Teaching Schools Network

According to The Times Education supplement some 810 teachers have expressed an interest in becoming one of the coalition government’s 500 new ‘teaching schools’. Read the full article here. I just thought I’d give a bit of background info about what this programme actually involves in case anyone is new to the debate.

Under plans set out in The Importance of Teaching: Schools White Paper (available to view here), these teaching schools would be responsible for supporting and assuring initial teacher training and professional and leadership development for teachers and leaders in their area as well as provide support for schools that are facing challenging circumstances. They will be supported in their work by at least one University partner. It is envisaged that teaching schools will be examples of the highest quality schools in the country and that standards will be driven up through a system of free-market accountability, where peers will vote with their feet and choose whether or not to take advantage of the provision offered.

The 500 chosen schools will share a budget of £72 million. They will also receive remuneration for performing additional activities such as initial teacher training, middle leadership development, CPD and specific school-to-school support.
Formal applications to join the network can be made from April 2011.

All schools are free to apply (including primary, secondary, special schools, independent schools and academies) but in order to qualify a school must demonstrate:

– A clear track-record of long-standing collaborative relationships with a significant number of partner schools.

– Rated outstanding by Ofsted.

– Consistently high levels of pupil performance or continued improvement over the past three years; results must exceed floor standards.

– Outstanding senior and middle leaders.

– Evidence of improvement supported by self-evaluation, coaching, mentoring, quality assurance and engagement in practitioner-led research, with strong links to higher education.

– Outstanding heads who have led a school for at least three years and expect to remain in their job for the next two years.

– Heads who are already accountable for one or more schools or academies which meet the teaching school criteria.