Upper Shirley High School
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Staff Continual Professional Development
CPD at Upper Shirley High
We have a very comprehensive CPD policy which includes the induction arrangements for all new staff. Whether you are an NQT, a subject teacher or leader, or a new member of staff with whole school responsibilities, your needs are met in a variety of ways.
In addition to external courses, staff at USH this year have enjoyed being part of a learning hub engaged in Masters Level work accredited by the University of Winchester; some leaders of core subjects are enrolled on the Leading from the Middle course with other schools in Hampshire; some subject leaders have also received personalised training from members of the Leadership Team.
Our staff can follow personal pathways with some completing a range of courses leading to NPQH, AST status and so on.The Principal and an Assistant Principals visited Durban last October to look at new styles of leadership and governance, and three members of staff went with colleagues from our feeder schools, in the Summer half-term, to look at the American provision for G+T students and Creativity across the Curriculum. This has led to greater cohesion and co-operation across our Learning Community.
CPD is delivered through 3 Focus groups : 21st Century Learning, ISA/ Creativity and Coaching which meet once every 2 weeks. These groups all have the remit of transforming teaching and learning at USH.
Reports from the 3 focus groups have been prepared by Marie Connolly ( coaching), Sian Roberts ( ISA) and Claire Parsons ( 21st century learning/ STEMIT), detailing the impact they are having.
COACHING: This year our coaching focus group has been made up of a group of teachers from different disciplines (PE, Humanities, English, MFL, Art, Catering, Music) with varying levels of teaching experience.
We have worked together in whole group and paired settings on the following areas:
Differentiated learning at KS4
Managing low-level disruption
Using new technology as a teaching tool
Developing crosscurricular links
Revision techniques
Our coaching focus group has enabled us to..
(a) engage in professional dialogue and become more proactive teacher/learners
(b) reflect on and improve our own practice in a mutually supportive environment
(c) forge working relationships with colleagues from subject areas outside our own
(d) adopt techniques used successfully in other disciplines and apply them to our own teaching/learning
(e) celebrate success via our meetings, Wallwisher noticeboards and the CFG noticeboard in the staffroom
ISA/CREATIVITY: The ISA focus group meets fortnightly to promote and develop the international dimension of the curriculum, and to give students more opportunities to gain a mutual understanding of different cultures, lifestyles and beliefs. The staff in this group have a variety of experience in terms of curriculum and international experience and also tenure. Over the last year the group has promoted the use of rafiki, (an internet site for linking our students with students overseas), planned and carried out International Food Days and developed and expanded the link with our partner school in Sri Lanka.
Being part of this group has given staff the opportunity to develop an international dimension within their own classroom and to work collaboratively and creatively to develop whole school initiatives. Staff within the group, value their role and all agree on the continued importance of this focus group.
21ST CENTURY LEARNING/STEMIT: The STEMIT focus group has allowed us to continue the success of the focus group from last year and share our creativity with different departments. It also allowed for the additional members to provide their expertise and guidance to what was a very heavily scientific based group. This Focus group have since moved on to looking at the different technologies that are available in the school and we have used focus group time to become more familiar and competent in their uses.
In 2010-11 it is envisaged that a fourth Focus group looking at Rights Respecting schools will be formed.
Additional CPD has been delivered through the Dare Devils group this year. Led by Nicole Ponsford, Advanced Skills Teacher, a selected group of staff from across the school have been taking risks in and outside of the classroom. The group have met and been given ‘Missions’, looking at a range of foci from ‘Techno Teaching’ to ‘Power Teaching’, to ‘Future Learning Spaces’ and ‘Using the VLE’. All Missions are based on outstanding examples of teaching and learning. Staff have then use these missions in lessons and feedback as a group. The Dare Devils also communicate via their blog: http://ushdaredevils.blogspot.com. Next year staff will get the option to opt into this group.
Continual Professional Development
- Staff Continual Professional Development
