practivism
/ˈpræk.tɪ.vɪ.zəm/
noun
We are Maureen Bowes and Siobhan Goffee. Together, we’ve worked in education for over 40 years and, in our different ways, we’ve both seen how the system can squeeze the joy out of life for teachers and leaders. So we decided we’d do our bit to change that by creating Practivism for Educators.
We noticed educators believe they have two choices – to stay and suffer or leave education. We proposed a third option – to stay and make a difference from within, but on your terms.
One year on, we know that Practivism for Educators really works! Our participants tell us that:
If ever there was a time for educators to take action for change, it’s now. The voices of teachers and leaders need to be heard. Find out more about how you can start your own practivist journey in January 2025 below.
And if you’re interested in knowing more about us and how we work, you can listen to our podcast, JOYBLOCKERS and how to get rid of them.
If you would like to take part in the next Practivism for Educators programme, starting in January, click the sign up button below and we will contact you within 24 hours.
This session is all about getting to know yourself, each other and the programme.
We want you to be as excited about the programme as we are so this is an opportunity to
When workload is overwhelming, you lose perspective. Life easily becomes distorted with musts and shoulds. You become weary with the weight of tasks and responsibilities. Something needs to change but where do you start?
This unit enables you to
As a practivist you are committed to taking action but what if the job leaves you so depleted that you can’t even get started? Often the most important action you can take is meeting your own basic needs.
This unit explores how
To do well in this society, most educators want to be as good as (ideally better than) others. You compete with, and are judged on, standards and grades that often you don’t believe in. Practivists take steps to unlearn conforming. This requires unflinching self-belief in the face of risk.
This unit focuses on
Summoning up the bravery to push for change requires vulnerability but in a system where accountability is high, vulnerability can feel risky. It’s not long before shame rears its ugly head.
This unit helps you to face the challenges of vulnerability by
Practivists know the importance of communicating well if you are to truly engage someone. This means adapting what you need to say to match the needs of the people and the situation.
This unit walks you through
Practivism is all about playing the long game and that means you can’t do everything. With self-sacrifice woven into the fabric of the education system, how will you ever feel that you do or even are enough?
This unit helps you to clarify
You have to find your purposeful voice to be able to speak up about what really matters. This means changing your relationship with self-doubt so you can get through those heart-thumping, dry-mouthed moments when your voice needs to be heard.
This unit gives you ways
‘This is all well and good’, you may be thinking, ‘but I’m scared I might lose my job over this!’ It is indeed important to find appropriate ways for your purposeful voice to be heard and acted upon. Our hope for you is that you become the individual you want to be, the practivist who makes a meaningful difference as an educator with influence.
To achieve the above, this unit gets real about
There are different approaches to resilience. Daily habitual practices that strengthen how you cope with adversity; developing mental toughness and emotional stamina under extreme pressure; and deep resilience, where you are in tune with meeting your needs for a meaningful existence.
This unit aligns these three approaches by
Practivists know that to be part of change is to be part of a movement; we can achieve so much more together than we ever could alone!
This unit is an opportunity to
It’s time to think about how you can sustain your practivism beyond the programme!
This unit will help you to
There is high group accountability throughout the programme. You will be truly committing to action in each unit and beyond. We know from experience that this commitment is what inspires individuals to make the changes they have been longing for but that have felt out of reach until this moment.
As part of each unit there will be an online session running from 7.00 – 8.30pm on Mondays. We hope this means you can attend from the comfort of your home and from a space where you won’t be interrupted. The ‘doors’ will open 15 minutes before the start of each session giving you time to check your camera, audio and mic are all fully functioning.
We believe the most important part of the programme is the opportunity to build a community of support with individuals who are committed to personal and systemic change. This means a significant part of the online sessions will be small breakout groups (3 – 4 people) for meaningful discussions and to determine the action you will take.
Fruitful discussions happen when individuals feel safe to be open, honest and vulnerable so we will establish a group agreement in the first session that highlights the importance of confidentiality.
The reflection process plays such an important part in personal growth so we ask everyone to use a reflective journal for the duration of the programme. Each session will have some dedicated reflection time. You will be able to record your thoughts and feelings using whatever medium you prefer – notebook, phone, voice notes, sketch pad.
We deliver the main content for each unit as a series of videos and activities in advance of each session. This means you can watch the videos and complete the activities in your own time, and arrive prepared for the small group discussions online. Minimally, allow 1 hour of preparation per unit. We have scheduled the online sessions to allow enough time for your preparation, recognising the time commitment varies between the units and between individuals. As always, the more you put in, the more you get out.
Each group member joins the secure membership site for the programme and receives a personal log in. Details of pre-work for the next session will be released on the site after each online session and group members will be notified of this via email. Resources include videos, reflective questions, worksheets, developmental techniques and Joyblockers and How To Get Rid of them podcasts. We want you to get the best possible value from the programme so you will be able to use the resources with others in your school or academy to support your practivist vision during and beyond the programme.
The programme will include 3 one to one coaching sessions with either Maureen or Siobhan. These are designed to help you to refine and clarify your vision for change and to give you an opportunity to focus on areas of the programme that you would like to explore in more depth. Dates of coaching weeks are itemised in the schedule drop down below.
Mondays 7.00 – 8.30pm
Unit 1: 13th January
Unit 2: 20th January
Unit 3: 3rd February
Unit 4: 24th February
Unit 5: 10th March
Unit 6: 24th March
Unit 7: 28th April
Unit 8: 19th May
Unit 9: 2nd June
Unit 10: 16th June
Unit 11: 30th June
Unit 12: 14th July
1:1 Coaching
Session 1: date to be agreed with individuals on sign up
Session 2: w/c 31st March
Session 3: w/c 14th July
Cost £900 plus VAT
We have thought long and hard about pricing for this programme. We believe this is an excellent offer for what you’ll receive, how you will develop in your role, and how it will make an impact. We have also worked long enough in education to know that at the moment times are hard and budgets are tight.
So here is our thinking. If we offered a version of this programme within the private sector, the fee would be £1,590 plus VAT. When school budgets were healthier than they are currently, the fee would have been £1,080 plus VAT. We have arrived at our current reduced price of £900 plus VAT because we feel, more than ever, that it is a crucial time to reach as many educators as we can.
You will receive an invoice with bank transfer details.
“I started this course thinking that no one course would have the ability to change my situation and lighten my load. I thought that I would always be tired, stressed, coming up short and that my remaining days in education would not surpass a further five years.
Now I am in a different place entirely from when I began. I realise that there are strategies out there that I can employ to problem solve, reflect and move past these issues. I trust my judgement instead of doubting myself so much that I feel poorly. The course has shaped a journey which has resulted in genuine and authentic empowerment.
Practivism for Educators is life-changing for people!”
“When I started the programme, I just wanted to find joy in the job again.
Practivism for Educators has helped me know I am enough and I am not alone. I know I can do this job because I have learnt to put myself and my wellbeing first. I’m affected less by things that used to trouble me so I don’t take them to bed with me anymore! I enjoy the job again; no fear or dread and I’m happier as a headteacher.
The programme has fundamentally changed me as a person, and as a leader, for the better.”
“When I started the programme, I wanted to feel positive about my headship journey as I approached retirement. Practivism for Educators provided me with a wonderful community of supportive colleagues as I tackled learning which genuinely changed my thinking. I am framing things more positively and recognising my strengths and growth more clearly.
The programme helped me address my wellbeing in a deep and, I anticipate, lasting way. If you need to feel more confident, resilient and assertive and to understand yourself better as a leader, this is the course for you!”
“My aim at the start of the programme was to learn how to get through the next five years to retirement.
Practivism for Educators has enabled me to learn about the importance of looking after myself. Before the course I never really considered the impact of long-term stress, but I realised I was stressed all the time. Now I don’t feel as tired because the baggage has gone and I look after myself.
In completing the programme, I feel content. I have a strong sense of I am good enough. I no longer fight with myself about doing more or going somewhere else; I’m proud of where I am. I feel that my leadership journey is both sustainable and enjoyable and I’m looking forward to working with my leadership team to develop compassionate and strong leaders for the future.”