Event Highlights

Monday 6th January 2025  

Gatton Primary School,

13e Broadwater Rd, London SW17 0DS 

9 AM – 3 PM

Video Highlights

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The Teaching and Learning Festival 2025 is a groundbreaking initiative by AMS, designed to move beyond the traditional INSET day format and deliver a fresh, dynamic approach to professional development. With a focus on meaningful themes, this festival combines expert-led sessions and engaging discussions to provide a high-quality learning experience that truly inspires.

Muslim schools are performing well, with staff demonstrating competence and dedication, and CPD now more accessible than ever through local and online platforms. While the basics are firmly in place, the next challenge is achieving excellence. Schools need deeper focus, advanced strategies, and refined practices to elevate standards further and unlock new levels of success for students and staff alike.

The festival redefines professional development, offering a space for collaboration, innovative thinking, and actionable learning. This year’s theme, focused on literacy, is designed to empower educators with the expertise and tools to make literacy a transformative force in their schools.

Itinerary

Time Activity
9:00 AM – 9:20 AM
Registration & Welcome Refreshment
Arrive and enjoy refreshments while connecting with fellow attendees and preparing for the day.
9:20 AM – 9:30 AM

Introduction & Festival Kick-off

A brief introduction to set the tone for the day, covering the festival’s purpose, structure, and this year’s theme: Inspiring Excellence in Education.

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Keynote Session with Na’ima B. Robert
Embracing our Literary Legacy: Challenges, Opportunities and Obligations

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Morning Coffee Break
A 15-minute opportunity to grab refreshments, network with peers, and prepare for the day’s seminars.
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM
Seminar 1 – Vocabulary and Cultural Capital for the EAL Learner
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Seminar 2 – Rethinking Quran Teaching… A Phonics-Based Approach
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Lunch & Prayer Break 
A catered lunch with ample time for prayers and networking. This is a valuable opportunity to engage with peers, share ideas, and build connections with fellow educators and leaders.
12:45 PM – 1:30 PM
Seminar 3 – Developing Reasoning Through Maths Journaling
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
Seminar 4 – A Multi-Layered Approach to Making Literacy Fun
2:15 PM-2:45 PM Closing Activity – Reflection and Resource Development with Little Hibba
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM Closing Reflections and Remarks
The festival concludes with a 15-minute reflective session summarizing key insights, celebrating the day’s learning, and inspiring participants to continue elevating education in their schools.

Keynote Speaker

Na’ima B. Robert

Award-winning Author & Book Coach

Acclaimed author and advocate for literacy, Na’ima B. Roberts is passionate about empowering young Muslims through reading and storytelling. With a body of work that amplifies diverse voices, Na’ima’s keynote will be both inspiring and practical, providing attendees with insights to drive literacy in their schools.

Seminars

This seminar focuses on building vocabulary and enhancing cultural capital for students learning English as an Additional Language (EAL). Participants will explore strategies to develop language skills while ensuring learners are equipped with the knowledge and cultural context needed to thrive academically and socially.

This innovative session reimagines Quranic teaching using a phonics-based methodology. Educators will learn how to incorporate phonics techniques to improve fluency and comprehension, making Quranic learning more accessible and effective for students.

This seminar introduces the concept of Maths Journaling as a way to develop reasoning and deeper understanding in mathematics. Participants will learn how to use journaling to encourage students to reflect, articulate their thought processes, and build stronger problem-solving skills.

In this interactive workshop, award-winning author and book coach, Na’ima B. Robert shares a practical framework for school communities to ignite the love of reading and writing in their students, both on an individual and community level.

Inviting teachers and school heads to step into their role as community builders, participants will be encouraged to create a comprehensive plan of action to bring the fun back into reading and writing and ultimately build a lifelong love of learning.

An engaging seminar where Little Hibba introduces a unique Creative Writing subscription designed specifically for Muslim schools. This program blends Islamic values with creative expression, offering students a platform to enhance their writing skills while deepening their understanding of faith.
One of the exciting opportunities of this program is the chance for children to develop and publish their own book, fostering a sense of achievement and empowerment.