Because effective leaders are quick on their feet

This was the exciting and eye-catching theme for the Navigate stand this year at the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services annual leadership conference – Seizing Success.

As proud lead sponsors of the conference, Navigate brought an element of fun and light relief to the stage with the Navigate Virtual Tennis Championship. We set up a Nintendo Wii with a virtual tennis game where up to four delegates could play against each other with mini tennis rackets. A great time was had by all as it was ideally combined with the opportunity to raise the profile of the Navigate brand and the team could network with key decision-makers and opinion-formers in education. And maybe we have inspired the next Rafael Nadal...

The conference, Seizing Success, brought together a unique blend of world-class speakers from education, business, sport and the arts to share their insights into modern leadership. Thought provoking, stimulating and inspirational, the conference aims were to make a tangible difference to leadership practice and thinking – which it certainly did.

A key part of our sponsorship was running a workshop for delegates – Chains of schools: what do they mean for school leaders? The session panel consisted of: Michael Wilkins, CEO, Outwood Grange Family of Schools, Paul Lloyd Jones, Executive Headteacher of the First Federation, Devon and Amanda Phillips, Headteacher of both Old Ford Primary School and Culloden Primary School.

Jane Creasy, who facilitated the session for Navigate, said: " We could have filled a longer session very easily, as it was clear that people would have loved to have got 'stuck in' to some of the behind-the-scenes detail of the issues that were being discussed. That being said, however, the audience were able to listen to, and participate in, a really absorbing and lively debate."

Steve Munby, Chief Executive of the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services said of Navigate: " Thank you so much for helping to lead a workshop at our annual conference this year. I hear that it was a terrific session and I am grateful that you were willing to do this."

The directors of Navigate also hosted a private dinner on the Wednesday evening at the superb Malmaison restaurant in Birmingham which provided us with the ideal opportunity to catch up and network informally with our guests over dinner. 

See you at next the conference next year!

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