What is a Teaching School Alliance (TSA)?
Teaching Schools lead within an alliance of schools and partners whose role is to work with others to provide high-quality training and support for school improvement in their local area. Their work is focused on 6 key areas through which their success is monitored and evaluated. These are:
- Delivering school-led Initial Teacher Training (ITT), including Schools Direct
- Providing tailored continuing professional development to staff across their alliances
- Supporting other schools, usually working with a school or academy in challenging circumstances to bring about improvement
- Identifying and developing future leaders
- Recruiting and managing specialist leaders of education: outstanding middle and senior leaders who develop leaders in other schools
- Building on existing research and sharing new research and development
More information about Teaching Schools can be found at the following links:
Department for Education
Teaching Schools Council
Most Teaching Schools operate with subscriptions and a memorandum of understanding to which schools sign to. There is a management/committee structure with representation from schools and partners within the alliance. This allows the teaching school to plan a range of professional development activity to support teachers and leaders at all stages of their career. Teaching Schools within a region can be licensed to deliver national leadership programmes and can act as an Appropriate Body for ECTs.
How do the Teaching Schools in Leicester/shire work together?
The Teaching Schools work closely together in a number of ways, whilst maintaining their own distinct identity. They all belong to the Teaching Schools Council and are bound by the protocols and processes of that body. All Teaching Schools are part of the South Yorkshire and Humber Teaching School Alliance and are represented in that group by named leaders who attend on behalf of all the Teaching Schools in Leicester/shire. This group plans strategically across the region to develop best practice and improve outcomes in priority areas. The directors of Teaching Schools meet regularly to discuss common issues and ensure that information is shared so that schools are not bombarded with different information or confusing messages coming from different sources.
Will Teaching Schools exist in the future?
It would be foolish to try and predict any future government policy so it is difficult to answer this question. What we do know is that teaching school alliances are operating within the current self-improving system and have demonstrated that they can offer a range of professional development and school to school support and, most importantly, make a positive difference. While schools, either as individuals or in groups, make decisions about Academisation, Teaching Schools continue to have a clear focus and remit. Those leading the Teaching Schools in Leicester/shire know that Teaching School alliances need to evolve to meet the needs of schools. They are committed to ensuring that all school leaders have the opportunity to participate in partnership and collaboration supports professional development and school improvement during this next phase of system evolution.
Website links to Teaching Schools in Leicester/shire
Initial Teacher Training providers in Leicester and Leicestershire work with local partners, universities and teaching school alliances to offer ongoing training beyond the initial teacher training year. This includes ECT training and multiple levels of mentor training. In addition National Teaching Schools in the region, specialist subject hubs and Universities will offer a large range of CPD courses and events which are targeted at teachers to ensure they continue their journey as professionals throughout their careers.
Please click the website links for more information and contact details for each of the Teaching School in Leicester/shire.
Affinity Teaching School Alliance
Ash field Academy
Department for Education
EMSYH Teaching Schools Alliance
Forest Way Teaching School Alliance
Learn-AT
Leicestershire & Rutland Teaching School
Loughborough Learning Alliance
Scholars Academy Trust
Sir Johnathan North Community College
Teaching Schools Council
Thomas Estley Learning Alliance
‘When you choose to become a teacher, you’ll be joining a profession that offers a competitive starting salary with plenty of opportunity for career progression. This means you’ll not only be making a difference, but you’ll be rewarded for your contributions with excellent opportunities to climb the career ladder and receive pay rises.’
Please visit Get into Teaching for more information.
All Early Career Teachers (ECTs) have a statutory entitlement to a well-structured, monitored and supportive Induction year. This provides the transition between Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and a full career in teaching.
Alongside our very successful ITT Programmes, many Teaching Schools and Local Authorities (LA) have registered to become an appropriate body for the professional induction of ECTs.
This statutory process supports schools and academies to ensure that ECTs meet all the Teacher Standards by the end of their first year. Individual schools provide specific, mentoring and coaching to ECTs in their employment.
LA’s and Teaching Schools also offer a full package of professional development to support ECTs in developing the skills to be effective teachers and monitor their progress against the Teacher Standards. Led by high calibre senior leaders with a proven track record of excellent ECT development and support, the package can include a full day’s conference early in September to get the year off to a flying start, alongside sessions such as assessment feedback and marking, working with support staff, analysing data, use of IT, using behaviour management strategies, outstanding teaching and learning, working with parents/carers and other professionals and supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
Many Teaching Schools and LA’s also offer a Recently Qualified Teacher (RQT) programme for those in the second or third year of their career or those returning to teaching after a gap. Sessions build on the CPD offered in the ECT year and also focus on early leadership skills and career development.
Initial Teacher training in Leicester and Leicestershire will set you up to succeed from the very start. The variety of opportunities available in Leicester and Leicestershire means you’re always learning as a teacher and growing your professional skills. You’ll develop the talents to succeed in your career, and realise many professional and personal ambitions. Please click here to find out more about professional development in Leicester and Leicestershire. You can also find out more general information about career development by visiting Get into Teaching.
Download our Professional Development Grid here.
Leicester and Leicestershire have many years of experience in trading services the education sector and are on hand to discuss and plan your requirements as well as offering advice, support and training. The services both the city and the county offer are delivered by experts, who care passionately about what they do and achieve job satisfaction by securing the best possible outcomes through a full understanding of your school and/or academy. Leicester and Leicestershire can assist schools in finding innovative solutions which in turn help schools to maintain and raise standards
Trading is important to us – and we run our business alongside our public services. With reducing grant from the government, this helps to make public services in Leicestershire more sustainable for the future
For more information, please visit the Leicester and Leicestershire Local Authority websites:
Since 2004 the University of Leicester have designed, developed and delivered CPD for over 10,000 education professionals. CPD can be a great way to sustain personal development across your career and is an opportunity to focus on your learning and to allow you to achieve the most for yourself and your students. The University of Leicester has close relationships with partner schools to ensure that they are aware of, and tackle during sessions, the varied developments and challenges currently facing modern teaching. Please visit University of Leicester’s website for Education CPD+ and EAP Teacher Development Programme for more information.
You may also be interested in the Master of Education programme led by the University of Leicester for teachers in the region. Please click here for more information
What is STELLAR?
STELLAR (Science and Technology Education in Leicester and Leicestershire and Regions) is STEM’s regional Science Hub serving Leicester and Leicestershire. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Learning Network, is the largest UK provider of subject-specific Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for teachers and technicians working with pupils aged 5 to 19. Together, through a range of bursaries we offer affordable CPD for science.
Supporting teachers and technicians to:
- develop their teaching approaches, pedagogy and subject knowledge in order to provide the best education available
- inspire pupils to achieve their full potential and develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and technicians.
What can STELLAR offer you?
STELLAR offer a wide range of support for schools including:
Primary and Secondary Science networks for leaders and teachers, up to date CPD courses, links with STEM Ambassadors and bespoke consultancy work
Where is STELLAR based?
STELLAR is based at Forest Way Teaching School Alliance in Coalville, Leicestershire. To contact us, email: stellar@forestway.leics.sch.uk
Please click here to visit the STELLAR website
To find our more information about STEM, please click here
About LEBC
The Leicester/shire local Science hub is the Leicestershire Education Business Company (LEBC).
LEBC was set up in 1992 as an independent charity, to create a one stop shop for employers, schools and colleges with the aim of helping young people to prepare for working life. LEBC is governed by a Board of Trustees who represent senior people from business, schools, colleges and Leicester City and County Local Authorities.
LEBC services include:
- Work Experience
- National Citizen Service
- Careers Information, Advice and Guidance
- Business Mentoring
- STEM Learning Ambassador Programme
- Primary and Secondary Enrichment Events
- Apprenticeships Information and Recruitment Service
- Membership Service
- Nuffield Research Placements
- Health and Safety Audits
Engaging with schools
LEBC provides opportunities for employers/University students to promote their sector, job opportunities and experiences to young people. Key points:
- Anybody can give talks to groups of young people. This is what leaders of schools and colleges want more of, from research carried out by LEBC
- Anyone can be a STEM Ambassador and join a network of volunteers who champion STEM careers. If your school/college want to give pupils the opportunity to hear about STEM careers, LEBC have volunteers who are provided with guidance and training for working with schools, a free enhanced DBS check and are covered by the scheme’s insurance once fully approved. LEBC only ask that Ambassadors commit to a minimum one activity per year but many do a lot more
- Ambassadors have the opportunity to set a curriculum project on a topic which you are knowledgeable in
- Ambassadors can also become a mentor to support vulnerable young people to achieve their potential. If this is something your school/college is interested in, please contact LEBC.
- Access to young people to promote your sector and job opportunities which you have.
- Personal development, e.g. experience of presenting information to groups of young people.
- New contacts through networking with others.
- Confidence and understanding through the training and briefings which we will provide for you.
- A sense of pride and motivation, knowing that you are making a difference. It is evidence of your commitment to Corporate, Social, Responsibility (CSR).
- Experience of mentoring and coaching a young person in need
There are various ‘Hubs’ in the East Midlands, South Yorkshire and Humber region who are key partners that support schools to develop their leadership, staff and curriculum, so they can improve their results and performance. Please click here to read about our supporting partners.
Early Career
There are many opportunities in teaching for you to develop your career. Many teachers enjoy teaching and continually developing their skills in the classroom, others enjoy delving into and taking part in research and others move into leadership positions. Some enjoy all three!
The Department of Educations has published a strategy on recruitment and retention of teachers – click here. This states that there funded 2-year support package will be for at least the first two years of teaching and opportunities for flexible working.
It has also published this policy document on reducing teacher workload – click here.
Getting Involved in Research
This is an exciting time in teaching and learning with many educational researchers investigating new strategies and approaches to teaching. Our local Educational Research Hub is based in Kyra Teaching and school and has a wealth of information on their website. Even closer is the Learn AT TSA associate Research School based in South Leicestershire.
They offer opportunities to become engaged in research too. For up to date information on research informed teaching please visit the Education Endowment Foundation.
