PDS Cluster NE 1.4 PDS Cluster NE 1.4 P3P3

Dave CooksonDave Cookson

Seaton Burn CollegeSeaton Burn College

North TynesideNorth Tyneside

StakeholdersStakeholders

Newcastle UniversityNewcastle University Sunderland UniversitySunderland University Castle View School, Sunderland Castle View School, Sunderland

(withdrawn)(withdrawn) Churchill Community College, WallsendChurchill Community College, Wallsend Duchess’s High School, Alnwick Duchess’s High School, Alnwick

(replacement)(replacement) Hirst High School, AshingtonHirst High School, Ashington Seaton Burn College, Seaton BurnSeaton Burn College, Seaton Burn Walker Technology College, WalkerWalker Technology College, Walker

Project aimsProject aims

Share good practice within and beyond the PDS Cluster.Share good practice within and beyond the PDS Cluster. Increase the number and quality of placements in Increase the number and quality of placements in

challenging schools.challenging schools. Improve the quality of Professional Studies programmes Improve the quality of Professional Studies programmes

in the Cluster schools.in the Cluster schools. Provide additional training to subject mentors in cluster Provide additional training to subject mentors in cluster

schools.schools. Improve the experience of trainees by offering them Improve the experience of trainees by offering them

time in Cluster schools.time in Cluster schools. Widen the knowledge of trainees not placed in Widen the knowledge of trainees not placed in

“challenging” schools by showcasing best practice in “challenging” schools by showcasing best practice in Cluster schools at a conference.Cluster schools at a conference.

Work with the current cohort of ITT students to provide Work with the current cohort of ITT students to provide feedback on ‘Towards Your Future’ days at university in feedback on ‘Towards Your Future’ days at university in 09-10.09-10.

Term 1Term 1

Professional mentors visit other Professional mentors visit other Cluster schools to see PS Cluster schools to see PS programme in action.programme in action.

ITT students to visit other Cluster ITT students to visit other Cluster schools to see PS programme in schools to see PS programme in action.action.

Visit to Hirst High Visit to Hirst High SchoolSchool ““Very enjoyable, interesting Very enjoyable, interesting

informative and recommended for informative and recommended for other schools to adopt.”other schools to adopt.”

““Very interesting to see the Very interesting to see the operation of another school operation of another school outside of my placement. The outside of my placement. The presentation from NQTs was very presentation from NQTs was very worthwhile.”worthwhile.”

Term 2Term 2

All mentors in Cluster schools All mentors in Cluster schools (and others) invited to attend (and others) invited to attend twilight inset delivered by twilight inset delivered by experts.experts.

ITT students to visit other Cluster ITT students to visit other Cluster schools to see PS programme in schools to see PS programme in action.action.

ITT Mentors insetITT Mentors inset

Positives: Positives: ““It was fabulous!”It was fabulous!”““Brill – really formative”Brill – really formative”““Really useful session”.Really useful session”.100% of mentors said the inset was very useful or useful.100% of mentors said the inset was very useful or useful.

Improvements:Improvements:““Copies of PowerPoints please” (on the school website)Copies of PowerPoints please” (on the school website)““We will set up a forum on the Learning Platform”We will set up a forum on the Learning Platform”““More opportunity to discuss with colleagues”More opportunity to discuss with colleagues”““An e-mailing network so we could keep in contact”An e-mailing network so we could keep in contact”““More food!”More food!”

Term 3Term 3

An outreach package offered to An outreach package offered to “challenging” schools not “challenging” schools not currently offering ITT placements.currently offering ITT placements.

ITT students not placed in ITT students not placed in “challenging” schools invited to a “challenging” schools invited to a conference led by staff currently conference led by staff currently teaching in such schools. teaching in such schools.

ITT Conference 11/12 JuneITT Conference 11/12 June

Positives: Positives: ““incredibly valuable”incredibly valuable”““invigorated my commitment to the invigorated my commitment to the

profession”profession”““the content has been fantastic”the content has been fantastic”

Improvements:Improvements:““more time with each of the speakers”more time with each of the speakers”““hold it earlier in the year”hold it earlier in the year”

Positives so farPositives so far

Visits to schools have been very Visits to schools have been very beneficial for PTs and ITTs.beneficial for PTs and ITTs.

ITT students have experienced time in ITT students have experienced time in the Riverbank Centre (Hirst) and the the Riverbank Centre (Hirst) and the Trax Centre (Churchill).Trax Centre (Churchill).

PS programmes have improved from PS programmes have improved from seeing and discussing other PS seeing and discussing other PS programmes.programmes.

ITTs have a more balanced view of ITTs have a more balanced view of “challenging” schools.“challenging” schools.

Support from the RMG link.Support from the RMG link.

Alterations to aspects of ITT Alterations to aspects of ITT provisionprovision

At Seaton Burn the ITT At Seaton Burn the ITT programme has been amended in programme has been amended in light of the good practice seen at light of the good practice seen at other cluster schools e.g.: other cluster schools e.g.: shadowing a student in their tutor shadowing a student in their tutor group for a day; spending 2 days group for a day; spending 2 days with the SEN department rather with the SEN department rather than ½ a day as previously.than ½ a day as previously.

Measurable impactsMeasurable impacts

Mentors have improved their Mentors have improved their practice as a result of attending practice as a result of attending the mentors inset.the mentors inset.

New mentors have been brought New mentors have been brought onboard.onboard.

Feedback on the quality of Feedback on the quality of placements has never been placements has never been higher!higher!

Impact on Impact on relationships between relationships between schools and providersschools and providers The relationship between Seaton Burn The relationship between Seaton Burn

College and Newcastle University has College and Newcastle University has been strengthened.been strengthened.

The relationship between Seaton Burn The relationship between Seaton Burn College and Sunderland University has College and Sunderland University has become more strained.become more strained.

Seaton Burn currently works with the Seaton Burn currently works with the universities of Newcastle, Sunderland, universities of Newcastle, Sunderland, Sheffield and the Open University.Sheffield and the Open University.

Impact on relationships Impact on relationships between schools within between schools within the clusterthe cluster Learning exchanges have Learning exchanges have

occurred between some cluster occurred between some cluster schools, especially Seaton Burn, schools, especially Seaton Burn, Churchill and Hirst.Churchill and Hirst.

Seaton Burn will look to other Seaton Burn will look to other cluster schools for support and cluster schools for support and advice in future – an informal advice in future – an informal network.network.

The “challenges” of The “challenges” of challenging schools have challenging schools have come to the fore…come to the fore… Two schools replaced their cluster Two schools replaced their cluster

colleagues.colleagues. One cluster colleague (non teaching) has One cluster colleague (non teaching) has

recently become acting Head of Maths!recently become acting Head of Maths! One school withdrew as it was becoming an One school withdrew as it was becoming an

academy.academy. One school withdrew as it became a National One school withdrew as it became a National

Challenge school.Challenge school. As the pressure of the academic year has As the pressure of the academic year has

risen the ability to give time to the project risen the ability to give time to the project has been squeezed.has been squeezed.

The futureThe future

Outreach package is an exciting prospect – Outreach package is an exciting prospect – benefits to universities are potentially benefits to universities are potentially great.great.

The project is sustainable – a number of The project is sustainable – a number of initiatives will continue into the future if initiatives will continue into the future if funding can be found and the impact on funding can be found and the impact on schools is deemed to be positive.schools is deemed to be positive.

As part of the Seaton Burn BSF bid we are As part of the Seaton Burn BSF bid we are looking to become a centre of excellence looking to become a centre of excellence in training ITT students.in training ITT students.

Further informationFurther information

www.seatonburn.n-www.seatonburn.n-tyneside.sch.uktyneside.sch.uk

david.cookson@northtyneside.godavid.cookson@northtyneside.gov.ukv.uk