The Priestley Lecture with speaker Colin Diamond CBE

Why authentic education leadership is needed more than ever: the counterweight to populism and extremism

The guest speaker at the 2018 Priestley Lecture will be Colin Diamond CBE, who is Corporate Director for Children and Young People and Director of Children’s Services, Birmingham City Council.

Abstract

We are witnessing the rapid rise of populist movements across Europe. At the same time we know that school students are exposed to extremist views from a broad spectrum of political movements. Birmingham, the youngest city in Europe with 450 schools and colleges, is a crucible where ideologies meet, sometimes collide and new synergies are found. Birmingham experienced Trojan Horse and emerged stronger with leading edge safeguarding practices.

This lecture will explore those themes and how authentic education leadership in Birmingham is effective at creating students who are resilient, understand their rights and responsibilities - locally and globally. It will draw on the work of 200 city schools on the UNICEF Rights Respecting Award and how the Compassionate Education movement influences practice. The new “Made in Birmingham” inclusive education menu of initiatives is receiving a warm welcome from the Department for Education and now seen as national brand leader.

Cost: Free of Charge but online registration essential 

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Venue: Room G15, Muirhead Tower

Sir Raymond Priestley was the Vice-Chancellor of The University of Birmingham from 1938 to 1952. He was a great supporter of the education of teachers and in 1959 it was decided to name this annual lecture after him.