CPD

Teaching and Learning Community

I have been working on a very exciting and effective programme of further developing the capacity of teachers utilising their peers. The project (learning 3′s) has been running for just over a term now. This effective in house provision compromises of 3 teachers (an outstanding; struggling and one from the schools specialism) joint planning lessons, peer observing, feeding back….in a cycle. There has also been some formal in put and lots of LEA support in various guises.

What has been so good about this programme?
* Teachers who may not necessarily ‘mix’ are now learning from each other and an excellent support network has formed.
* Teachers are talking ‘shop’ a bit more and this can only be good for the students!
* There is an element of general and personalised CPD woven through the programme eg: a newly appointed Head of Department has been trained in giving constructive feedback under the new framework.
* Teachers have gained in confidence as they develop further.

What could be improved?
* The programme (unfortunately) relies on good will to attend meetings….. It would be better if meetings for the Learning 3′s were fixed in the school calendar. This would avoid ‘guilt syndrome’!
* It would be even better if all teachers were part of a learning community so that the ‘buzz’ would ripple throughout the whole school!

This is a fantastic programme which should be embedded into everyday practice – we should open our doors and invite each other to share in the evaluative process of each of our lessons.