An introduction to the Taunton Teaching School Alliance

In 2011, Michael Gove the Secretary of State for Education, announced his intention to set up 100 Teaching Schools ready for the start of the 2011-12 Academic Year.

As of January 2015 there are 598 Teaching Schools in 486 Alliances across the country. .

Introduction

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Introduction

“At the heart of our plan for education is our commitment to supporting schools to be in the driving seat of school improvement and professional development, working together to spread best practice, knowledge and experience.

“We know that many of our best leaders believe strongly in a school-led approach to improvement and are already working to achieve it.”

Nicky Morgan – Secretary of State for Education

Where are they located?

In Somerset….

What is their purpose?

Teaching schools are outstanding schools that work with others to provide high-quality training and development to new and experienced school staff. They are part of the government’s plan to give schools a central role in raising standards by developing a self-improving and sustainable school-led system.

Our Teaching School

In the Summer of 2014, Heathfield School was successful in its application to become a Teaching School and as such ready play an integral role with and through its Alliance partners to raise standards across the partnership.

Teaching School Staffing

• Director – Tony Bloxham• Administrator and Marketing Assistant –

Katherine Edwardes• ITT Co ordinator – Ian Caddy

Our Alliance MembersBishop Fox's School, Taunton Bishop Henderson C of E Primary School, TauntonDiocese of Bath and WellsHaygrove School, BridgwaterHeathfield Community School, TauntonHoly Trinity Primary School, TauntonThe King Alfred School, HighbridgeThe Mid Somerset Consortium for Initial Teacher TrainingNorth Town Primary School, TauntonThe Partnership Teaching SchoolSomerset Centre for Integrated Learning (SCIL)Somerset School Centered Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)

Selworthy School, TauntonSomerset ChallengeSomerset LEASomerset Headteacher Associations SASH/ SAPHTOStanchester Academy, Stoke-sub-HamdonThe Taunton AcademyTaunton Deane Partnership CollegeTaunton Learning PartnershipUniversity of ExeterWadham School, CrewkerneWessex Teaching School, YeovilWest Somerset College, Minehead

The “Big Six”Teaching schools must be outstanding and have the experience, leadership and capacity to support schools in six key areas:Initial Teacher Traininglead role in recruiting & training new teachersContinuing Professional Developmentpeer-to-peer professional & leadership developmentSuccession Planning & Talent Managementidentify & develop leadership potentialSchool to School Supportprovide & coordinate support for other schoolsSpecialist Leaders of EducationSLE designate & broker specialist leadersResearch & Developmentengage & lead in educational research

Vision

• The Taunton Teaching School Alliance identifies outstanding leadership, teaching and learning within the partnership and uses this expertise strategically to raise standards of achievement across the Alliance and succession plan for the future.

• The Taunton Teaching School Alliance works collaboratively and strategically with a range of ITT providers to ensure a constant flow of trainee teachers into Alliance schools and beyond.

• The Taunton Teaching School Alliance plays an integral role in promoting and supporting innovation, identifying and nurturing talent in its mission to raise standards across the Alliance.

• The Taunton Teaching School Alliance offers and provides outstanding opportunities for leadership development and professional learning for Alliance members.

Vision

• The Taunton Teaching School Alliance is “outward facing” always seeking to learn from the best.

• The Taunton Teaching School Alliance is at the forefront of enabling system improvement through networking, collaboration and through the services that it provides, finding new and innovative ways to achieve this.

• The Taunton Teaching School Alliance seeks to build capacity for system improvement by empowering schools to become delivery agents, through both delegation, distributed leadership and effective resource management.

• The Taunton Teaching School Alliance seeks to build strategic partnerships in order to add value to its “offer” and to ensure there is no duplication of work, dovetailing with other local networks and local improvement initiatives.

How will the success of the Teaching School and Taunton Teaching School Alliance be judged?

National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

1 Pupil attainment and closing the gapThe improvement each year in attainment at key stages 2, 3, 4 and 5 for pupils attending schools in alliances is greater than the national average. The reduction in the achievement gap for pupils in receipt of free school meals and/or in care in teaching school alliances is greater than the national average. 2 Overall effectiveness of schoolSchools in alliances show a greater than national average improvement in Ofsted judgements, resulting in fewer poorly performing schools and more good and outstanding schools. 3 Quality of teachingAs a result of effective initial teacher training and continuing professional development, schools in alliances show an improvement in Ofsted judgements for teaching and learning that is greater than the national average.

How will the success of the Teaching School and Taunton Teaching School Alliance be judged?

National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

4 Quality of leadershipAs a result of effective leadership development, schools in alliances show an improvement in Ofsted judgements for leadership and management that is greater than the national average. 5 Number of trainees trainedThe number of initial trainees trained in teaching school alliances increases year on year (in total and for each teaching school cohort) The number of SLEs designated and trained by teaching schools is in line with targets agreed with DfE. 50% of SLEs are deployed within three months of designation

How will the success of the Teaching School and Taunton Teaching School Alliance be judged?

National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

6 Supply of leadersAs a result of effective talent spotting and succession planning, schools in alliances show an improvement in headship vacancy rates that is greater than the national average. 7 Number of schools in teaching school alliancesThe number of schools in teaching school alliances increases year on year (in total and for each teaching school cohort) 8 The number of SLEs designated, trained and deployedThe number of SLEs designated and trained by teaching schools is in line with targets agreed with DfE. 50% of SLEs are deployed within three months of designation

Collaborative working: “Making sense of change.”

September 16th (Secondary) September 17th (Primary)

Areas of focus for next year• Recruitment of teachers• School improvement, school to school support• Bid opportunities• Subject Knowledge Enhancement (Ma/Physics)• Quality of Teaching• Establishing subject networks• Leadership • Early Years – “Powerful communicators”• RQT• Mathematics curriculum – Year 5/6 into Year 7• Research and Development• SEN and TA Training around learning and progress• Mental Health CPD