If you’re in the world of MAT assessment and data, it’s likely that your opportunities for networking and learning from peers are somewhat limited. That’s not because people don’t want to share their expertise; in my experience, MAT leaders are generous in their willingness to share knowledge whenever the opportunity arises. But there isn’t really an established place you can go to chat with colleagues in similar roles. There are a few reasons for this:

• MATs are still fairly new concepts.
• People working with assessment data often have quite different job titles, and may assume their assessment and data responsibilities as part of a broader role.
• We’re all busy, and networking events need someone to co-ordinate and organise.

When I was part of the leadership team of a Multi Academy Trust, I’d try to meet as many colleagues in other trusts as possible, but that wasn’t always an efficient process — you can travel for hours to visit one person, and then when you get there you may find that their context and challenges are not exactly relevant.

So we at Smartgrade have decided to do something about this: we’re organising a series of termly networking dinners for MAT assessment and data professionals.

The dinners are for up to twelve people, so that everyone can participate in discussion around the same table. While the focus is assessment and data, we encourage participation from people with varied job titles: past attendees include Heads of Assessment, Executive Principals, Heads of Insight, Heads of Data, Directors of Education, CEOs, COOs and CIOs. Our experience is that the conversation is all the richer because we include people who interact in different ways with assessment and data.

All we ask is that you have a MAT-wide role and you come willing to share your thoughts and experience while learning from others. Guests get to decide what we talk about, so the conversation will focus on issues relevant to you. Smartgrade covers the cost of the meal so you just need to get yourself to the venue (and home too, ideally). All diets are catered for (except for dill-lovers, because I despise dill, to the point where I’d really rather not be in the same room as it).

If that sounds like something you’d like to be part of, sign up to be invited to an upcoming dinner in your area using this link. Equally, if you think you know someone who you think would benefit from joining in, do feel free to forward the link.

And of course, if you’re interested to know more about Smartgrade, book in a chat with us using this link.

Feedback from previous participants:

“Great people, fascinating conversation”

“It was great to speak with like-minded people and learn more about what others are doing”

“I thoroughly enjoyed it — such a great group of people”

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