Thinking about becoming a Teaching School?

Start now and build sustainably

James PassmorePickwick Learning Teaching School Alliance

Teaching School Council Regional Link (Glos, Swindon, Wilts)

What is a Teaching School?

What is a Teaching School?• Group of DfE approved schools/organisations• Committed to collaboration• Plays a central role in raising standards, by

developing a self-improving and sustainable school-led system

• Aim: “every child to attend a great school”; no school left as an island

• No single model for how alliances work• All schools to be ‘engaged with’ a TS (Sept 18)

What does a Teaching School do?

What does a Teaching School do?

The BIG 3• ITT• School improvement• High quality CPD

What does a Teaching School do?

The small 3• Evidence-based

research• Succession Planning• Specialist Leaders of

Education (SLEs)

How is a Teaching School funded?

• Annual core grant funding (£60k, £50k, £40k…)• Funding beyond 2019-20?• DfE grant funding bids• Generating income through e.g. CPD activities• Charging members?

Quality Assurance of Teaching Schools

• Financial assurance - Annex G• Evaluation of bids secured• School audit visits• Key Information Form (KIF)• Peer to Peer Reviews• Review of designation• Teaching School Council, NCTL• Held to account for school improvement

The Why, How and What of Pickwick

Why did we want to set up Pickwick Learning?

How will we raise standards and support the school-led system?

What will Pickwick Learning do/be?

Simon Sinek

Why did we do it?

“It is one of life’s great ironies: schools and settings are in the business of learning, yet they are terrible at learning from each other. If they ever discover how to do this, their future is assured.” Michael Fullan, 2001

Why did we do it?

We know we’re stronger together.

We believe partnership and collaboration is the best way to continually develop and improve teaching and learning for children, teachers and the communities in which we live and work.

Why did we do it?

Our aim is simple:To improve standards and life experiences for all pupils and adults within our alliance by working together and learning from each other.

How will we achieve this aim?

• Create a strong group of schools with shared vision and values who are outward-facing and committed to supporting pupils within and beyond our schools

• Encourage all practitioners to strive to improve outcomes by continually learning

• Know we are part of something bigger

How will we achieve this aim?

• Investing in the organisation• Encouraging members to contribute to a

culture of sharing expertise, tackling challenges and reaching goals together

• Deliver high quality school-based ITT• Benefit from and contribute to high quality

school to school support• Provide exceptional CPD

What is Pickwick Learning?

• Unique partnership: schools, nurseries, businesses, charities, universities

• Professional learning community• Teacher training organisation• Broker of high-impact outcomes-driven

support, e.g. SLEs, LLEs and NLEs• Provider of research-based CPD• Great for career progression

Benefits we’ve seen…

• Professional development at all levels• Career progression• Recruitment and retention• Learning from and sharing with others• Shared commitment to raising standards• Raising the profile of the schools• Being part of the system that is shaping the

evolving educational landscape

Benefits we’ve seen…

“Thank you for the work you have done with the Alliance this year. Four Acres remains a committed member and have benefited enormously this year

from the training that staff have completed.”

Robert Lane, Headteacher, Four Acres Academy

So…still thinking about becoming a TS?

Themes to think about…

• The child at the forefront – practitioners must tune into this (within and beyond your school)

• Establish effective leadership and partnership - shared philosophy, vision and core values

• Take time to reflect, create and innovate• Connect to effective research and practice• Collaborate as widely as possible – ask

questions, challenge and make decisions

Teaching School leaders need to be…

• Innovative and change agents• Able to relish ambiguity• Have a great sense of wonder• Prepared to ‘go for it’!• Have the courage to say ‘stop, this isn’t

working’• Accept the invitations that are in the

educational reform agenda

Having the right mindset…

Is everyone in the system ready?

• Consider the journey people have been on• We cannot assume everyone is in the same

place – some people will always be stuck• Leaders and opinion shapers can be the key

inhibitors or key instigators of change

Is everyone in the system ready?

Getting the words right

Setting up a new Teaching School

• Communication is key – why, how, what• Moral purpose and shared core values• Make it easy for people to want to join you• The right people on board• Getting systems in place• Admin support• Identifying your key focus• Networking with other Teaching Schools

Grasping new ideas – give it time

Setting up a new Teaching School

• Communication is key – repeat regularly!• Help people understand the system – there

are different info sources and confusion• Face-to-face versus email• My school versus the system approach• Being mindful of people’s time (StSS)• What are you? TS, MAT, LA, Academy, RSC,

TSC, NCTL

Support networks – you’re not alone!

Other Teaching Schools, MATs, LAs, RSC, TSC, NCTL

“Teaching Schools should join sub-regional networks working closely with local networks of NLEs, NLGs and SLEs to provide support to schools in the most challenging circumstances.”Teaching School handbook (Autumn 2016)

So…still thinking about becoming a TS?

Start now and build sustainably

Are you prepared to pick up the baton?

Create pathways with other like-minded leaders and learners through effective school

collaborations…scale and reach!

Start now and build sustainably

“Designated teaching schools will already have demonstrated their capacity to support other

schools, particularly those in special measures or requiring improvement.”

Teaching Schools handbook (Autumn 2016)

Eligibility (school)

1. Be judged to be at least good2. Sustained high pupil performance and

progress over the last 3 years3. Outstanding senior and middle leaders

i. Track record of delivering school-led ITTii. Track record of providing CPDiii. Track record of providing school to school

support

Eligibility (headteacher)

1. Be judged to be a good serving headteacher with 3 years headship experience and expect to stay at the school for at least 2 years

2. Be accountable for 1 or more schools which meet the TS criteria

3. Have full support of Governing Body

Start now and build sustainably

1. What are you doing already?2. What will you do now, next?3. What medium, long term

plans will you put in place?4. What support will you seek

and from who, where?

Next cohort application round?• Autumn Term 2017• Start working towards eligibility now• Register your interest: www.gov.uk

Not eligible yet?

• Work with an existing TS to deliver elements• Building system leadership capacity grants• Wave 2 (Sept 2017), Wave 3 (Jan 2018)

More information…

• Teaching Schools handbook (Autumn 2016)• Teaching Schools Eligibility Criteria (Feb 17)• NCTL monthly newsletter

teaching.schools@education.gov.uk• TSC newsletter / www.tscouncil.org.uk/• tsc-sw@truro-penwith.ac.uk• James Passmore: jpassmore@corsham-

pri.wilts.sch.uk / 01249 712387

Thinking about becoming a Teaching School?

Start now and build sustainably

James PassmorePickwick Learning Teaching School Alliance

Teaching School Council Regional Link (Glos, Swindon, Wilts)

jpassmore@corsham-pri.wilts.sch.uk