Some ideas about professional mentoring and professional themes.

Ian Hall

(AST ITT/Staff Induction Twynham School)

About the school…….

Twynham is a large (1500 NOR) mixed 11-18 comprehensive in Christchurch (East Dorset).

Proportion of students entitled to free school meals is about National Average.

Proportion of students who are identified as having AEN is slightly above National Average.

Twynham’s badges………

Specialist Schools Trust – Technology College since 98 (3rd phase).

Beacon and Leading Edge School

Training School since Sept 2004.

Lead school for new Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset Secondary SCITT (First cohort Sept 2005).

Our ITT links………

Marjon Plymouth – PE Southampton Univ – Science and MFL Exeter Univ – D and T Portsmouth Univ – Business Studies Bath Spa – Maths and English Bath Univ – Maths (fast track) Recent links in last 3 years have also been made

with Plymouth Univ and the Open Univ.

Why so many links?

Training school team try to ensure all subject departments have either an ITT trainee, a GTP student or an NQT each year. Some have more than one!

Our ITT links are needs led by our departments so we try and be flexible with subjects and/or providers.

With such a range of ITT links what issues are there about professional mentoring?

Finding time to liaise with trainees, their subject mentors and University staff.

Complexity of different trainees arriving at different times in the year.

Non standardised paperwork from different ITT providers. I am now trying to get admin support from our appointed Training School Manager.

How to ensure consistency of experience for all our trainees.

How can we get consistency?

Need to base this upon Entitlement so that all Twynham staff are aware of training obligations. We are aiming to develop a ‘needs led, open door’ policy for trainees.

For example, in September we issue to all staff includingtrainees when they arrive the TRAINING PLAN for theforthcoming year. This has calendered dates and times of all school based Inset such as………Training Days/Staff Induction/Twighlight training/Team leader forums/Professional Dialogue groups/Department meetings/Year team/TA training.

In addition to this…….

As the Professional mentor I hold a timetabled two weekly seminar for all ITT trainees.

When trainees arrive I ask them to complete a short form to identify their needs (using the QTS standards). I use this to construct a program working alongside resources supplied by the ITT provider.

Some example comments made by trainees………

3.3.4 TCM ‘ I would like to know more about….. differentiating the content, pace and approach of lessons to meet the needs of different pupils.’

3.1.4 TCM ‘ How do I plan and work effectively with TA’s or other professionals in the classroom?’

Typical professional themes.

The Professional role of the teacher. Expectations and entitlement.

Behaviour Management (Often 2 sessions!) To cover rewards/sanctions/ladder of consequences/Motivation and behaviour policy/student referral systems.

AEN - In school learning centre and speech and language base.Inclusion.

More themes……….

Pastoral Care. Tutorial systems. Role of the tutor.

Teacher’s legal responsibilities. Child protection/awareness.

Working with classroom support colleagues. Equal opportunities. Gender differences in

achievement.

And……….

Teaching and Learning styles. Assessment systems and student tracking in

the school. Assessment for learning. 14-19 Curriculum. Collaborative 6 Form Citizenship and PSE. The career path of a teacher. Etc etc….

How is this delivered?

Rely upon experienced colleagues to attend sessions whenever possible.

Whenever possible, I encourage trainees to drive their own training opportunities so if they see a gap in our program or the school’s overall Training plan they can be proactive in organising meetings with staff.

Future priorities…………..

We have developed an extended Training School team of mentors but these staff need to identify more opportunities to meet and QA each others work.

I would like to work with fellow Professional tutors to develop a portfolio of updated resources.

Launch QA in ITT framework with Twynham colleagues so that we share good practice.

Possible outreach work with local secondary schools (and maybe SCITT) to promote framework.

Redraft ITT policy.