Education in Walesand in Ysgol Bod Alaw

2015

EDUCATION IN

WALES

Structure: From without From within

A day in the life of Bod Alaw:Pupil / staff

numbers.Class structure

and sizes.Ability grouping

A typical day/term/year

Teaching and Learning:

Stages of learning.Curriculum

content.Pedagogy

Assessment and

monitoring:From within.From without.

Working in Education:Variety of opportunities

TrainingCareer progression and

salaries.

Structure:From without

From withoutWelsh Government – elected Members

Set and decide upon National Curriculum. (2008)Literacy and Numeracy Framework. (Legal requirement 2014)Compare schools and results – drive to rise standards. (Yearly)

GwE – regional consortium (6 counties accross North Wales).

Challenge standards – designated Challenge advisors.Support progress.

Local Education Authority ( Conwy)Decide school budgets – for individual schools to manage.

Support schools resolving issues e.g. Child protection; Health and Safety; Site management; Personnel; Legal etc.

ESTYN – Government bodyInspect and report on Individual school standards.

Create and share reports on Good practice.

Structure:From within

Governing Body Elected body representing the school community.

Challenge and monitor school standards/provison as a ‘Challenging Friend’. Appoint staff.

Support school initiatives and needs.

School Management / staffing structure. Headteacher

Deputy Headteacher 3 Upper Management – receiving management pay point.

8 full time teaching staff/ 6 part time teaching staff.1 SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co ordinator)

2 HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistants)12 Classroom assistants

3 classroom assistants designated to Additional Learning Needs.1 School Secretary

1 Caretaker and 2 School cleaners.4 Lunch time supervisors.

School to School partnerships – may include training; planning; assessment; shared resources.

Family of schools. Cluster of similar schools.

A day in the life of Bod

Alaw:

Pupil / staff numbers.

340 Pupils 3 – 11 years of age.

44 members of staff

Class structure and sizes.

13 registration classes – 2 nursery; 2

reception; 3 - Year 1 and 2; 3 - Year 3 and 4; 3 - Year 5

and 6.

A typical day/term/year

Nursery: 2 ¼ hours daily. Day: 8.55 – 3.00 (3 – 7 year

olds) 8.55 – 3.10 (8 – 11 year

olds) 6 half terms (30 weeks in

all) 6 School holidays – 12

weeks in all (6 in the summer)

1 week spread over the year for staff training days.

(No Pupils)

Ability grouping Pupils placed in ability groups

for Language and Maths. Including More Able and Talented. Language/Maths 1 hour each

daily. Science 2 hours weekly. Other subjects taught

thematically.

Teaching and Learning:

Stages of learning. EARLY YEARS

Nursery – non statutory Reception – Legal requirement from 5

years of age. FOUNDATION Phase – 5 – 7 years of

age (year 1 and 2). KEY Stage 2: 7 – 11 years of age.

Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.SECONDARY education: Key stages 3

and 4; and Higher ‘Level’ 16 – 18 year olds.

Curriculum content.

EARLY YEARS/FOUNDATION PHASE:

Personal, Social and Wellbeing development;

Language and communication development;

Mathematical develpmnent; Knowledge and Understanding of

the World. Physical and Creative development.

KEY STAGE 2: English and Welsh – 1.5 hours daily.

Mathematics – 1.5 hours daily Science – 2 hours weekly

History; Geography; Art; Music; Design and Technology; Religious education; ICT – taught through

thematic work.Physical Education – 2 hours weekly.

Literacy and Numeracy Framework – to be developed across

the whole curriculum. (Legal requirement since 2014)

Learning Wales website.

Pedagogy Skills based.

Literacy and Numeracy at it’s core. 3-7 years learn through structured play

and focused work. 7 -11 years old – developing pupils to be independent; motivated fully involved

through personal next steps targets.

Assessment and monitoring:

Assessment From without.

YEARLY

Reading and Numeracy national

tests. (May) All pupils from Year 2 to Year 9.

Teacher assessment level reported –

parents/LEA/ Government for Year 2

and 6 pupils. Parents receive

yearly progress reports.

Monitoring: From within

Headteacher book/lesson observation weekly/termly.

Teacher led book scrutiny/classroom

observations. Governing body visits.

Performance management for all teaching staff yearly.

From without. Challenge advisor visits

at least 3 times a year – colour grade given.

Yearly DATA comparison report – Governement. Comparing 11 similar

schools/ Quartile ranking given.

NEW – schools given colour coding ranking announced nationally.

ESTYN – Full inspection and report (at least every 6 years). 4 weeks notice

given.

Assessment From within:

WEEKLY

From age 6 years: weekly testing – spelling/reading.

From 7 – 11 years old: spelling; times tables;

reading.

TERMLY

Language skills. Diagnostic assessment

of writing to inform planning/targets.

KS 2 – diagnostig maths testing to inform planning/tartets.

Working in Education in

Wales:

Career progression and salaries.

Main Pay scale: Starting salary £21,804 (NQT) yearly progression dependent on successful

Performance Management report up to £31,868. (over 6 years)

Apply for Upper Pay scale between £34,523 and £37,124 Salary dependent on wider contribution. (3

scale points over 6 years)

Management points available £2,561 year additional salary – middle leadership roles.

Management salaries: - Deputy between 40,743 and £44,971.

- Headteacher between £48,505 And £56,109.Increments dependent on Performance

management yearly.

Training. Teachers – graduates:- Teaching degree B.Ed.

- Initial degree and graduate teaching diploma.

B.A./B.Sc./B.Mus. Etc. Newly Qualified teacherts

(NQT) are supported/assessed for 1 full year before becoming Fully Qualified Teacher status.

NQT – encouraged to study for M.Ed.

Variety of opportunities.

Teachers Higher Level Teaching

Assistants. Classroom assistants.

Additional Learning Needs assistants.

School Budget and Funding.

Funded by the government – by core budget; various

grants. Local Education Authority decide budget allocation to

individual schools (Formula). BOD ALAW 2015 – 16

- £1,057,000.00 core (staffing; resources; utilities)

- £75,000 Foundation Phase - £14,500 grant – Literacy;

Numeracy and closing the gap.

- £22,050.00 targeted to support Underprivelaged pupils. (Free school meal

pupils)