London Diocesan Board for Schools (LDBS)
My name is Helen Ridding and I am the Deputy Diocesan Director of Education (School Improvement).
Who is the best first point of contact?
Myself ( Helen Ridding) and our NPQ Team, If you email NPQ@london.anglican.org, someone in our team will respond.
What is your favourite thing about the holidays?
The holidays are a chance to reflect and recharge the batteries, spend time with family and friends and explore. It also provides time to try and improve my pottery techniques!
Tell us a little bit about you as an organisation
The London Diocesan Board for Schools, (LDBS) serves schools across London. Our 155 Church of England schools open their doors to 55,000 pupils each day, across 18 diverse and vibrant London Authorities. It is our privilege to equip and encourage them as we serve and support education right across London.
Our LDBS vison is for schools to provide a transformational education and where all children and adults flourish in the widest sense. Church schools are for everyone: this principle is as important to us today as it was when the LDBS was established in 1836.
Why did you choose to be a partner with Church of England
and Catholic Education Office?
Having provided leadership programmes successfully for over twenty years to church and community schools, and more recently through our traded service Grow Education Partners , we are very excited to be serving the common good by delivering the CEFEL NPQs to schools of all kinds in London.
Which NPQs do you offer?
NPQH, NPQSL, NPQLT & NPQLPM
Which Cohort are you running?
We are running cohorts 5 and 6
Where will your learning take place?
Learning is a blend of group online sessions, supported self-study (to fit into your schedule), and face to face days in our training rooms at 36 Causton Street, London SW1P 4AU. It is only a two-minute walk to the River Thames from there, which means there is a lovely place to stretch your legs at lunchtime or to pop to Tate Britain afterwards!
Is there anything you would say to somebody who's considering an NPQ?
This is an excellent opportunity to ‘grow’ as a professional and personally, by meeting other professionals from a range of different settings and working with and learning from them. You will likely remain in touch with them for years to come. One of the highlights is the opportunity to discuss current, credible educational research and to be coached to help you apply it to your own setting, building your confidence and knowledge as an evidence-based leader. Participants often end up quoting NPQ research excerpts as the course progresses to colleagues, OFSTED and at interviews!
