With the end of term in sight, we thought we would squeeze in a final July UPDATE for you - and it is a newsy one to end this school year. 

Musing on our recent Summer Conference (and you can read the A Master Class in being a Good Egg! write-up), Executive Director Martin Smith reflects on the overarching themes of inclusion and belonging: "at the heart of what we are as schools and at the heart of how we train and develop ourselves through professional development."  

Martin ends by encouraging all teachers, leaders and colleagues to take a moment to reflect on the huge contribution everyone makes to the lives of children and young people. "We know our profession has challenges ahead of us and some will move on and some will persist. But what is an ever constant is the commitment of everyone in education to do the very best job."
 
Looking to the Autumn Term and being super organised, the Whole School SEND (WSS) Conference is on Thursday 19 November 2026 at Sandy Park in Exeter on the theme of “A Sense of Belonging still Matters.” 
You can help now as the WSS Team are inviting schools across the South West region to share what “Belonging and Mattering” looks and feels like. 

With the appropriate consent, send the Team examples of pupil voice on how they feel valued and included in your School / Trust community. For example, photos, artwork, displays, projects, short video clips, participation in clubs, enrichment activities, pupil testimonials. Keeping you informed, there are SEND updates and guidance later in the newsletter. 

A week and a day before the early bird offer closes on Friday 17 July 2026, remember to register your School / Trust / Federation for SWIFT CPD and Membership for 2026 - 2027. If you do the sums, it makes sense. Find out more and register here 

This month we take a nostalgic view of ALL the UPDATE interviews - starting in April 2022 with Martin Lewis, our launch interviewee and still a SWIFT stalwart. It is worth a look back!

Devon Research School (DRS) shares a post by Hannah Claydon, Deputy Director of Devon Research School, Raising Standards Lead for Year 7 and Teacher of Science at Kingsbridge Community College on embedding Maths skills in the Science classroom.

HOT OFF THE PRESS - you can read the South-West Social Mobility Commission Annual Report on Place Matters . Published yesterday, rather than the North - South divide, the startling headline shows London outperforming every other region on many key measures for pupils eligible for free school meals, whilst the South West remains one of England's weakest-performing regions.

Thinking hot, with soaring temperatures now a constant our sponsor, SchoolPro Safety provides some excellent cooling practical guidance on managing overheating classrooms. Contact the Team here

We join our sponsor Exeter Supply Partnership in celebrating their 10th birthday of providing nursery and primary supply needs and wish them another successful decade! Contact the ESP Team here

Ending the school year with a celebratory look back in pictures, our school catering sponsor Educatering shares some pictures from Christmas to Easter, Chinese New Year and Eid. You can contact the Team to discuss catering for your School and Trust here 
 
That's all folks! When you have a moment to stop, we hope that you will find something of interest in this issue that will add value to your day.

A week tomorrow I will be signing-off from my role as Editor of UPDATE and I would like to extend my very best thoughts to you all for the end of term (and the onwards). I know from my own experience of working in a school for many years the meaning of “being busy” in ending one year and preparing for the next. Such is the cycle of education.

By Jude Baylis, SWIFT Executive Assistant 

Today's the day!
You can see here the programme for our 2026 SWIFT Summer Conference at Exeter Racecourse:

We want this year's conference to be memorably meaningful presenting on issues that matter to YOU and bring the best of regional and national:

AI | Assessment | Equity | Wellbeing | Leadership | Care | Culture | Oracy | Disadvantaged | High Attainers | Masculinities

Every year we strive to build on the success of the previous Conference and the feedback speakers from last year's conference speaks for itself:

“Excellent presentation and super relevant to improving the quality of education in our schools”
“Challenging and engaging.”
“Powerful and passionate speaker.”

TWO THIRDS of delegates Strong Agreed the conference made a positive impact on their understanding of educational practices.
​A THIRD OF delegates Strongly Agreed the conference provided a high-quality experience.
OVER HALF of delegates rated the conference as Very Good.

Do look out for our sponsors and exhibitors who will be with us in person and find out more about their educational products and services: 

Exeter Supply Partnership
Educatering
Healthy Bs
PHP Law LLP
RHINO PLAY (SW) LTD
SchoolPro TLC
Tute Education
YPO

The first week of June and the final half term of school year 2025 - 2026 and we hope this latest UPDATE newsletter will bring value to you.

Executive Director Martin Smith reports on a new chapter afoot for SWIFT with neighbouring Teaching School Hub partner, OneCornwall: 

"The proposal is straightforward. By aligning more closely, we can move beyond operating as parallel Hubs and instead create a single, coherent partnership that is better placed to deliver high-quality professional development at scale. This is about combining capacity, expertise and infrastructure to strengthen what is already working well." 

We want to hear your views. Find out more about the proposals here and you can watch a short animation here . Please feel able to complete the feedback form here by Wednesday 1 July 2026.

Sharing good practice comes naturally in education and we are pleased to showcase the outcomes of a recent peer review with fellow Teaching School Hubs’ of our Appropriate Body Services - one of our Golden Thread responsibilities. You can read how the team thrived in this collaborative and challenging exercise.  

Tes has recently published its Global Wellbeing Report (a topic close to all our hearts) - and we thought it was worth highlighting for you. Wellbeing will be a keynote at our forthcoming Summer Conference on Thursday 18 June 2026 at Exeter Racecourse led by Shaheen Myers, founder and CEO of Balance:ed. The final tickets are available here 

Hot off the press - Colyton Foundation has announced that applications are now open for the 2026 - 2027 cohort of Leading High Attainment. A year-long leadership development programme for secondary school leaders across the South West delivered by the Colyton Foundation in partnership with SWIFT and Devon Research School. You can apply here and register for the information webinar on Thursday 2 July 2026 here  

This month's interview is with Steve Margetts, Principal of Torquay Academy and recently published author of “Everyone Succeeds,” a leadership framework built around 54 codified leadership behaviours. Steve will be leading some professional development sessions for us next academic year. One to watch!

Devon Research School (DRS) shares a post by Adam Wray, Associate Leader at ACE Tiverton School on predictive processing. Living in a neurodiverse household, with family members who experience autism, ADHD and dyslexia, Adam became deeply curious about what happens beneath the surface of thought and perception. It is worth a read to consider your own processing and in the classroom. 

It is that time of year – poised between the end of one school year and starting to think about the next on the not-so-distant horizon and our sponsor, SchoolPro TLC considers the merits of one week or two week timetables in Secondary schools.  Contact the Team here

Educatering our school catering sponsor have been showcasing the importance of local sourcing. Parents have enjoyed a taste at recent parents' evenings and at Pupil Premium Night with more info about support for low-income families. The food pics say it all. If you want to find out how Educatering can support your School/Trust Catering Team contact the Team here 

You will know that Exeter Supply Partnership are committed to supporting you for your nursery and primary supply needs. But they go a step beyond. As well as a full-service approach supporting not only staffing and recruitment needs at no additional cost, they foster a highly skilled, confident and well-supported pool of educators through a dedication to ongoing professional development. Contact the ESP Team here

A few extras this issue.
If you are starting to plan your summer reading, you might like to add Mr T's life thinky collection of books to your list. A wide offering of thoughts, ideas and insights to help you, to help yourself! By Day, Mr T is Christopher Tribble, Headteacher of Honiton Primary School and you can find out more here

Introducing ERA, the Educational Recording Agency: a licensing organisation enabling schools, colleges and universities to access and use FREE high-quality broadcast video and audio for teaching and learning (from UK broadcasters like BBC, C4, C5, ITV etc), whilst also supporting the creators of the content. 
 
Finally - if you are interested in the pithy topic of climate change and find yourself in the Totnes area on Monday 15 June 2026 - you might like to attend a free film night of "Future Council" plus panel discussion with various experts, including George Monbiot. Doors open at KEIVCC (King Edward VI Community College, Ashburton Road, Totnes TQ9 5JX) from 1800 for a 1900 start. Book your place here

We hope you find something to interest you in this issue and we wish you a happy, fulfilling, productive and (sunny!) Summer Half Term. 

May Day has passed and we hope that you enjoyed the Bank Holiday, but today is UPDATE May Day and we are pleased to bring you the latest news.

As Executive Director Martin Smith reflects in his introduction: 
"This May issue brilliantly exemplifies what a mature school-led system looks like...The many high-quality articles bring together expertise from individual schools, Multi Academy Trusts, education partners and the National Institute of Teaching." 

With partnership at the heart of our SWIFT work, Martin will soon be engaging with stakeholders on the partnership with our Teaching School Hub colleagues, OneCornwall to develop and widen the scope across the region. 

Read up on the recent National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) Teacher Educator Development Day led by Kyle Bailey, NPQ Lead for the South and West at NIoT and Birmingham South Teaching School Hub. The aims of the day were to strengthen the professional skills and expertise of teacher educators, engage critically with research and apply it to inform and enhance practice and build, sustain and deepen relationships between local colleagues. 

You can also catch up on some important Golden Thread programme updates to keep you informed.

If you are contemplating a smartphone-free environment in your School or Trust, Kingsbridge Community College's Principal, Tina Graham shares their journey and tips that developed as part of their wider commitment to student wellbeing, focus, and positive development. 

This month's interview is with Anthony Lees, Deputy Head of School for Marpool Primary School & EdTech Lead for the Cornerstone Academy Trust. A self-confessed tech nerd, Ant is well-placed to provide an insight into this rapidly growing area within our professional and personal lives. You read it here in UPDATE!

Devon Research School (DRS) shares a post on being one step ahead when it comes to Adaptive Teaching from fellow Cornwall Research School. As you would expect this is insightful, intentional and evidence-based and will add meaning to your practice. 

On that note, the Region's RISE Team invites you to attend the Boolean and London South West Maths Hubs’ Mainstream Inclusion Conference on Primary Maths coming up on Thursday 4 June 2026. Book here

From September, schools across England will be expected to take a more structured approach to allergy management and our sponsor SchoolPro TLC provides guidance on how to prepare.  As former school leaders, teachers and incumbent Governors, they are caring and knowledgeable. Contact the Team here

Nursery and Primary school cover service Exeter Supply Partnership are celebrating their tenth anniversary - and we commend their first decade dedicated to providing "reliable, experienced supply staff, and above all, offering an ethical, not‑for‑profit alternative that puts schools, educators and pupils first."  Contact here
 
As we have come to expect , Educatering our school catering sponsor are showcasing yet more of their delicious and nutritious food. See more pictures to feast on! If you are not yet part of the Educatering Schools Revolution contact the Team here 

Remember to book your place at the 2026 Summer Conference on Thursday 18 June 2026 at Exeter Racecourse. Five school weeks today! Designed to be relevant and memorable with presentations on: AI and Assessment, Equity, Wellbeing and Leadership, Care and Culture, Disadvantaged High Attainers, Masculinities in Schools and more. Network with like-minded colleagues and enjoy some lovely food from Goosemoor Educatering.

In the spirit of true and lasting partnership, we hope you relish a dip in this issue.
With all best wishes from the SWIFT Central Team - and a happy and rewarding onwards. 

Landed! February UPDATE and lots to engage you.

Executive Director Martin Smith announces the date and line-up of the Summer Conference 2026 on Thursday 18 June 2026 with relevant and purposeful topics – including, equity and inclusion, wellbeing and leadership, AI, oracy and disadvantaged high attainers. Book your place here

"SWIFT takes pride in our vision of professional development to create outstanding opportunities for leaders to learn, develop and connect and is passionate about enabling schools across the South West to access the best of regional and national, as well as the latest research." 

The Engagement Platform (TEP) engage us with their latest research on why pupils’ belief in their own agency for reading really matters and there are some thoughtful practicals for you to do in school.  Find out more about TEP in an engaging interview with Jess Easton, Director of The Engagement Platform (TEP). Plus there are more handy teaching and learning top tips from Harry Fletcher-Wood's presentation at the Spring Leadership Forum on improving teaching for which we thank Harry. We also thank Laura Clitheroe for showcasing all the opportunities of the CODE Maths Hub

Thinking about reading, Devon Research School (DRS) considers reading goals and how to develop a shared approach to purposeful reading: "The ability to read and understand complex text plays a critical role in our students’ success, not only in terms of their academic outcomes but also in relation to their wider life chances on leaving school."

The February feature from our sponsor SchoolPro TLC is on supervision for school leaders on a sensitive note of how school leadership can feel heavy: "Recent wellbeing surveys show that over three quarters of school staff feel stressed, with senior leaders reporting the highest levels of exhaustion and emotional overwhelm." The SchoolPro TLC Safeguarding Team are there to provide support and you can contact them here

In preparation for the forthcoming Year 6 SATs the RISE Team are hosting a Raising Attainment Conference on Thursday 5 March 2026. Book your place here and we hope it helps you prep your pupils.

Educatering our school catering sponsor are leading the way across our region with their complete service to provide nutritious and exciting lunches with local food sources, and bespoke support to your Catering Teams. Contact the Team here 

We are still in the winter months (despite our hopes for an early spring) and we understand that supply teaching is a sometimes necessity for schools. Our sponsor Exeter Supply Partnership values their teachers and provides professional development to ensure skills are refreshed to boost and provide the best service to your School and Trust.  If you need any support you can contact them here

AND we are here to support you, and we wish you a fulfilling and happy onwards with the term - and in a few weeks' time, a restful Spring Half Term Break!   

Now live it's the final UPDATE of 2025 and our ruby edition.

To start us off, Executive Director Martin Smith aptly considers "the collective goodwill that exists within the profession around supporting one another to develop" - not least in our role as Teaching School Hubs. Plus a special Happy Christmas message and a reminder of all the lovely aspects of being a teacher and leader at this time of year.

It is proving to be very popular, so remember to sign-up for the Spring Leadership Forum in January with keynote speaker Harry Fletcher-Wood presenting on improving teaching, an intro to the CODE Maths Hub with Laura Clitheroe and a foreword by Martin.

Thinking about understanding engagement amongst low-income White children in England’s schools, you can find out more in the report by The Engagement Platform with some suggested support ideas. Read up too on the latest webinar led by the South West English Hubs on the Department for Education's Writing Framework published earlier this year.

Keeping it relevant, there is more guidance from the Education Endowment Foundation on Metacognition and self-regulated learning from Devon Research School. Equip yourself with the three new classroom tools to support you putting the evidence into practice.

If you are looking to refine your timetabling tools, our sponsor SchoolPro TLC share their year-round timetabling approach to strengthening this essential work within school and they are available to support you if you need that helping hand.

Faye Steele, our Senior Administrator for the SWIFT Appropriate Body Service is our December interviewee and how good it is to know that she is at the helm for this integral service with her “relentless unwavering determination to procure the information we need on time and to meet our deadlines and tracking.” We are only as good as our staff and systems!
 
If you are deliberating about taking the bold step to change your contracted catering to in-house, read on as our sponsor Educatering share all the benefits of keeping your own kitchen staff, behind-the-scenes support, compliance and allergen management, staff training, bespoke menu development - and SO much more that makes sense for a fully supported service.  

Looking ahead to January, if you need any teacher cover, our sponsor Exeter Supply Partnership remind us why not all supply services are the same and the benefits of working with them. For a start, this not-for-profit organisation with true heart puts people first - and that means supporting local schools and teachers.

We are nearing the shortest day and if you need a reading boost, remember to check out Mr T’s instructional series (AKA Christopher Tribble, Headteacher at Honiton Primary School). We like an edifying read!

We are glad to work with you, support you and hope that you will end the Autumn Term on an uplifting note with the end of term Christmas celebrations.

See you in 2026!