Sean Harris at Kingfisher Conference

Internationally recognised expert on poverty and education, Sean Harris, spoke to the assembled staff of Kingfisher Schools Trust at our recent conference.

Sean is Director of PLACE for Tees Valley Education Trust. PLACE is an initiative to develop partnerships to the benefit of local communities and particularly young people, in an area of the North East where deprivation is a significant issue.

In his presentation, Sean spoke powerfully of the need to recognise and engage with our communities, and avoiding making presumptions or resting on stereotypes.

Sean afterwards reflected on the event, via LinkedIn:

Perched with attentive eyes, the kingfisher studies every ripple below. It’s curious, observant, and ready to act with precision. At least that’s what the bird experts tell me!

Today, working with the Kingfisher Schools Trust, I’ve seen that same spirit of care and attention.

A willingness to look closely, to listen deeply, and to understand the hidden depths of the communities they serve.

Thank you for giving me and colleagues at Tees Valley Education opportunity to share our curioisty and learning too. To explore complex issues like poverty and inequality. It’s through this type of collaboration that we get a better sense of how to navigate these complexities.