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Ofsted highlights CPD
In brief
In-depth innovation
Microsoft has launched Innovative
Schools, a case study resource,
which focuses on four exemplar
as crucial for all staff
UK schools – one primary and
three secondary – which are all
pioneering transformations in
the education system in terms of
teaching, curriculum, innovative
use of physical space, and ICT.
The case studies are designed to
by Chris Parr
to come into school or who were workforce, who often had a broad to focus on improving the qual- ment for themselves. It’s vital that inspire as well as provide practical
not sure how to help their children. range of life experiences or had ity and effectiveness of the training schools invest time and money in steps on how schools can make
The report examined the effec- lived in the local community. and development they provide as evaluating and developing all their similar changes of their own.
Pupils have benefited from schools tiveness of school workforce In one secondary school, an this varies considerably, the report staff, not just teachers.” All the resources are publicly
introducing staff from a wider range reforms, which were introduced in outreach worker helped parents concluded. Richard Parkin, general secre- available. Visit: www.microsoft.
of backgrounds and with different 2003, and which saw schools take not only to support their children’s Schools also failed to take tary of the Voice union, said: “This com/innovativeschools
skills and life experiences, accord- on a wider range of staff in a bid to learning, but also to re-engage with advantage of help available to them. report confirms what we have
ing to an Ofsted study. raise educational standards. learning themselves. Only one school understood the role known for some time – that teach-
The report, The Deployment, Inspectors visited 10 secondary However, the report also found of the Training and Development ers’ fellow professionals, such as
Voting rights
Training and Development of the schools and 13 primary schools, that many members of the wider Agency for Schools, which pro- teaching assistants, add consider- A DVD has been produced by
Wider School Workforce, suggests to evaluate how effectively these school workforce were not engag- vides information about the train- ably to the quality of teaching and the Electoral Commission to help
that learning mentors and higher reforms had been implemented. ing with CPD. ing and qualifications available and learning in schools. young people understand how
level teaching assistants are among Some 13 of the 23 schools vis- Only six schools out of the 23 helps identify career options. “It is crucial that the momen- to register to vote. Commission
the roles that have made a posi- ited had experienced difficulties in had a consistent cycle of induction Christine Gilbert, Ofsted’s chief tum and credibility of the reforms research found that young
tive impact on pupils’ achievement, communicating with parents and and training, performance manage- inspector, said: “As this report has continue and that all those in school people are often less likely to be
especially those who are likely to carers, some of whom had nega- ment, and career development for found, the wider workforce has an work together to make them a suc- registered to vote, and many 16
truant, underachieve, or be exclud- tive experiences of education them- staff that focused on cultivating important role to play in improving cess for the benefit of pupils,” he and 17-year-olds often do not
ed from school. selves and were reluctant to talk to the knowledge and skills needed to children’s achievement, however added. realise they are able to register
Inspectors say they have also teachers. raise pupils’ achievement. all too often it was left to individ- To read the full report, visit in preparation for turning 18 and
played a valuable role in reaching Some parents found it easier To get the most benefit from ual members of staff to identify www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/ getting their vote. To order the
out to parents previously reluctant to relate to members of the wider this wider workforce, schools need and request professional develop- Publications-and-research free DVD, contact 0845 8500
501 and quote code EC11, and
X Factor Diana in
for this and more resources, visit
www.dopolitics.org.uk
a class of her own
Free membership
The Chartered Institute of
Educational Assessors (CIEA)
is offering trainee teachers free
Pupils at a Lancashire girls’ school break from her studies to compete membership. It comes after a poll
have a very special reason for being in The X Factor. of CIEA members found that
glued to ITV’s The X Factor every “There is a lot of excitement 90 per cent of teachers said that
Saturday night. around the whole school,” said their PGCE did not prepare them
Why? Because one of their 6th- Rachel Waldron, who is the school’s adequately to assess pupils in the
formers is a hot favourite to win this head of 6th form and teaches busi- classroom. To address this, the
year’s competition. ness studies. CIEA is offering trainee teachers
Diana Vickers, 17, who was “Diana seems to have captured free annual membership to the
spotted by judges Simon Cowell, the hearts of the public and we all organisation, and a discounted rate
Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and think she is going to win. There are to NQTs. PGCE students should
Dannii Minogue at her audition for ‘Vote Diana’ posters up all around email info@ciea.org.uk, while
the show in Manchester this sum- the school, and everyone is voting NQTs should visit www.ciea.org.
mer, is a year 13 pupil at Westholme for her on Saturday nights, even uk/membersarea/membership
School in Blackburn. teachers who haven’t watched The
She is studying for A levels in X Factor before.
classics, drama and psychology and, “Diana is a quiet, down-to-earth
Dyslexia awards
before her big break, had intended girl, but she is very talented and we In celebration of last week’s
to apply for a place at drama school are so proud of her. When she came National Dyslexia Awareness
next year. back to Westholme in September to Week, iansyst and a number of
Westholme staff say Diana, who do some filming for The X Factor other educational technology
has been a pupil at the independent everyone was thrilled.” suppliers are urging school
school since she was 11, has real As well as making it to The X SENCOs to nominate themselves
star quality. She sings in the school Factor final, Diana has also joined and also non-specialist teachers
choir, has won a host of singing forces with the other finalists to for two Dyslexia-Friendly Best
competitions, and took the part of record a cover of the 1993 hit Hero Practice awards. Iansyst is giving
Captain von Trapp in the school in aid of the Help for Heroes char- away two separate prizes to
production of The Sound of Music ity. The single went straight to reward innovative methods of
last term. She is currently taking a number one. Pop idol: The X Factor contestant Diana returns to a star’s welcome at Westholme School awareness raising and dyslexia-
friendly practice in schools. The
deadline is December 1. Visit:
School opens for 2,000
Selection debate leads
www.dyslexic.com/award
Technical support
More than 2,000 pupils and staff
to growing frustration
Becta, the education technology
have started lessons in one of agency, has launched its new
the largest secondary schools to A system of academic selection at (Presbyterian), and Rev Trevor Next Generation Learning
be opened as part of the govern- the age of 14 could resolve the long- Jamieson (Methodist) are calling campaign website, aimed at
ment’s Building Schools for the running debate over what should for the creation of space to find the parents, learners and employers.
Future (BSF) programme. replace the 11-plus in Northern best system for all children. The website is a resource to
Kenton School in Newcastle Ireland, church leaders say. They say consideration should find out more about the ways
(pictured right) covers around The North’s four main churches be given to a paper published in the that technology is being used
19,000 square metres – an area say politicians should stand back from summer that suggested selection at by some schools to improve
the size of four football pitch- established positions to end uncer- age 14 could resolve the long-run- engagement, motivation
es. It welcomed staff and pupils tainty surrounding the future system ning debate. and results. Visit: www.
through the doors for the first time of transfer to secondary schools. In that paper, representatives of nextgenerationlearning.org.uk
last Thursday (November 6). They speak of a “deep unease” both grammar and non-selective sec-
The school has Lottery-fund- among parents and teachers and ondary schools backed scrapping the
ed sports facilities that will be a growing “sense of frustration” 11-plus in favour of selecting pupils
Music partnerships
available to the local commu- that no political agreement seems before they begin GCSE study. A book exploring the power of
nity, including six international- encouragement of civilised personal properly directed investment can within reach. That paper also said that agree- partnerships in music education
standard badminton courts, an values. bring to education. Northern Ireland’s education ing to abandon academic selection has been launched by the
all-weather sports pitch, a gym, “Kenton will continue to trans- “Our aim is to transform minister Caitriona Ruane wants at age 11 in return for retaining the National Association of Music
fitness suite and dance studio, and form young people’s lives and the education in the city and create to abolish all forms of selection, right at age 14 and again at age 16 Educators (NAME). Music
a sports cafe. new Kenton will speed up that a better and brighter future for which would create a network of would create the potential for a and the Power of Partnerships
David Pearmain, headteacher transformation and shine as a bea- thousands of children across the comprehensive schools. wider educational consensus. includes articles by musicians
at the school, said: “We loved the con of hope for our students’ future region. Phase one of this invest- However, she faces opposition The church representatives said: and teachers working in both the
old buildings because they were and the future of our community.” ment will have delivered seven in the Northern Ireland Assembly “The group shared ideas, displaying formal and informal sectors. It
our home, but our new build- Kirsty Thirlwell, chief execu- new schools by February next from unionist parties. vision and openness to a new way includes specific projects as well
ing will allow us to offer cut- tive of the city’s local education year and will be closely followed Now, the churches have come forward, which would lead to the as more general reflections on
ting-edge education which will partnership Aura, added: “This is by a second phase with a further together to urge rival parties to find disappearance of academic selection partnership working and ways to
be breathtakingly modern in our the sixth and largest new school we eight schools open by 2012.” a way forward. at age 11 and the use of criteria to make it a reality. Copies cost £11
aspirations for our students, but have delivered for Newcastle and For more on BSF, visit www. Catholic Bishop Donal access certain courses and pathways (£9 for NAME members). Visit:
also reassuringly traditional in our it is a great example of the benefit partnershipsforschools.org.uk McKeown, Rev Ian Ellis (Church at the age of 14, which could include, www.name.org.uk
of Ireland), Rev Trevor Gribben among others, academic criteria.”
SecEd • November 13 2008 
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