In an education career spanning more than 30 years Mike has been a primary teacher, local authority adviser, Ofsted Registered Inspector, government adviser and independent education consultant.

He has worked extensively as a consultant to UK government agencies, leading, for the Teacher Training Agency, on the development of standards for newly qualified teachers and the quality assurance of a national training programme in the use of ICT for teaching and learning.

Most recently Mike has spent the last two and a half years working with the Qualifications & Assessment Authority (QCA) as their adviser for e-learning in the Futures, Innovation & E-learning team developing a view of the curriculum for the 21st Century, before leading a team to develop and promote a whole curriculum view of education which is promoted in the new National Curriculum orders for the secondary curriculum

Martin’s career began as a classroom teacher and Headteacher of two schools. Since co-founding Fieldwork, Martin has worked with thousands of teachers, administrators and schools in the UK and in more than 30 countries around the world.

Martin is currently Director of Fieldwork Education. He designed and was Founding Director of the International Primary Curriculum and continues to be closely involved in its development; he recently directed the development of its Assessment for Learning Programme and designed Fieldwork’s unique Looking for Learning protocol. He developed the Four Quadrant leadership model which Fieldwork uses as the basis for its leadership and management thinking and development. He is Head of Learning for the WCLS Group of Schools in the United States and is currently leading the writing of the national social studies curriculum for a country in the Middle East.

Martin received his MA in leadership and curriculum organisation from the University of Sussex.

Bruce Robinson is a career educator with over 33 years experience as a teacher, school leader and educational consultant. He has led schools for over 17 years and recent international leadership appointments have been in India and the USA. He is currently Head of School at the British School of Boston. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Nebraska, USA and an M.Ed in Educational .Administration from the University of New England, Australia.

In addition to his school leadership positions, Dr Robinson has completed consultancy projects in Australia, USA, India and Vietnam.

His career has focused on maximizing teaching and learning outcomes, quality management of schools, parent partnerships and nurturing strong personal and professional relationships that provide a foundation for student and institutional achievement.

Bill Gerritz took his Ph.D in leadership and policy analysis at the University of California, Berkeley, following an MA in school administration and after beginning life as an analytical nuclear chemist.

Since 2001, Bill has been Head of School at the International School of Bangkok, where he has led this 1 800 student international school through a data-driven, transformational change process aimed at improving student learning. Prior to taking up his position in Bangkok, Bill led schools in The Hague and Curacao. Prior to that, Bill was on the faculty of the Graduate School of Education, University of California where he taught courses in school leadership and worked with 25 school districts in the United States. Bill has delivered more than 800 presentations in ten countries and eight states on a variety of themes including result oriented leadership.

The British School in the Middle East Conference 2008, Under the Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah.

This year’s BSME conference was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Amman, Jordan, from the 5th to the 9th of February 2008, with approximately two hundred attendees including the BSME members, guest speakers and exhibitors.

I was honoured last year when Jordan was voted as a venue for this year’s BSME (British Schools in the Middle East) conference for Headteachers although ensuring that the conference reached the fantastic standards set in Oman last year was quite a challenge! When Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah agreed to take part in the conference, I knew I had a head start. Her Majesty met with the Executive Committee on the first day of the conference to discuss educational issues. We all left feeling both honoured to have been given this opportunity and also well informed about the commitment to education here in Jordan. This was further reinforced by our esteemed guests, who officially opened the conference on Wednesday: the Minister of Education and Haif Bannayan (Chief Executive Officer of the Jordan Education Initiative).

The opening cocktail reception, held on Tuesday evening, was very well attended. Our honoured guest was HE James Watt, the British Ambassador here in Jordan.

Martin Skelton, Dr Bruce Robinson; Dr William Gerritz and Mike Rumble were our guest speakers this year. They provided many thought provoking sessions on the theme of leadership which gave chance for delegates to discuss experience and ways forward.

The optional tours for delegates, to Jerash, the Dead Sea and Mount Nebo were highly praised. Thank you to Coach Wa’el and Jenny Horsley for assisting here. One of the highlights of the conference however was the Circassian Dancers who performed at the Gala Dinner. Their performance mesmerised the audience of over 200 delegates and guests and followed a charity games hour which raised approximately JD 3,000 for local charities. I must once again thank my croupiers (Mr Beresford, Miss Dunn, Mrs Strine, Mrs Aucoin, Mr Murphy and Miss Burgess from ICS and Mr Brisley, Mark Jeffries, Lee Davies and Theresa Forbes from our delegates) who lead various games ensuring fair play and lots of fun!

The final session of the conference was to choose the venue for next year’s BSME meeting. Cyprus was voted the most popular choice – a good chance for me to relax and enjoy events rather than be the local organiser!

Sue Hill (Head of Primary at ICS)