been held at the Stirling Court Hotel, and the in-person networking is its greatest strength - this can be hard to reproduce on an online forum.
An in-person event has to be good value, though, so the ticket price includes breakfast, lunch and at least three workshops, as well as opportunities to network. This year, there was a much-reduced rate for all students and probationer teachers, which led to a large uptake in attendance.
Another strength is the representation from all sectors and stages of career. Workshops are led by classroom teachers, third-sector organisations, national agencies and parental bodies. Delegates include student teachers, researchers, probationers, senior managers and class teachers. I can’t think of any other such event that brings together that array of knowledge, expertise and perspectives in such a warm and friendly setting.
Step delegates have over the years often contrasted the Scottish Learning Festival (SLF), run by Education Scotland, which many have found inaccessible and hard to interact with, largely because it held in-person events during the school day (albeit, as of 2023, SLF is more of a hybrid offering).
Conversation flows face to face
Feedback from delegates at the most recent Step annual gathering, on Saturday 2 March, was overwhelmingly in favour of more face-to-face events. The Step committee found that “conversation was flowing [and] there was plenty of discussion and sharing of ideas, which enriched the whole experience”.
It was clear from the feedback that the ability to meet colleagues from different sectors with varying levels of expertise cannot be fully replicated through online or hybrid events. The morning session allowed delegates to mingle and chat with workshop leaders and prominent education professionals, such as Professor Humes, in a relaxed atmosphere, not feeling rushed or intimidated. Even the arrival of the education secretary was within a spirit of collegiate discussion that she was very comfortable with. This atmosphere of collegiality and openness is what participants at such events are often looking for.
One probationer teacher, Mohammed Arshad, who was attending a teaching conference for the first time, said: “I felt very involved and, even as a probationer, felt that my opinions were respected by experienced teachers and educators.”
In-person dialogue relished by new teachers
This was the overwhelming feeling of many of our student and probationer teachers who came along.
It is so important to feel valued and heard, especially at a stage of your career when you are working so hard to please everyone and seek reassurance that you are doing the right thing. Access to key speakers, such as David Cameron, gave early-career teachers in particular a boost and was a welcome reminder to never lose sight of why we do what we do - to change and improve lives.
Diversity of workshops is important and the inclusion of one on parental engagement was critical this year. Leanne McGuire, chair of the Glasgow City Parents Group, said: “How a school communicates with parents can often influence how involved they are in their child’s education. The Step conference was a great opportunity for me to share a parent’s perspective and strategies to improve communication.”
‘Disconnect’ between classrooms and HE
Having recently made the move into initial teacher education (ITE), I fully understand the disconnect that teachers on the ground feel between their practice and what is happening at universities. The inclusion of expertise from ITE was therefore a welcome addition this year. Dr Alison Murray, of the University of Stirling, for example, ran a hands-on workshop on the importance of physical literacy.
Other workshops covered myriad important issues, such as supporting menstrual health and the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom.
Last year, Step hosted a hybrid event with an in-person panel on education reform. This year there may be further such opportunities - look for updates on Facebook, the Step X account or the Step website.
At a time when the cost-of-living crisis and teacher burnout are affecting educators across the country, these in-person events are a much-needed opportunity to share our concerns, seek solidarity and leave feeling energised from all the frank face-to-face discussions.
Nuzhat Uthmani is a lecturer at the University of Stirling and a committee member of Step
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