Watch the webinar
Hosted by Dr Maddi Popoola, Dr Sarah Sivers and Louise McDonagh, this webinar explored the key theses of the book Reimagining Education, which draws from relational and trauma-informed approaches.
Building on their previous pupil views work, Reimagining Education explores ways to design and sustain a successful school system, through the eyes and experiences of children and young people.
Chapters consider a range of themes, from mentally healthy schools to attendance and academic pressure, to build the vision of a compassionate school where no child is left behind or excluded. Each topic is introduced through the voices and views of children, who reflect on their experiences and tell us what would make it better and create a sense of belonging for all. These themes are explored alongside key psychological theory, before accessible strategies and recommendations for change are introduced.
About the speakers:
Dr Maddi Popoola
Maddi has worked in various roles within education since 2004, including mainstream primary, secondary and alternative provision settings. This has given her extensive experience of working as part of and leading pastoral teams in education settings, developing an in depth understanding of school systems, processes, and working with diverse professionals and students. This has included working closely with senior leadership teams and in a multi-agency capacity with the wider professional networks around a school.
Dr Sarah Sivers
Sarah has worked as a Child, Community and Educational Psychologist for over 11 years, and has worked with children and young people with additional needs for over 20 years. She works therapeutically using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Trauma-Informed Approaches and Solution-Focused Psychology to inform her work.
It is vital to Sarah to include and involve the children and young people she works with. This is why she has engaged in pupil views research to explore children and young peoples’ views and experiences, and to use what they have shared to generate discussions and create change. She is excited to continue this work and generate new ways of thinking about and delivering education that is motivating, meaningful and enjoyable (for children, young people and the adults supporting them).
Louise McDonaugh
Louise qualified as a teacher in 2006 but knew since age six years old that she wanted to work in a school. Since she first started teaching English in a secondary school in Nottingham, she knew that her passion lied in the pastoral care of young people.
Her career followed a trajectory towards eventually becoming Vice Principal in an inner-city academy, with responsibility for safeguarding and behaviour. This was a baptism of fire and was one of the reasons she can understand and empathise with the array of challenges facing school staff today.
It was only later in her career that Louise explored Psychology, earning a Masters in the discipline. It was then that she began to question the practices and philosophies of the schools she had worked in and with.
Louise later worked for a Mental Health Support Team, leading on whole school approaches to mental health and trauma informed approaches.
Watch the webinar recording above and connect with our team if you're interested in taking your first step towards an exciting new opportunity within educational psychology.