Newsletter

Issue 12 - September 2015

Welcome to the new academic year! I hope you had a very

enjoyable summer holiday and are raring to go! Once again, we are hoping for a successful year with more and more schools involving themselves in our Ashford Alliance. Please make sure you spread the word and make as much use of us as you can. We are going to meet in the first couple of weeks to get our programme of events underway and so if you have any suggestions for CPD, training or other school events, please email me. Importantly, our own Maths SLE, Justin Dodd, is leading the Kent and Medway Maths Hub and he wants ALL schools to have signed up. If you haven't already done so, please register at www.kandmmathshub.org. There will be great Maths opportunities available to you and Justin will be holding an after-school session shortly to give further information.

With regard to bids to the NCTL, I have just received word that the ATA will be able to support 6 schools and I will be contacting them this week. The next round for applying for school-to-school support should be October/November and so if you would like assistance, please contact me. Unfortunately we were not successful in our bid to carry out a second Art Project, but our SLE, Jennie Morton, and the schools involved were so keen to go ahead anyway that they have decided to conduct a Circles Project starting this term. We’ll keep you updated on their progress and any opportunities open to schools.

Please turn over for some of our proposals for this year - full details are available on our website. Don’t forget we can offer bespoke appraisal training. Please get in touch and I’d love an invitation to visit you! Best wishes, Lesley

Lesley Donald Director of ATA

SLEs Congratulations to our new Specialist Leaders of Education - Sophie Beale, Laura Burton, Sally-Anne Hanson, Austen Hardwick, Jane Voller and Kerry Donati. A special training day has been organised for them on Tues-day 22 September at Fulston Manor. Remember, profiles of all our SLEs are available on our website - all Kent and Medway SLEs are on the KMTSN website - and if you would like to make use of their specialisms, please get in touch! The next round for SLEs will be in October and we especially need expertise in English, Maths and Science (all phases).

School Direct Cohort 2 After the great success of the Ashford Teaching Alliance’s first ever group of trainee teachers, we saw even greater success with our second cohort! All trainees this July passed with a grade of either Good or Outstanding - an amazing 84% achieved an outstanding grading. Principal of Brockhill Park Performing Arts College, Mrs Schwartz, said, “We are very proud of all our trainee teachers who have all joined the profession. We wish them well.”

This new academic year sees 29 trainees in 14 schools across both phases, including the Independent sector. We welcome new ATA training schools this year in Broadstairs, Ashford, Dover and Canterbury and are looking forward to another successful year.

We welcome Ben Travers who joins the ATA as Associate Director of Teacher Training who will be working alongside Glynis Masters. He brings a wealth of experience in teacher training to the ATA. The ATA works in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University and Equalitas to provide high quality training.

Newsletter

Issue 12 - September 2015

Newsletter

Issue 12 - September 2015

What's on Offer! NQT Welcome Event on Tuesday 15 September, 1.30pm - 3.15pm at Repton Manor Primary School. All

NQTs should attend to find out the programme for the year, pick up tips on organisation and meet fellow colleagues.

Our ever-popular LDML course for middle leaders is due to start on 6 October. Do not miss this opportunity as places are quickly filled. The present LDML cohort has their final session on 22 September.

Teaching Outstanding Phonics Lessons in Early Years Foundation Stage for Reception teachers using ‘Letters and Sounds’ - Tuesday 6 October 1.15pm - 3.45pm

Teaching Outstanding Phonics Lessons in Key Stage One for Year One and Two teachers using ‘Letters and Sounds’ - Monday 5 October 1.15pm - 3.45pm

Supporting Outstanding Phonics Lessons in Early Years Foundation for Reception teaching assistants using ‘Letters and Sounds’ - Monday 9 November 1.15pm - 3.45pm

Supporting Outstanding Phonics Lessons in Key Stage One for Year One and Two teaching assistants who work in schools who use ‘Letters and Sounds’ - date TBC

Exceeding in Writing for Reception teachers and leaders of schools who are seeking to increase the percentage of pupils who exceed in writing by the end of their Foundation Stage. It provides practitioners with tried and tested ideas and case studies - Monday 12 October 1.15pm - 3.45pm

Early Years Inspirational Day - a series of workshops and key note speakers. Recommended for anyone who works in or with Early Years settings including; pre schools, nurseries children’s centres and schools - Monday 22 February 9.30am - 3pm

Supporting Teaching and Learning for Teaching Assistants in Key Stage One and lower Key Stage Two classes. This session will focus on introducing and developing strategies to enhance the impact teaching assistants have on progress during the lesson - Thursday 8 October 1.15pm - 3.45pm

Inspire to Aspire Enrichment days for Key Stage One and Two Pupil Premium Children. There are four days offered throughout the academic year, each with a different focus on achieving personal ambitions and goals. Up to four pupils can be welcomed per school with accompanying teacher or teaching assistant. Whilst offering enrichment to the pupil, the days offer professional development to the professionals who attend with them.

Day 1 - Writing for Real - Monday 19 October 9.30 - 2.45pm

Gifted, Able and Talented Network Meetings

Network meetings for Primary GAT leaders - date TBC

Thursday 14 January 4-6pm at Willesborough Infant School

Further dates TBC

For further information on our courses, please visit our website

Newsletter

Issue 12 - September 2015

ATA Research and Development Provision 2015/2016

NatCen are currently preparing a formative review of our ‘Research Champion’ project which we are conducting in conjunction with the Education Endowment Foundation. It is exciting to see local schools really engaging with insights from education research and we will be continuing our work in this area this year, including the following services:

Support in conducting an impact assessment of your school’s CPD provision. We will help you through a review process which can lead to significant improvements in the professional development of your teaching staff and the educational progress of your students.

A six part training series supporting teachers in developing their own evidence-based practice. This can be delivered on your premises and is ideally suited for teachers interested in further improving their professional practice. There is an option of university accreditation or masters credits for this course.

Individualised educational research updates: We can create a research briefing outlining key ideas and insights relating to your development priorities. This can be delivered to leaderships teams, governing bodies, or all staff as part of your ongoing CPD.

For further information, contact Ben White (ATA Research Champion) - b.white@highworth.kent.sch.uk

Contact Us

Write: Lesley Donald Director of ATA c/o Highworth Grammar School Quantock Drive Ashford Kent TN24 8UD Tel: 01233 624910 Email: office@ashfordteachingalliance.co.uk Website: www.ashfordteachingalliance.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @ashfordtsa

Motivating Every Learner

with Alan McLean

The Marsh Academy Friday 25 September

Be sure not to miss out!