Winter 2015 School of Education PGCE Partnership Newsletter The School of Highest ever ratings for PGCE course Education’s in latest Ofsted inspection A teacher education programme at our trainees to offer help and advice as part of Ofsted report University has received the highest the university’s commitment to a growing possible rating from Ofsted for its community of learning.” Clearly, such an achievement would not education of tomorrow’s teachers. Dr Chris Wilkins, Director of Teacher have been possible with an incredible In the most recent inspection of the PGCE Education in the School of Education, said: amount of effort behind the scenes. We programmes provided by our School of “We are delighted with the outcome of are indebted to staff in all the Partnership Education, the Primary PGCE achieved an this inspection, particularly the finding that schools, particularly those who were exceptional Grade 1, or ‘Outstanding’, in our graduates possess particular strengths directly involved in either the visits or all four key judgment areas - the highest in those areas that schools look for first in attending meetings with the Inspectors possible rating. In addition, the School of their teachers; they have excellent subject on campus. The course teams worked Education’s Secondary PGCE received a Grade knowledge, excellent behaviour management incredibly hard over a number of months 2, or ‘Good’, result in all four key areas. to ensure that everything was in place skills and high levels of professionalism. with the support of our professional In their report on the Primary PGCE, Ofsted These qualities explain just why our graduates service staff who collated and organised inspectors state that: “University tutors and are so prized by schools; we take great pride all of the documentation and data to the professional tutors are highly qualified, in the contribution we make to the teaching demonstrate just how effective and passionate about their subjects, and profession, and strongly believe this is a result successful the PGCE provision through the passionate about supporting the trainees of the academic rigour embedded into our University of Leicester is. to become outstanding teachers. They are PGCE courses which enables them to develop committed to keeping in touch with former into highly reflective practitioners.” Thank you – your effort has been rewarded A special thanks from the PGCE Teams for your support with the recent Ofsted inspection, particularly the Headteachers, Trainee Teachers, NQTs, ITE Coordinators, Mentors and Co-tutors at: NQT Conference Primary Schools Northfield House Primary School, Beacon Forest Lodge Community Primary School, Academy, Charnwood Primary School. Just a quick reminder to let you know that Medway Community Primary School, Secondary Schools your NQTs can still apply for the University Sparkenhoe Community Primary School, Guthlaxton Community College, Kibworth of Leicester NQT Conference at Stamford Kibworth Church of England Primary High School & Community College, Court Conference Centre on January School, Sileby Redlands Community Primary Corby Business Academy, Manor High 13, 2016 at a cost of £100. The day will School, The Latimer Primary School, Holy contain key note talks, workshops and Cross Catholic Primary School, Leicester, School, Ashby School, Moat Community discussion groups to meet all needs. Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, College,Judgemeadow School & Community College, Lutterworth College, St Paul’s Full details are attached. To make a Leicester, Cosby Primary School, Desford booking please go to: Community Primary School, Meadowdale Catholic School, English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, Sandfield Close Primary School, Groby CC, Thomas Estley Community https://leicester.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/ School, Rothley Church of England Primary College,Leicester Grammar School, Leysland nqt-conference-2016 School, Sileby Redlands Community Primary, High School, Arthur Mellows Village ALL NQTs welcome to attend regardless St Bartholomew’s Church of England College,Babington Community College, of PGCE provider or subject/age Primary School, Greenfield Primary School, Brockington College, Etone College, Hastings specialism Countesthorpe, Highcliffe Primary Academy, High School, Kingsthorpe College, New Nether Hall School, Burbage Junior School, College, Toot Hill Academy, Cedars Academy. Primary Ofsted - Outstanding! The Primary PGCE Team are delighted to • Trainees’ and former trainees’ behaviour and understands what is expected of know that the course has been judged management, meaning pupils are well them. Systems to quality assure the work outstanding by Ofsted. The primary supported to learn. of the partnership are effective in holding partnership has gone from strength to • Trainees’ preparation to teach the partners to account for their work. strength over many years, growing into a National Curriculum. Trainees have The Inspectors also met with a number of professional community that is committed excellent subject knowledge and to producing outstanding teachers of the teach phonics, early reading skills and school representatives including mentors, future. It was therefore incredibly rewarding mathematics effectively. Head Teachers and students in the to have this partnership, for the first time, University during both stages, including • High completion, retention, and acknowledged by Ofsted. employment rates. Trainees are in high members of the Partnership Management According to Ofsted the key strengths of demand in Leicester and within the East Committee. We would like to thank the primary partnership are: Midlands. everyone involved for giving up their time at short notice to contribute to the process. • The high quality university-based training • Course leaders’ rigorous tracking of that links academic rigour with practical trainees’ progress. Leaders know their If any schools would like to join our approaches to teaching in the classroom. trainees very well; they tailor training partnership and become involved in the and school placements carefully so • Trainees’ and former trainees’ confidence training of Provider-led or School Direct that trainees achieve the best possible in the classroom. Their ability to reflect outcomes from their course. students, please contact me via email. critically on their teaching and set high expectations for the progress of their • Strong communication within the Sue Davis, Head of Primary PGCE pupils. partnership, meaning everyone knows [email protected] Secondary Ofsted - Good! The Secondary PGCE Team are delighted • Trainees’ and former trainees’ confident recently put in place to strengthen the to know that the course has been judged and calm management of students’ effectiveness of co-tutors and university Good by Ofsted, with many outstanding behaviour and the positive relationships tutors in the partnership’s moderation features and some areas for development. that ensue in their classrooms. of the assessment of trainees’ progress throughout the training year. The secondary partnership has some • Trainees’ and former trainees’ highly very strong collaborative relationships professional and personal qualities, • Use these new systems effectively to and Ofsted recognise the hard work and much valued by local and regional increase the proportions of trainees dedication of all who make this happen schools in which they are trained and who leave the course as outstanding so as to secure at least good outcomes for work. teachers. our students. • The ambition of leaders and managers • Ensure that all trainees and former According to Ofsted the key strengths of across the partnership to contribute to trainees receive more sustained the secondary partnership are: the development of the highest-quality opportunities to plan, teach and assess education for young people across the students’ work in the 16–19 age range. • The cohesive training for trainees and city and the region. former trainees in the secondary phase During the inspection process the that prepares them well for employment • The partnership’s quick response to following secondary partnership schools, external reviews of trainees’ and former as at least good teachers. some of their student teachers and NQTs trainees’ satisfaction with their training, were visited. We would like to say a big • The strong channels of communication so that it continues to improve. thank you to all those involve, and to that support the rigour of the training. The secondary partnership need to do thank everyone involved for giving up • The careful planning of learning and develop in the following areas to improve: their time at short notice to contribute to use of information from assessment the process: • Further develop training across the by trainees and former trainees to partnership to ensure that all trainees If any schools would like to join our promote good progress for most of and former trainees are well equipped partnership and become involved in the their students. with a wider range of strategies to training of Provider-led or School Direct students, please contact me via email. • Trainees’ and former trainees’ very quicken the progress of the most- able students and the disadvantaged strong knowledge of their subjects Jo Reed Johnson students in their classes. and of the various curricula for the key Head of Secondary PGCE stages relevant to their teaching. • Implement securely the new systems [email protected] 2 UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER A huge thank you to ALL ITE Coordinators