Forest Way Teaching School Alliance

‘Achieving Excellence by Working Together’ Who are we?

The Forest Way Teaching School Alliance (FWTSA) comprises of 45 primary, secondary and special schools. In partnership with local universities the Alliance is committed to working with others to improve teaching and learning, including through research. We take seriously our responsibility to identify and equip teachers and all school staff to be outstanding practitioners at every stage of their career to provide the best outcomes for pupils.

Meet the team...

From left to right:

Ian Wood Business Manager Lynn Slinger Headteacher Helen Joy Lead Practitioner Nicola Hansard Administration Deb Wood Administration

Our Vision

Forest Way Teaching School Alliance has a shared ‘Achieving Excellence moral purpose towards improved attainment for all pupils across the Alliance. We work in a collaborative partnership by Working Together’. where members are committed to...

What is a Teaching School?

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. By March 2016, the government’s goal is to have a network of 600 teaching schools making significant improvements in the quality of teaching, leadership and pupil attainment.

DfE March 2014

2 www.forestway.leics.sch.uk/fwtsa Telephone: 01530 277 363 • Email: [email protected] Who is in FWTSA?

There are 45 Schools in FWTSA. School, Warren Hills Community Primary School, Whitwick St. John the Baptist CE Primary School, Woodcote Primary Schools Primary School, Woodstone Community Primary, All Saints CE Primary School, Ashby Willesley Community Worthington Primary School. Primary School, Belvoirdale Community Primary School, Broom Leys Primary School, Donisthorpe Primary Special Schools School, Dove Bank Primary School, Ellistown Community Birch Wood School, Birkett House School, Forest Way Primary School, Griffydam Primary School, Heather School, Maplewell Hall School, The Dorothy Goodman Primary School, Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, School, The Menphys Centre & Nursery. Hugglescote Community Primary School, Ibstock Junior School, Measham C of E Primary School, Moira Primary Secondary Schools School, New Swannington Primary School, Newbold C , , Castle Rock High of E Primary School, Newton Burgoland Primary School, School, , Ibstock Community College, Packington C of E Primary School, Saint Charles Catholic Primary School, Sheepy Magna Primary School, Sir John King Edward VII Specialist Science & Sport College, Moore (CE) Primary School, St Clare’s Catholic Primary Newbridge High School Academy Trust. School - A Catholic Voluntary Academy, St Denys Church of England Infant School, Snarestone CE (Aided) Primary 4 Universities are partners of FWTSA School, Swannington C of E Primary School, Thringstone Loughborough University, University of Derby, Primary School, Viscount Beaumont’s CE (Aided) Primary University of Leicester, University of Northampton.

Why does FWTSA have a Strategic Board?

The Strategic Board comprises of headteachers David Lloyd – Headteacher, Warren Hills Primary School of schools and academies from all phases and Noel Melvin –Principal, King Edward Vii College stages of education and has equal coverage across the geography of FWTSA. Sylvie Newman—Headteacher, Donisthorpe The Board works in a similar way to a school Governing Primary School Body and oversees all the work of the Alliance, including Julia Patrick – Headteacher, Castle Rock School strategic direction, allocation of resources, membership, writing and updating the Memorandum of Understanding Katie Rush - Headteacher, Brookvale High School and support for schools. The Board meets every half term. Lynn Slinger – Headteacher, Forest Way School Who are the FWTSA Board members? Keily Stretton – Headteacher, Ellistown Anne-Marie Blewitt – Principal, Ivanhoe College Primary School Steve Cullingford-Agnew – Senior Lecturer (SEN), Janet Thompson – Headteacher, The Dorothy University of Northampton Goodman School Helen Joy – Lead Practitioner, Forest Way TSA Sue Ward – Headteacher, Newton Burgoland Primary School Christine Killip – Headteacher, Whitwick St. John the Baptist Primary School Ian Wood – Business Manager, Forest Way School

The Strategic Board comprises of headteachers of schools and academies from all phases...

Telephone: 01530 277 363 • Email: [email protected] 3 What does FWTSA do?

Our four key areas of work are:

Initial Teacher School to Training The School Support BIG CPD/ four Research and Leadership Development

Initial Teacher Training including Newly Qualified School-to-school support through the deployment of Teachers and Early Career Stage teaching programmes. our extensive network of National, Local and Specialist Leaders in Education. We currently support other Professional development opportunities and identifying schools and our impact is evident across and beyond and developing leaders at all stages. Within the Alliance, our Alliance in collaboration with the Local staff benefit from high quality CPD from expert facilitators Authority. We aim to be key drivers in school improvement who deliver highly acclaimed programmes such as the Art and to play our part in the development and sharing of of Middle Leadership and the Art of Teaching for Learning. excellent practice. We have exceptional expertise in SEN and provide a wide range of CPD in this area. Research and Development. We believe that sound research should underpin all of our work with pupils and we are engaged in high profile research locally and nationally.

The Croft, the base for the Forest Way Teaching School Alliance

4 www.forestway.leics.sch.uk/fwtsa Telephone: 01530 277 363 • Email: [email protected] Initial Teacher Training and Newly Qualified Teacher Programmes - ‘Growing our Own’

FWTSA offer a Primary and Special Training Programme in collaboration with University of Derby and a Secondary Training Programme in collaboration with University of Leicester. Why train with us? • Well-established School Direct programmes • PGCE with 60 Masters credits • FWTSA is recognised as providing excellent professional development and support to all 46 affiliated schools • Superb and detailed training within schools, at the Teaching School Alliance and at the University • We provide on-going training, development and support, Including a 2 year programme for appointed teachers • There are further opportunities to develop your career from Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) all the way through to headship (if you want!) • All trainees have 1 week special school experience

School Direct Primary/Special Programme School Direct Secondary Programme What are the entry requirements? What are the entry requirements? • Minimum 2nd class degree • At least a 2:1 degree in your subject (in • GCSE grade C or above in English, mathematics and exceptional circumstances in shortage subjects a science at the time of application 2:2 may be accepted with other experience) • Academic and professional references • GCSE grade C or above in English and mathematics gained prior to application • Potential to teach letter from a headteacher of a primary or special school • Minimum 2 weeks experience in a Secondary School. • Minimum of 2 weeks primary or special school based • Academic and professional references experience – preferably more • An advantage is to have other experiences of working with children or young people What will your training look like in Year 1? • 24 weeks school based training What will your training look like in Year 1? • 1 day per fortnight based at university • Starting in August; 1 main placement in either a High or Upper school • 1 day per fortnight based at FWTSA for further training from skilled practitioners and networking with other trainees • 1 further placement in a different phase • 1 main placement in primary or special school • A professional development course taught at the University of Leicester • 1 further placement in primary or special school • 1 week tailor made to your individual needs • 2 weeks tailor-made to your individual needs

What will your training look like in Year 2? • A well-established NQT programme, 6 sessions throughout the year • Opportunities for specialist SEN, Leadership and other training within FWTSA • Continued networking and support.

What will your training look like in Year 3? • A well-established 2nd Year Teaching programme, 3 sessions throughout the year • Opportunities for specialist SEN, Leadership and other training within FWTSA • Continued networking and support.

Telephone: 01530 277 363 • Email: [email protected] 5 Continuing Professional and Leadership Development

FWTSA has developed programmes to support teachers and other school staff though all stages of their career. These are intrinsically linked to the needs of staff within the Alliance. Alongside this we have particular expertise in SEN and provide many course in this area, see our website www.forestway.leics.sch.uk/fwtsa for more details. Professional Development - Key Programmes for this year • M. Ed with the University of Derby • National SENco Award • The Art of Teaching for Learning Programme • ‘Language, Communication & Literacy’ - Leicestershire SENco/ SEN Teacher Conference • Teaching Assistants’ Conference Aspiring Leaders FWTSA has developed a bespoke in depth process, led by our own headteachers to identify and nurture CPD Leaders’ Network leadership talent through the use of career coaches from other schools. Early Years’ Hub Feedback from one of our aspirant leaders: ‘STELLAR’ Science Learning Partnership “The opportunity as a junior teacher to be paired with an experienced colleague in SENco Network another school is an exciting opportunity. I’m really looking forward to being able Subject Networks to work with her on how I can develop my leadership skills.”

Please contact us if you aspire to leadership at any level. Leadership Development - Key Programmes for this year • The Art of Middle Leadership Development Programme • National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NQPSL) in collaboration with George Spencer Academy • Support for Deputies and Headteachers/ Principals through our Sustaining Leadership Network • Coaching courses

6 www.forestway.leics.sch.uk/fwtsa Telephone: 01530 277 363 • Email: [email protected] Teaching Assistant The Art of Middle NPQSL Programme Leadership

School Direct Becoming an SLE, Primary, Special Aspirant Leaders LLE or NLE and Secondary

NQT Programme Support into (Primary, Special Wide range of CPD and Secondary) Headship

Governor Early Career Stage The Art of Teaching Development Programme for Learning

School to School Support

Every school in FWTSA receives a ‘Health Check’ each year to determine strengths and needs. ‘Rigour without repercussions’ These are provided by Consultants with an excellent track ‘Gave us confidence record. These are part funded by FWTSA and have been in our judgements, found to be extremely useful e.g. headteachers said that additional knowledge the health checks: and understanding of our data and reliability around our SEF’ FWTSA commissions National Leaders of Education (NLEs), Local Leaders of Education (LLEs) and Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs) to support Schools within the Alliance. This is to ensure that the Ofsted judgements ‘Honest experience improve and outcomes for pupils improve across that helped us the Alliance. move forward’

Telephone: 01530 277 363 • Email: [email protected] 7 Research and Development

FWTSA is engaged in various research projects We are also working on research into the deployment of including a large scale research project led by Teaching Assistants with the Institute of Education and the the DfE on ‘Closing the Gap’. improvement of pupils’ language development with the Talk Boost (ICAN) programme. This national research programme, funded by the National College for Teaching and Leadership and in collaboration FWTSA runs a successful Research Network where we with University of Oxford is one of the few rigorous support all alliance members in school based action research. evaluations of teaching strategies and interventions in England. The research focuses on pupils in receipt of You can follow the FWTSA Research Group ‘Pupil Premium’ and aims to ‘close the attainment gap’. on Twitter - @FWTSA_Research The results of this research will be available in 2016.

Wider school workforce

FWTSA provides support and profession development for a wide range of stakeholders including: FWTSA are always open to • Governors innovation and ideas to improve • IT Technicians outcomes for pupils. Let us know • Teaching Assistant your ideas and contributions. • Cover Supervisors • Business Managers

First Annual Teaching Assistants’ Conference

8 www.forestway.leics.sch.uk/fwtsa Telephone: 01530 277 363 • Email: [email protected] Why do schools pay subscriptions and what do you get for them?

All Teaching Schools receive a small amount of the infrastructure and work of FWTSA a small subscription funding from the DfE each year but this is likely fee is charged. Each year all Teaching Schools have to to reduce over time. produce an Action Plan and write a detailed evaluation of their impact and use of funds. After 4 years designation As a Teaching School Alliance we are able to bid for grants each Teaching School has to go through an in-depth for specific projects to enhance the work of the Alliance inspection process in order to be re-designated. and provide support for our pupils. Therefore to support

Hubs: 1,655 places Access to a highly Outstanding School Science, on courses successful and truly Direct and NQT Early Years 2013/14 collaborative network Programmes

Involvement in £35,000 national and local National NLE research School Support Funding Grants for VALUE projects e.g. 3D Printer Networks: Computing, FOR Deputies, Governors, MONEY Learning Support Headteachers, Literacy, Staff network and Maths and SENcos conference

FWTSA office and Deployment of conference facilities Leadership Development: experienced and talented Aspirant, Middle and Senior ex headteachers in a consultancy capacity

Telephone: 01530 277 363 • Email: [email protected] 9 10 www.forestway.leics.sch.uk/fwtsa Telephone: 01530 277 363 • Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01530 277 363 • Email: [email protected] 11 For further information about FWTSA or any of our programmes contact: Helen Joy - Forest Way Teaching School Alliance Telephone: 01530 277 363 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ForestWayTSA Website: www.forestway.leics.sch.uk/fwtsa/