Policy for managing the training of self funded trainees employed in other schools.
Schools that are willing to support a member of staff in achieving QTS are making a serious commitment to the professional development of that person. The financial and mentoring implications can be considerable and any school taking this route is demonstrating how much they value and believe in the applicant. This is really appreciated by all of us at 2Schools Consortium.
We are committed to ensuring that self-funded trainees who are not based in either of the lead schools receive the same opportunities and quality of experience as those trainees funded by and employed within the Consortium.
To this end they are entitled to;
1. A trained mentor
2Schools Consortium provides termly training sessions for mentors. Mentors in partnership and associate schools are expected to attend the training and carry out their role in accordance with the mentor guidance provided.
2. An initial needs analysis meeting with a representative of the Consortium
Prior to the start of the programme a meeting will be held with the employing school head or staff development co-ordinator, the prospective trainee and a member of 2Schools Consortium. At this meeting the trainee’s prior experience and qualifications will be assessed against the requirements of the GTP programme and the professional standards for QTS. This meeting will determine the length of the programme, the training to be attended and other school experience required.
3. A personalised training programme based on the outcomes of the initial needs analysis
A training plan will be provided which addresses the needs identified in the above meeting. The employing school will be expected to show commitment to facilitating the actions identified in the plan.
4. Length of programme appropriate to need
The minimum length of programme is one term. During the initial needs analysis meeting the level of prior experience of the trainee will be assessed and the length of training required will be decided by the Consortium in discussion with the HT and trainee.
5. Employment at Point 1 on the Unqualified Teacher Scale.
The school has a responsibility to appoint the trainee on a teaching rather than non-teaching contract. This is a national requirement of the Graduate Teacher Programme.
6. Attendance at Consortium training sessions appropriate to their need
The school will be expected to release the trainee to attend training as identified in the training plan. This is usually on Thursdays and either half or a full day. It is a national requirement that during a one year programme trainees should have 60 days of training, and therefore it is essential that the school is willing to undertake this commitment.
7. Regular observation and feedback by school based mentor and 2Schools senior mentor
Following mentor training school based mentors will be expected to observe and give feedback using the forms provided by the Consortium at least once a week. A senior mentor from the Consortium will visit trainees employed by other schools once every half term. The visit will consist of a lesson observation and feedback, a meeting with the head or mentor to review progress and a half term review meeting with the trainee.
8. Half termly review of progress
At this meeting the previous half term’s training plan and review/initial needs analysis will be evaluated, and new targets set based on discussions around the progress and needs identified by the trainee, mentor and senior mentor.
9. Access to the online and school-based resources available for study and learning support.
Both lead schools in the Consortium have a training library and online study resources which all trainees on the programme are entitled to use. Trainees employed by other schools will be given a log in password so that they have equal access to the materials available and will be able to borrow books when they attend training.
Quality Assurance of Employing Schools
The Consortium expects that employing schools will provide appropriate support and commitment to trainee development in line with our standardised internal and external quality assurance measures. These include;
- assessment of the school’s suitability to support a trainee at the initial needs analysis meeting though discussion with the head or senior member of staff.
- monitoring and supporting the mentor during the half termly visits to the school.
- providing the school with a clear set of expectations including financial commitment.
- termly trainee evaluation of both the training and the school support received.
In most cases the school should have a good OFSTED report or should have a particular strength to offer the trainee.
School Commitment
If your school is willing to provide support for a valued member of staff to train as a teacher it has already made a big commitment to that person. In order to ensure that the trainee has a fair and equitable training experience, we would ask the school to consider the following criteria very carefully before making a final decision.
You will be expected to
- release the trainee for training or self study every Thursday and for occasional blocks of training at other times
- provide opportunities for the trainee to observe good practice in other classes or schools on a regular basis.
- provide good mentoring by a mentor who has attended 2Schools Consortium mentor training.
- put the trainee on Unqualified Teacher Scale One
- make a financial commitment to the cost of the programme.
You may also be expected to
- release the trainee to spend a minimum of two weeks, but preferably more, in another key stage or school.
- release the trainee to visit the key stages before and after the chosen training phase for a day each.
Regrettably we are unable to offer places to employees of schools placed in special measures.
Financial Implications of the Programme
Training
Per Term (Autumn and Spring terms) £400
Per Day £50
Per half day £25
Initial Needs Analysis Meeting
Half day £250
Half termly visits
Half day £250 |
