Inspir.ed has had a busy academic year so far, expanding support and challenge work with schools across the SW and latterly working with an English School in Lanzarote! Combining the INSET with a bit of sightseeing and photography was a real treat and I look forward to continuing the relationship. What an enthusiastic group of young teachers they are, and so keen to Master the teaching of the new Curriculum!
My two Leaders’ Networks (Heads Together on the C.A.S.E and Keeping Ahead) in BANES and South Somerset continue to thrive and the dates of the summer meetings are now on the Calendar so check them out. Details of the content, which is always thought provoking, will follow shortly. I am planning to start a new network nearer to Taunton for the many schools I now work with down that way. It is likely to be called “Keeping a Level Head” so watch out for the date if you are in that area and keen to join.
My support and challenge work with schools as a Professional Support Partner is changing as the needs of schools joining larger Trusts and organisations continue to change and evolve depending on the nature of the structures. The benefits for me of working with groups of schools is immense, but one of the advantages for the schools concerned is that I can offer the SPP service at a reduced rate, which at a time of financial squeeze is quite a bonus. I can do this because the model gives individual schools two days each and then they share the third day where the focus is collaborative leadership and strategic development tailored specifically to them. It is working well so far in both models where Primary Schools are in a Secondary led Trust as well as those that are wholly Primary based. Contact me if interested as I still have a very small amount of capacity to take on more.Interesting times!
I am still on a mission as far as assessment is concerned! Too many schools have invented systems of tracking and target setting that quite frankly are not fit for purpose! You cannot, and should not, be trying to measure or predict progress of individuals over key stages numerically as they do in Raiseonline. If you don’t believe me refer to P10 of the DFE Schools’ Accountability Document November 2016 which makes it quite clear that calculations of individual pupil scores are PURELY for the PURPOSE of getting a cohort score and should not be used for anything other than that. Anything else is complete waste of precious time that is better used improving what goes on in classrooms. Don’t let anyone tell you differently and fight your corner with those that do. If you still don’t believe me just read Michael Tidd in TES article April 21st 2017!
Watch out for assessment help and advice on the AAIA site which is regularly updated and easy to navigate. If you are not a member you might consider joining as there is lots more on offer in the members’ section and the Conferences are well worth attending. Check out www.aaia.org now for details.
Hoping that your term progresses well and that SATS don’t prove too stressful for anyone. They continue to distort what we do in the Primary stage regretfully. We can only hope that the upcoming revue improves things in the future. Look out for updates on the format of the package that is to replace Raise on Line this year. Publication of results is likely to be earlier than the usual October Half Term by the way.
Keep following and checking my calendar as I organise events regularly and like to see new people! Have a good Summer!
