On Friday 24th October, our team proudly joined colleagues from across the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust for a powerful day of professional learning at the annual All-Staff Conference. Held at St. Aidan’s CE High School, this inspiring event brought together staff from both primary and secondary schools, united by a shared commitment to the Trust’s vision: Ambition, Learning and Enrichment for All.
At St. Peter’s, our own vision—Love, Learn, Shine—guided our engagement throughout the day. We believe that every child is precious, unique and loved by God, and that every member of our school community should be empowered to shine. This conference was a chance for us to deepen our learning so that we can better nurture, inspire and support our children to shine.
The day began with a keynote speech from Dan Fitzpatrick, The AI Educator, who explored how artificial intelligence is transforming education. His message was clear: technology should serve as a tool to enhance thinking, personalise learning, and improve pedagogy. This aligns perfectly with our ambition to help children become fluent, confident learners who are prepared for life in a diverse and ever-changing world.
Throughout the day—and continuing in our ongoing professional dialogue—we’ve been reflecting deeply on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in education. A key theme has been the idea that while AI can help outsource some of the “doing”, such as planning, data analysis or resource creation, it cannot and should not replace the thinking, relationships and professional judgement that are central to great teaching.
We’ve explored how AI can support us in making more efficient choices and adapting learning more responsively to meet the needs of every child. At St. Peter’s, we remain rooted in the belief that teaching is always relational, and that technology should serve to enhance—not replace—the human connection that helps children love, learn and shine.
After the key note staff took part in two workshop sessions, choosing from a wide range of topics designed to spark ideas and strengthen practice. From making writing exciting and planning for successful transitions, to digital amplification and empowering teaching assistants, each session offered practical strategies that we’re excited to bring back into our classrooms.
One of the greatest strengths of being part of the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust is the opportunity to collaborate across schools. Learning alongside colleagues from both primary and secondary phases enriched our understanding and strengthened our shared purpose: to provide the very best for every child.
In the afternoon, we returned to school to reflect on the morning’s learning and begin preparing for the term ahead. We’re looking forward to putting our professional development into practice, ensuring that our children continue to love, learn, and shine.
School reopens to children on Monday 3rd November, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back, refreshed and ready for the second half of the autumn term.
Wishing all our families a joyful and restful half-term break.
