Removing Barriers to Opportunity and Achievement
Tuesday 23rd June 2026, NACE, Horticulture House, OX11 0RN
9.00am - 4.00pm
Costs
- One delegate: £195 +VAT (members) / £295 +VAT (non-members)
- Two delegates: £295 +VAT (members) / £445 +VAT (non-members)
For maximum benefit, we realise it may be beneficial to have multiple colleagues from your school attend, to support with planning and implementation. We are therefore offering a discounted rate when booking two or more places. For a group booking rate for three or more places, please email cpd@nace.co.uk
Despite repeated calls for excellence and equity in our national education system, the data shows widening gaps in outcomes and opportunities for learners who encounter disadvantages: potential is too often unfulfilled.
This new one-day event is for all those who are seeking to close those gaps – leading on this across a school or group of schools – sharing key messages from NACE’s research into how we can break down barriers to opportunity and achievement.
Co-led by Andy Griffith and Christabel Shepherd (see bios below) – both highly experienced in supporting schools to bring about meaningful change for young people who encounter disadvantage – this promises to be an inspiring, practical, evidenced-based and impact-focused day, with dedicated strands for those working at primary and secondary phases.
Topics covered will include:
- The key role of school culture, including language and associated beliefs about “ability” and “disadvantage”;
- The importance of access to cognitively challenging learning – as the right of every child;
- Strategies to identify and break down systemic barriers, rooted in a holistic understanding of learners’ needs;
- Developing a curriculum, whole-school teaching approaches, and extra-curricular opportunities which enable all young people to flourish;
- Nurturing relationships to ensure the right balance between challenge and support – setting young people up for success now and in the future.
Course leaders
Andy Griffith is the Director of Malit and the creator of high-impact training courses for leaders, teachers and students. Effective learning design is at the heart of Andy’s work and he has taken a career choice to particularly focus his work in areas of high social deprivation. He is also the co-author of four books: Engaging Learners, Teaching Backwards, The Learning Imperative and The Working Classroom.
NACE Challenge and Curriculum Development Director, Christabel Shepherd has 30+ years’ experience in teaching and school leadership. She has been a National Leader of Education, leader of the Exceed SCITT English and Cognitive Theory programmes, facilitator for the NPQSL, Pupil Premium Reviewer, and a system leader of school-to-school support using and applying evidence and research.
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