• Face the class and, if using a pen, make sure you use it sideways on - so, when moving things on the board, you can maintain eye contact with the pupils.

Use different colours to group ideas, but be careful NOT TO OVER DO IT! Keep text large so it can be easily read at the back of the class (many packages allow you to enlarge text) Use the clock, if one is included in the toolkit, to keep pupils on task.

• When preparing flipcharts before a lesson, leave plenty of white space so that comments or diagrams can be added during discussion with the class.

• Customise your board toolkit to your own needs and remove unused tools.

• Save your flipcharts so that you can re-use then for revision or teaching the following year.

The day was aimed at the second cohort of Research Lesson Schools who were interested in joining the NCSL research project.

The morning began with a keynote address by Charles Deforges the eminent educationalist. he outlined the basis of the research model and underlined its' potency in focusing on specific areas or pupils' learning and how to collaboratively plan for higher achievement. Charles was, as ever, an impressive speaker who "held" the conference with his well documented views.

After the keynote speech the conference heard from Network Learning Communities from around the country. The South East Essex Network gave a talk about how the research project fitted into our network and outlined all the things that were going on in our community. After lunch the delegates were split into groups and presented to by schools that are already taking part in the research project.

Both The Sweyne Park School and Woodlands presented to the delegates. Woodlands' presentation focused on the work carried out by Lucy Thornton and Peter Gibbon in the English department. The SPS presentation focused on the work carried out by Corina Seal and Andy Samways. Both presentations were extremely well received with the man himself, Charles Deforges using the word "inspirational!" Praise indeed!

After speaking to the project leader Peter Dudley we were convinced that the conference had succeeded in its' aim and encouraged many more communities to join the project.

<CRANFIELD THURSDAY OCTOBER 21ST>