Tag Archives: CPD

CPD, NQT

CfE Secondary NQT Twilights

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Following a survey of CfE CPD needs I carried out last term amongst Secondary NQTs, I am currently offering three twilight sessions specifically for NQTs focusing on Curriculum for Excellence.

I am structuring the sessions around the outcomes of the survey which highlighted the top five priorities as being:

  • I have an idea of what my lessons will be like once Curriculum for Excellence has been implemented fully.
  • I understand what Curriculum for Excellence means for me and my pupils.
  • I can make some changes in light of Curriculum for Excellence.
  • I know how I can provide assessments which reflect the values and principles of Curriculum for Excellence.
  • I understand the relationship between Curriculum for Excellence and Assessment is for Learning.

You can view the powerpoint I’m using at the twilight sessions above (or download it here) and you can download the documents mentioned in the powerpoint below:

I’m planning to add photographs of the group work from each session to this post. The first of the sessions took place on Wednesday 24th February for NQTs from Knox Academy & Ross High School and you can view their thoughts below:

The second session was on Monday 1st March at Dunbar Grammar. You can see the outcomes below:

The final session took place on Wednesday 10th March at Musselburgh Grammar:

AifL, Assessment, CPD, Ideas, Implementation

Getting to know BtC5

Elise & I attended the launch event for Building the Curriculum 5 yesterday in Stirling. This included a variety of workshops designed to encourage participants to begin to engage with the new framework for assessment.

We’re aware that some schools are planning to carry out very similar activities in the near future, so we’ve modified and shared one of the powerpoints for schools to use. You can see this above or download it here.

This could be used with groups of approximately ten staff in a session lasting 1.5 hours. Please feel free to modify it as you see fit for your own context. For example, you may need to change the timings or use the summary document instead if you have a small number of staff involved.

If you have any questions, problems or issues regarding this presentation (or BtC5) that you think we could help with please do let us know.

CPD

Plans for CfE CPD for Secondary Teachers

poll by twiigs.com

As Elise is busy running her planning sessions for primary teachers, there have been a few questions from secondary teachers wondering what I’ll be offering for them.

I am planning to run twilight sessions for secondary teachers following from my survey of CfE CPD needs. Due to the demands of this term in secondary schools, it was generally felt that these would be best run in the summer term. The plans for these events are currently as follows, however I am more than happy to receive suggestions for improvement.

Proposals for CPD to address each of the 5 priorities identified.

1. I know what pupils are doing in the feeder primaries and how I can build on the knowledge and skills which they have already developed.

  • Produce a video demonstrating current practice in East Lothian primary schools – upload to web.
  • Ask participants to watch video before attending and bring at least one question.
  • Hold twilight session at each Secondary School.
  • Ask for volunteer primary teachers from cluster primaries to attend twilight session.
  • Divide session into two parts:
  • Mixed subject groups with primary teacher exploring teaching methods and generic skills.
  • Subject specific groups with primary teacher exploring subject content coverage and specific skill development.
  • Next steps:
  • Ask all participants to plan one/two changes they can make to their S1 curriculum to more effectively build on pupils’ primary experience.
  • Ask participants to plan a system of communication between primary & secondary.

2. I know how I can provide assessments which reflect the values and principles of Curriculum for Excellence.

  • Stand alone twilight session – could be repeated if demand is high
  • Presentation sharing key information from documents (visitor?):
  • Strategic vision
  • BtC5, summary & exemplar
  • Materials from NAR development work
  • Participants use the information and ideas from the presentation to produce an alternative assessment for a topic they will be teaching in the near future.
  • Assessment materials uploaded & shared on CfE website.
  • Participants are asked to comment on the effectiveness of their assessment on the CfE website once they have used it with a class.

3. I know how to use the web (including EduBuzz & Glow) to support learning.

  • Liaise with ICT Team regarding their CPD programme.

4. I know how I can contribute to the development of Skills for Learning, Skills for Life and Skills for Work in my pupils.

  • Stand alone twilight session – could be repeated if demand is high
  • Presentation sharing key information from BtC4 (visitor?)
  • Participants work in groups to brainstorm what they’re already doing
  • Examples shared of good practice – i.e. from LTS website.
  • Participants consider what skills could be developed further in their subject area and produce a plan to do so.
  • Plans are uploaded to CfE website and participants asked to comment on these once they have been tried.

5. I have an idea of what my lessons will be like once Curriculum for Excellence has been implemented fully.

  • Stand alone twilight session – could be repeated if demand is high
  • Participants work in groups to pick out the aspects of a good lesson under CfE from a variety of documents.
  • Groups try to put together all of these aspects into the ‘perfect lesson’.
  • Each participant is asked to pick two of these aspects which they would like to develop further
  • Participants plan a lesson or series of lessons which include these aspects.
  • Lesson plans are shared in the group.
  • Plans shared online and reflected upon once tried.
  • Discussion: Would it be possible to include all aspects of a CfE lesson through the course of a week/term/year…?

In the meantime, we are also currently in the process of launching the Subject Learning Community model for support and CPD amongst secondary teachers. There are planned training days for facilitators arising from this process on 5th March and 7th May.

In addition, secondary newly qualified teachers have been invited to a CfE twilight session this term. These sessions will focus on the outcomes of a separate survey carried out with them and are arranged as follows:

  • Ross High School & Knox Academy – 4.30pm to 6pm, Wednesday 24th February at Knox Academy
  • North Berwick High School & Dunbar Grammar School – 4.30pm to 6pm, Monday 1st March at Dunbar Grammar School
  • Preston Lodge High School & Musselburgh Grammar School – 4.30pm to 6pm, Wednesday 10th March at Musselburgh Grammar School

I’m also considering offering a series of engagement events focusing on Building the Curriculum 5 for later this term. I’d be very interested to know if you think this would be worthwhile – so please use the poll above to vote!

Assessment, CPD, Early years, Literacy, Numeracy, Planning, Uncategorized

Nursery/Primary CPD events – Planning

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Following on from the Curriculum for Excellence sessions held in November the Nursery/Primary CPD events for this term will focus on Planning.

The sessions will provide an opportunity for staff across the authority to come along and hear about examples of planning being developed in schools, share examples of current planning formats, discuss ideas and/or concerns.

All sessions will run from 4.00-6.00pm

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Wednesday 20th January @ Stoneyhill Primary School

Interdisciplinary Planning

Presentations from a range of school practitioners on current planning formats being developed and trialled across East Lothian.  Input from the East Lothian Museum Service on resources and services available to schools.  Opportunity for participants to share examples in discussions groups and discuss needs and wants from planning.

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Wednesday 24th February @ St Mary’s RC Primary School

Language Planning

Presentations from a range of school practitioners on current planning formats being developed and trialled across East Lothian.  Input from the East Lothian Library Service on resources and services available to schools.  Opportunity for participants to share examples in discussions groups and discuss needs and wants from planning.

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Monday 1st March @ Dunbar Primary

Maths Planning

Presentations from a range of school practitioners on current planning formats being developed and trialled across East Lothian.  Opportunity for participants to share examples in discussions groups and discuss needs and wants from planning.

These sessions are open to all nursery and primary staff.  Staff who are attending the sessions should bring along any examples of planning that they wish to discuss or share.

(Note a session is being planned specifically for nursery practitioners at a later date, but you are very welcome to attend and find out about what is currently happening within Primary as it is still relevant)

Please email esutherland@eastlothian.gov.uk if you wish to attend.

CPD, Support

Secondary CfE CPD Survey > Results

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Earlier this month I carried out an online survey of the Secondary Teachers in East Lothian to find out what their CPD priorities are in terms of implementing Curriculum for Excellence. The survey consisted of 19 statements and teachers were asked rate their CPD need on a five point scale. There was then space for any other comments. The survey was completely anonymous. 84 teachers responded – a huge thank you to you! The summary of their responses can be seen in the presentation above, or you can download the PDF.

In order to work out priorities I found the average score for each statement and ordered them from highest to lowest need:

  • I know what pupils are doing in the feeder primaries and how I can build on the knowledge and skills which they have already developed.
  • I know how I can provide assessments which reflect the values and principles of Curriculum for Excellence.
  • I know how to use the web (including EduBuzz & Glow) to support learning.
  • I know how I can contribute to the development of Skills for Learning, Skills for Life and Skills for Work in my pupils.
  • I have an idea of what my lessons will be like once Curriculum for Excellence has been implemented fully.
  • I know how to plan for collaborative learning in my classroom.
  • I know how to provide interdisciplinary learning to my pupils.
  • My pupils take ownership of their own learning.
  • I can make some changes in light of Curriculum for Excellence.
  • I know how I can deliver some of the experiences and outcomes which are the responsibility of all – Numeracy, Literacy and Health & Well-being.
  • I understand the relationship between Curriculum for Excellence and Assessment is for Learning.
  • I understand what Curriculum for Excellence means for me and my pupils.
  • I know what collaborative learning is.
  • I am familiar with the experiences and outcomes which are the responsibility of all – Numeracy, Literacy and Health & Well-being.
  • I can use Assessment is for Learning strategies in my classroom.
  • I know what interdisciplinary learning is.
  • I know where to find information on Curriculum for Excellence.
  • I understand the theories underpinning Curriculum for Excellence.
  • I am aware of Curriculum for Excellence.

I’ve now taken the top five priorities and begun planning the CPD I could offer as a result of this. This is very much at a draft stage, but you can see what I’ve come up with here. Feel free to comment below with any suggestions for changes/additions/removal.