Kelvin Stephens

Decided to have a sort out of the home office as it’s been 5 years since I’ve been regularly teaching!

Think it’s time for this to go as we finally went cloud back in November. Had this training in 2010!

Great morning with Y5 today! Until I said you’ve got 6 to 7 minutes left! 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Now on Cannock Chase looking at possible residential locations.

So lucky to be able to spend another day at #BETTUK2026

I have mostly spent the day at Microsoft Education and Canva (so glad they were next to each other!)

More aware of the tools within M365 and can’t wait to share with staff!

So tired now after a busy two days!

Over the past few years visiting Bett, I have focussed on my CPD, rather than just walking around looking at shiny new technology.

Today’s sessions have reminded me of the basics that we used 20 years ago when I first started in specialist provision!

Roll on tomorrow for day 2!

Interested in how other special schools manage this. We have a budget and card for consumables/sensory items(rice, shaving foam etc) teaches have to scan receipts in, we have a number of staff saying that this is not a teachers role. We used to have to wait for a cheque, so I think it is easier!

Looks like they all had a great time!

So pleased to be awarded the bronze level! We have come a long way and so much more to do!

Luckily the migration team are handling it well.

Even with all the communication with staff, they are still nervous, panicked, and not ready to let go of old accounts.

Digital migrations rarely go smoothly! Even with all the planning and preparation, there is always something unexpected that occurs!

I think it is worse for me as I’m loosing control over systems I’ve been in control of for 20 years.

🤞 all is well by Monday!

What a long 8 weeks! I will be glad when the digital migration is over! Although it is going to be strange to not be in control of office 365 and computers after 20 years. The photos show how this week started (everyone is ok!) and how it ended!

What a way to end 6 years of building work! Glad my speech was received well and got a few laughs! So glad our transformation celebration was a success!

Back to work tomorrow! After a year as Interim Head of School, I’m excited to be back between both schools to drive our digital transformation!

20 years ago, I walked into this building for the first time! I remeber them saying at uni that your placement year might lead to your full time job - well it did but no longer an ICT technican!

How time flies!

The main entrance is now my office! The building looks so different!

Finally got my result through! Passed my NPQH!

My first classroom! I would do things so differently now. No visual clutter around the board, neutral colours for boards (why I thought orange was a good idea I’ll never know!) along with structuring my lessons differently.

My first ever classroom, well IT room! Turned back into a classroom 13 years ago and now going to be our soft pay room!

What an awesome day! I don’t think I have enough adjectives to describe today, going to start with emotional!

From the opening performance of dancers from our 12 schools to hearing from all the trust executives, headteachers of all 12 schools and watching our school videos.

We hosted the Walsall Digital Leader day for 9 other schools to today. We discussed the roles our digital leaders complete in school along with staying safe online.

Along with the additional wall wrapping, we have also added sensory elements to the walls in our new primary zone.

Where it all began! What a crazy 5 years it has been. 86 pupils to 266 (in September).

Our Summer Term meeting will be held on Thursday 26th June. We will focus on Primary to Secondary transition along with discussing AI use. Book Now - www.computingatschool.org.uk/events/2025/... #caschat #computing

I need a holiday again! No one tells you about all the little things that need sorting after academisation!

Love our new staircase wrapping! Didn’t get the other stairs as it wasn’t finished. All of our staircases are themed now and it makes them look so much better!

Holiday treat while waiting for the car to be serviced! Boring holiday task 1 in progress.

I can’t believe it’s been 3 years since I went to the Royal Garden Party! Didn’t know it at the time, but one of the last invites from Queen Elizabeth II.

Loving AI! Meeting minutes, actions and decisions done in a matter of seconds!

Keep thinking about this and how we can make changes to prepare our students for life beyond our school.

Great to share a range of AI tools with teachers at both schools this afternoon! Can’t wait to see them in action.

This has come at the right time! Ready to get back on track with Digital Technology. It’s so difficult at times to juggle all the different roles being a senior leader especially when our team has been depleted for a while, now we are getting back up to full strength I have the time to refocus.

It’s good to be going back to my roots, after being acting head. Looking forward to getting back into implementing our digital transformation.