Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance July 2014 Newsletter Page 1

Newsletter July 2014

School Direct….One Year On

Our first cohort of secondary trainees has now completed the NLTSA School Direct programme.

During the latter part of their final placement, trainees spent a further two days in primary schools. During these visits they looked at the issues of transition from primary to secondary school, behaviour for learning and assessment at KS2. We are extremely grateful to all the primary schools who agreed to host Northern Lights trainees for these short primary placements.

As part of the Accelerate to Employment programme, all trainees attended a “mock interview” day in one of our Alliance schools. During this day they experienced a range of activities including teaching a lesson, being questioned by

a student panel, completing subject specific tasks and having a formal interview. At the end of the day each trainee was given specific feedback by their Learning Coach. This feedback covered not only the events of the day, but also the quality of their application letter.

Trainees have reported that was that this experience was extremely valuable and we were delighted to learn that the Learning Coaches enjoyed it too!

At time of going to press, 90% of our cohort has already secured employment, 30% within the Alliance. Bespoke support will continue to be provided to those who have not yet secured posts.

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Celebration Event

Following the end of the second placement, trainees moved on to their collaborative enquiry projects which were the key focus of professional enrichment. As preparation for future work on joint practice development, trainees worked in groups of two or three on issues as diverse as “How teachers keep difficult pupils in mainstream classes” and “The impact of pupil premium funding”.

The outcomes of these projects were showcased at the Celebration Event on Friday 13th June. The presentations provided much food for thought and will be available on the Northern Lights website. The Celebration Event brought together a variety of people who have been involved in our School Direct programme since September. These included representatives from our Higher Education Institutions and Strategic Partners, Learning Coaches, Specialist Leaders of Education and outstanding practitioners, Initial Teacher Education Co-ordinators and Subject Mentors.

Jenn Plews, Head of Academy at Skipton Girls’ High School, developing the theme “Now it’s Your Chance”, opened the afternoon event by speaking of how the group had developed into confident professionals, ready to face the challenges ahead. The afternoon ended with a few light hearted reminders of trainees’ initial perceptions of “the inspirational teacher”.

This occasion provided a wonderful opportunity for all involved to meet up and reflect on the successes of our first cohort, who were presented with Certificates of Completion of the NLTSA programme by Mary Copeland, Headteacher, Belle Vue Girls’ School.

Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance July 2014 Newsletter Page 3

A Fond FarewellIt has been a great privilege to work alongside Clare Skelding in leading and developing the Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance. Together we have seen our initial ideas grow and with the help of our Strategic Partners and Alliance schools have created an organisation which is beginning to show real impact across our region.

As we enter the third year of operation we are beginning to gather momentum and a reputation for our work across much of the Big6. In our specialist area of school to school support we are gaining recognition for our work with a growing number of excellent Specialist Leaders of Education. We hope to replicate our successful partnership with Bradford LA and the Bradford Partnership across other LAs in this coming year.

We have created a unique offering for School Direct which goes a long way towards the Government’s plans for school based approaches to ITT. My thanks to all our colleagues across the Alliance who have worked with us to make this possible and so successful.

We hope that our next development in this area will be a SCITT for 2015.

Being part of system leadership across our alliance developing our leaders and Headteachers of the future has been an exciting part of our work. I would personally like to wish every success to those colleagues who are or have moved into promoted posts and Headship from our courses.

This year has seen great strides made with our primary colleagues and some excellent development work with School Direct. Thank you to all our Primary colleagues who have given time and expertise to work with us – it is much appreciated.

Our Alliance is growing and we welcome colleagues from as far away as Dewsbury and Ripon.

Our chances to work beyond the confines of our two schools, Feversham and Skipton have brought great rewards and a unique offer for our schools - raising our profile nationally as a Teaching School with children at its heart and a professional approach to our work together. It has not always been easy but remains one of our core values as we continue to grow and develop.

It is therefore with great sadness that I leave Skipton Girls’ High School and the Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance to take up the position of Regional Schools Commissioner for the North of England from September this year. But being chosen by the Department for Education is both an honour for myself and recognition of the school

and the NLTSA’s national impact - and a new challenge for the remaining years of my career.

Central to this role is supervising the Academies programme for the North of England - and in that respect there will still be some engagement with SGHS .

Working with you over the last two years has been a great privilege - and I am indebted for the huge efforts made by staff across the Alliance in supporting and delivering such wonderful outcomes for our schools. I would like to take this opportunity to

thank you for all your support over this time: it has been much appreciated.

I am delighted that Mrs Jenn Plews will become Headteacher of Skipton Girls’ High School from September and she will take up the reins of the Teaching school alongside Clare and together will drive our agenda to new heights.

My very best wishes to you all for the future success of NLTSA

Jan RenouExecutive HeadteacherSkipton Girls’ High School Northern Lights Teaching School

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School Direct 2014-15The selection process for our next cohort has been underway for some time and we were delighted when Belle Vue Girls’ School became the first of our strategic partner schools to offer to host an interview day. Potential trainees work alongside experienced teachers in the classroom as part of the process, enabling us to assess how they interact with students. They are also asked to complete subject specific tasks through which their curriculum knowledge is tested and we are able to assess their enthusiasm for the subject, as well as communication skills, when they deliver a short presentation to the interview panel.

Despite the rigour of the process, candidates tell us that they find it to be a positive experience.

Primary Programme new for 2014-15

We have been working with a group of Primary partners to develop a primary School Direct programme and will welcome our first cohort of trainees in early September. We are delighted to be working in collaboration with St John’s in Bradford and a growing number of schools in the Craven cluster including Carleton, Christ Church, Greatwood and Parish as well as Cowling and Laneshawbridge, Colne. Northern Lights were allocated 6 places through our partnership with University of Leeds to which we have been

busy recruiting. The selection process has been designed and driven by senior leaders in our partner primary schools and follows a similar pattern to the process for secondary applicants.We are looking forward to a successful first year and hope to expand the programme for 2015-16.

Future Developments

As our programmes expand we are looking to become an accredited provider. This will gives us the opportunity to take greater ownership of the design and delivery of the programmes whilst still retaining the academic rigour and bespoke provision which will continue to meet the needs of our Alliance schools.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have worked to make the first run through of our School Direct programme such a success. We wish our cohort of trainees continued success as they move on to the next stage in their careers.

Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance July 2014 Newsletter Page 5

“Greatwood Primary School is an active Strategic Partner within the Northern Lights Alliance. Having previously organised a successful sequence of primary phase experience placements for secondary Schools Direct students, we have more recently enjoyed playing a full role in developing the primary Schools Direct programme with the team at Northern Lights.

“I and the Early Years Leader from Greatwood have found being involved in all aspects of developing the programme a rewarding experience. Not only have we played a role in short listing, interviewing and observations but we have been able to host interview days on-site enabling candidates to experience a real flavour our the potential career ahead of them and the role for which they are applying. This is just the first stage in the exiting new Primary Schools Direct Programme due to start in September and at Greatwood, we believe that being hands-on from day one alongside our fellow Strategic Partners is the most effective route to successful teacher training.”

Garry de Castro Morland, HeadteacherGreatwood Community Primary School

What our some of Primary School Direct Partner Schools Say…

“Carleton Endowed CE Primary School has been working with Northern Lights over the past year to help recruit primary candidates for the School Direct Primary programme. This has been an extremely positive and rewarding experience, as I have been able to see some outstanding candidates with some really good ideas and thoughts about what makes good teaching.

“As a school we are eagerly looking forward to the next phase in September when the selected candidates are given places in a wide variety of schools working with and within Northern Lights. I am sure that this programme will be extremely successful and that at the end of the process there will be some outstanding teachers which will hopefully be employed across the alliance. This is an exciting time and I am looking forward to the whole process. Working with Northern Lights has been one of the best things that our school has done as it has developed the skills of both myself and my staff.”

Duggie SpeightHeadteacherCarleton Endowed CE Primary School

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Northern Lights TSA and the Bradford Partnership of secondary schools have developed a significant partnership. Particularly innovative and exciting is the Teach 3 new teacher programme. This has the aim of providing teachers with the best possible induction into the profession and, even in the first year, is receiving some reviews.

Teach 3 is a three year programme, with a threefold aim:

• Encouraging action research based pedagogy • Establishing the craft of the classroom • Developing leadership attributes & skills

This gives the Teach 3 strapline of Think : Teach : Lead.

In the first year, 64 NQTs from 13 schools have been involved. We are expecting significant growth in the second year of the programme. The brand, philosophy and provision will be extended into ITT and RQT years and more.

Accelerate to Headship The National College programme ‘Accelerate in Headship’ provides a bespoke and personalised programme to fit the needs of the participants as they prepare for Headship. It is certainly not one size fits all in style but a combination of the essential opportunity for self-reflection alongside practical guidance from serving Headteachers.

The Northern Lights programme of 2014 certainly fulfilled this broad, flexible remit with each session being facilitated by three leading Headteachers. Candidates were assured personalised attention and an opportunity to share and discuss a range of current issues and personal perspectives on senior leadership and school improvement.

The programme proves there is always great value in taking this time to prepare for the next major step of your career alongside people who have already worked through this experience.

Participants from primary and secondary phases worked together over the first three sessions at the Heaton Mount Conference Centre which forms part of Bradford University. Following this

individual coaching is used to personalise the provision.

Inevitably the programme focus looks closely at system leadership. As participants already hold the NPQH qualifications, colleagues considering applying for this programme in future can be assured of high quality debate and input. Looking forward I would hope the working relationships established will also serve as an informal support network when colleagues are successful in achieving their first headship.

The practical support and advice provided on this programme covers the recruitment process including selection of appropriate posts and making effective applications. It also covers emerging practice, ensuring candidates have the opportunity to be brought up to date with national policy changes that are a regular part of life as a Headteacher!

Andrew BaystonExecutive PrincipalHarrogate High School

Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance July 2014 Newsletter Page 7

Name School Subject Area

Deborah Allen Thornton Grammar School English

Emma Carter Beckfoot School Humanities, Assessment, Leadership of Curriculum

Lucy Edmondson Queensbury School Science

Victoria Limbert Hanson School English

Rebecca Lyman Markington CE Primary School Primary English, Curriculum Leadership, ITT and NQT Development

Alison Nichols Titus Salt School MFL

Ruth Whitehead Hanson School Science, Raising Attainment & Intervention

It has been a very productive year for our SLEs and, with 28 attached to the Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance, our influence spreads far and wide! We have supported schools in a range of subjects offering curriculum development advice, supporting new leaders in post or leaders facing a new challenge. Senior leadership teams have also appreciated the opportunity to engage with experienced leaders with a different approach or offering an external evaluation. Many of the team support particular Schools but are also involved in delivering a range of programmes both subject specific and also wider programmes to develop leaders at middle and senior level.

A significant programme has been developed with Bradford Partnership and Bradford Local Authority to support Bradford Schools identified to have the potential to move from RI to Good. Every school identified its key priorities and our SLEs have been working in the schools all year to support Leaders and Faculties. Interim reviews indicate that the work has been successful in developing capacity, confidence and clear actions for future development.

Our SLE team has recently been augmented by the designation of seven new members in the cohort 5 recruitment round. Congratulations to the following:

Specialist Leaders of Education…. an update

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Life Beyond LevelsWith the new national curriculum comes a move away from NC levels of assessment.

The curriculum provides a more direct relationship between what pupils are taught and what is assessed. The aim is to create genuine opportunities for greater school autonomy over curriculum and assessment and focuses teaching on the core content rather than on a set of opaque level descriptions.

NLTSA has been commissioned to undertake a research and development project to develop a new assessment model which, when complete, can be rolled out to other schools locally and nationally. This ‘work in progress’ by our team of NLTSA experienced educational leaders is well on the way to designing a new very innovative approach to assessment to support pupil attainment and progression.

Our new assessment framework will be built into the curriculum enabling teachers to check what pupils have learned and whether they are on track to meet expectations at the end of the key stage and also to report regularly to parents. The new NLTSA assessment model more than meets the assessment principles set out by the DfE’s expert panel on assessment.

One of the distinct advantages is the innovative use of an IT management system which will enhance use of the system allowing teachers to concentrate on teaching, assessing and

intervening making sure each child has individual attention to reach their full potential rather than completing burdensome assessment tasks.

Our NLTSA Beyond Levels development team presented our new NLTSA Assessment Model to the North of England Beyond Levels conference held at Bilton Grange Harrogate on July 11th. Ours was just one of 11 different models designed to replace National Curriculum Levels removed by Government from September 2014.

The NLTSA model is set to be trialled in our alliance partnership schools from September. After analysing its success, and areas needed for development, further work should lead to a roll out across all alliance schools in September 2015.

The NLTSA model is designed to: • build motivation and confidence of students,

teachers and parents• build self-reliance and provide challenge to

students• demonstrate to a student what they can do• identify the next steps in their learning

journey• be able to be differentiated by ability; by

subject; by phase; • measure progress over time • support appropriate and timely interventions

NLTSA Research & Development Strategic Working Group

Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance July 2014 Newsletter Page 9

Continuing Professional DevelopmentGood to Outstanding (G2O) Facilitator 2013-14

The Facilitator Development training has been held at Feversham College in new training facilities. Delegates attending were from both primary and secondary schools across the Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance.

The National College facilitator framework competencies were used as a benchmark to measure success and achievement. Delegates experienced some of the aspects of the G2O programme including a range of strategies and tools to use as a facilitator, all delegates in turn co-presented short sessions and feedback was given by the remaining delegates. There was a great sense of networking and many of the delegates expressed an interest in working across other Alliance schools.

The final session was around planning to deliver the G2O programme in their own context and delegates went away with a CD of resources and power points to take back and use in their own schools.

Anne CrawshawFeversham College

Good to Outstanding (G2O) Level 2 2013-14

This programme has proved to be very successful. Delegates have shared numerous fantastic ideas and feel that they have had the opportunity to try new things in the classroom with little preparation, but a large impact. They found all the materials useful.

The way the programme is designed allows delegates to put themselves in the position of the observer, the observed and the pupil. This really encourages a thorough evaluation and reflection of their current practice and allows us all to move forward. The course has fostered a very supportive atmosphere to share best practice and talk about new innovative strategies and ideas to use in the classroom.

According to the evaluations, delegates have enjoyed the reflection time that they have had during the sessions and in between sessions. They have also embraced the challenge to try new ideas and discuss the impact with others.

Many delegates have already had the opportunity to disseminate what they have discovered and learnt during this programme; most have facilitated successful training sessions in their own school at both faculty and whole school level.

Vicki WalkerBelle Vue Girls’ School

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The central column shows Good to Outstanding (G2O) Level 2 2013-14 Delegate Feedback, with colour coding for good and outstanding.

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Science Learning Partnership

Our partnership with the regional Science Learning Centre continues to flourish and to focus on the delivery of locally determined high quality CPD which will raise the quality of Science provision across our area.

We have been delighted to welcome Zaynab Mahmood, Head of Science, Feversham College to the team as SLP Lead during Riffat Aslam’s absence.

Developments since the launch in January have moved at pace.

In recent months, several schools have been supported to draw down substantial funding for bespoke CPD. Primary and secondary courses addressing the needs of the New Curriculum have been organised in Bradford and North Yorkshire schools. Our subject leaders’ offer of ‘Leading Change in Science’ has been particularly successful in both phases. Building capacity to lead CPD has also been a high priority. Four teachers from our region, all bringing different skills and experiences, have been involved in the accreditation process and join an ever expanding group of facilitators

and presenters with high levels of expertise able to support the Northern Lights programme.The SLP Leads have kept in touch with the regional and national picture through a series of

meetings and updates run by the Science Learning Centre. These have helped to widen our network and further develop school to school links and collaboration with SLPs across the region.

Our sincere thanks go to Lynn Henfield, Regional Development Lead whose commitment, expertise and guidance have been invaluable and of course to Kate, Zaynab and Riffat who have worked so hard to design courses, build capacity and bring the programme together.

The programme due for launch in the new academic year is greatly expanded for both Primary and Secondary phases. It will target high quality Science delivery whilst meeting the increasingly furious rate of externally driven change. Focussed and themed and it will include opportunity to build on the latest key OFSTED Science Survey findings in ‘Maintaining Curiosity’. The Science Learning Centre and Northern Lights TSA websites will be updated with full details.