QE Academy is part of the South West Teaching School Alliance. Teaching schools are a major part of the national agenda to raise standards, deliver professional development and the training of new teachers, teaching assistants and other associate staff.
We offer placements and training to graduates who are following PGCE programmes in order to become teachers with a number of local Universities. We also offer placements to those following the Graduate Teacher Programme, which is an ‘on the job’ training scheme entirely hosted in schools. We have gained some excellent new teachers in this way. We are also involved in training the teaching assistants who are a vital part of our support for children with special needs.
In short, the involvement of our teaching staff in coaching new teachers sharpens their own skills and provides us with new ideas and approaches. It is crucial to the development of our ideas of ‘best practice’ in each of the subject areas and hence to our continuous improvement.
Also crucial to improvement is the continuing professional development of all our staff. We encourage all the people who work here to be excellent learners themselves and offer them all a minimum entitlement to training each year. The strength of our staff development effort is recognised in our ‘Investors in People’ award - not easy to get if you are an employer as large as we are!
By virtue of joining the Alliance, we are also now part of a national network of schools called Challenge partners. Members of this Challenge Partners will provide us with a robust annual external review, which will support and strengthen our own annual review cycle.
CPD training opportunites for all teachers
- A variety of training courses available for Newly Qualified Teachers to Aspiring Leaders
We are running day courses looking at different techniques that teachers can use to engage, challenge and develop thinking skills in students to leading, managing and developing Learning AreaTeam Leader.
- Minds on Science - This course will look at a variety of different techniques that science teachers can use to engage, challenge and develop thinking skills in students across the ability spectrum.
- Shadowing the Director of Learning - Leading, managing and developing Learning Area Team Leaders, Leading the Training School, the Learning Strategy and especially Assessment for Learning.
- Literacy - How to enable students with literacy problems to access the curriculum, a hands on workshop with lots of practical tips and useful advice.
- Gifted and Talented - A rotation of four workshops (mechanics concepts, prisoner's dilemma, Tower of Hanoi, network problems etc)
- Extended Schools - Certainly useful for PE staff or Outdoor Ed coordinators, but also for all staff wanting to take students on trips.
- Exciting Maths -Two workshops and a hands on lesson. Workshops in problem solving and kinaesthetic activities and a lesson using these approaches with a Year 7 class.
These courses are either a half or full day and cost £25.
If you would like further details please contact Liz Goodman by email to l.goodman@queenelizabeths.devon.sch.uk or telephone 01363 773401.
- Are you interested in becoming a teaching assistant or parent volunteer in a secondary school?
We are running five morning sessions 9.30 to 12.30 during which participants will take part in taught sessions, do some shadowing activities with Teaching Assistants, and work under supervision with some individuals or small groups of students.
We plan to run the next course during October/November 2013.
This is a free course.
If you would like further details please contact Liz Goodman by email to l.goodman@queenelizabeths.devon.sch.uk or telephone 01363 773401.
Induction Courses for Secondary Teaching Assistants
- Have you recently become a Teaching Assistant?
We run courses covering all aspects of TA work, from the role of the TA to SEN and Behaviour Management.
Role & Context - This session is mandatory and covers all aspects of the role of the TA, from in the classroom to support outside - all day
Literacy - Role of the TA in English lessons and supporting your teacher - 1/.2 day
Science - Date to be agreed depending on interest - Jan/Feb 2013 half day
Numeracy - Role of the TA in Maths lessons, approach to calculations - all day
SEN - Code of Conduct, Inclusion and Statement processing - all day
Behaviour Management - Working within the school behaviour policy, creating a safe learning environment, social and emotional aspects of learning - half day.
The cost is £60 full day and £40 half day - both to include lunch and refreshments.
We plan to run the next course in November/December 2013.
If you would like further details please contact Liz Goodman by email to l.goodman@queenelizabeths.devon.sch.uk or telephone 01363 773401.
Last updated: 14 May 2013
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