An introduction to the Taunton Teaching School Alliance

Introduction 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.   .

Nicky Morgan – Secretary of State for Education 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 Members Bishop Fox's School, Taunton Bishop Henderson C of E Primary  School, Taunton Diocese of Bath and Wells Haygrove School, Bridgwater Heathfield Community School, Taunton Holy Trinity Primary School, Taunton The King Alfred School, Highbridge The Mid Somerset Consortium for Initial Teacher Training North Town Primary School, Taunton The Partnership Teaching School Somerset Centre for Integrated Learning (SCIL) Somerset School Centered Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) Selworthy School, Taunton Somerset Challenge Somerset LEA Somerset Headteacher Associations SASH/ SAPHTO Stanchester Academy, Stoke-sub-Hamdon The Taunton Academy Taunton Deane Partnership College Taunton Learning Partnership University of Exeter Wadham School, Crewkerne Wessex Teaching School, Yeovil West 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 Training lead role in recruiting & training new teachers Continuing Professional Development peer-to-peer professional & leadership development Succession Planning & Talent Management identify & develop leadership potential School to School Support provide & coordinate support for other schools Specialist Leaders of Education SLE designate & broker specialist leaders Research & Development engage & 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.

National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) 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 gap The 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 school Schools 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 teaching As 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.

National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) How will the success of the Teaching School and Taunton Teaching School Alliance be judged?    National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)   4 Quality of leadership As 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 trained The 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

National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) How will the success of the Teaching School and Taunton Teaching School Alliance be judged?    National Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)    6 Supply of leaders As 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 alliances The 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 deployed 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

Collaborative working: “Making sense of change.”   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