Strategy Working Group Conference May 2022

When:             Saturday 21 May 2.00pm - 4.30pm 

Where:            Online, via Zoom

Who:               Open to all senior students in the School in Great Britain.  Just  RSVP to let us know you’re coming.

Why:               To consult senior students on the SWG’s proposals, as set out in its Strategic Direction report.

Format:           An online event, lasting 2.5 hours with two main elements:

  1. Short presentations to bring members of the Senior School up-to-date with the SWG’s thinking and recommended way forward.
  2. Optional 60-minute feedback sessions. If you have read the Strategic Direction report and would like to contribute feedback on what is being proposed, these sessions are for you. There are two different kinds of feedback session, themed and unthemed:
a. Themed sessions. These will concentrate on specific aspects of the report to enable a more focused and in-depth discussion. There are two themes:
    • "Pathways and Meditation" This session will review the Strategic Direction report with particular emphasis on the changes proposed to the arrangements in the early years of Philosophy courses summarised at pages 24 to 27.  The first two years of groups in the School are designed to introduce students to the study and practice of the key aspects of stillness and self-knowledge, to deliver a valuable experience, to support and inspire students to persevere to the point where they are happy to be initiated to Meditation at term 6, and to value giving service within the community, the family and the School.
    • "Our Values" How we respond to what life presents us depends on what we hold dear in our heart, what we value, the bhavana. The culture of any organisation can be seen to rest on the values which its members share in common. The outcome of the SWG's work to identify the School's core values is set out on pages 10-12 of the Strategic Direction report. This session is to gather your feedback on these values.  Are they a fair representation of who we are as a School?  Do they provide a firm foundation for a flourishing School in the future? 

    Note: to keep these themed sessions to a manageable size, numbers will be limited, so you’ll need to sign up in advance. You will also need to have read the relevant section(s) of the Strategic Direction report. To register for one of these themed discussions, please use the RSVP form.

    b. Free format (unthemed) sessions. As an alternative to the themed discussions above, these free format sessions will provide an opportunity to feedback on any aspect of the report. No need to sign up for these in advance – breakout groups will be arranged on the day.

      Programme

      2.00 pm           Opening presentations

      A welcome from the Principal, Stephen Silver, will be followed by a series of short presentations from members of the SWG.

      2.30 pm           Introduction to feedback sessions

      Anyone not wishing to participate in discussion may leave at this point and return at 3.50 for the final session, if they wish.

      2.40 - 3.40      Feedback sessions

      3.40                 Return to the main Conference

      3.50 - 4.30       Integration and Close

      The Conference will hear brief reports from each of the themed sessions and from a small selection of the unthemed breakout groups. Stephen Silver will then summarise, give information on the next steps for the SWG’s work and close the event.