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 Ashby School, Brookvale High School, Castle Rock High of E Primary School, Newton Burgoland Primary School, School, Ivanhoe College, 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 Leicestershire 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’