Stratton has been a Training School since September 2003. We were re-designated in 2007. The primary objective of the Training School is to be a centre of excellence for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all colleagues in our local community. As a Training School we have access to many CPD networks and local opportunities. We work closely with other Training Schools in the local area and Eastern Region and have contributed nationally to CPD developments in Outreach and Student Voice, amongst other things.

ITT - We host trainees from various training providers including The North Bedfordshire Training Partnership (SCITT), University of Bedfordshire, Chiltern Training and the OU. The time a trainee spends at Stratton varies from one week to a whole academic year. During their time with us, trainees are involved in all aspects of school life. They will be observing lessons and tracking students. They may therefore wish to spend time in your lessons (and we try to negotiate with and inform departments beforehand). Feedback from all our visitors tells us that the welcome and induction they receive from all staff at Stratton is warm, helpful and makes their placements here very effective.

NQTs – All NQTs have a Programme of Induction. The programme runs formally for most of the Autumn Term with sessions spread less frequently across the Spring and Summer Terms. The programme also involves a Peer Coaching project in which the NQTs work with Year 2/3 teachers from other subject areas. The purpose of this is to enable them to work on teaching and learning foci throughout the academic year to hone their professional expertise. Training supports this and three of the induction sessions are dedicated to this throughout the year. NQTs have a 10% timetable reduction to support induction activities and are expected to observe more experienced colleagues across the school. Additional CPD funding has been set aside in the budget to support their activities and this is managed by the Training School. NQTs are required to meet with the School’s Professional Tutor in September and at the end of each term to discuss their Career Entry Profile (CEP) and termly Assessment Reports required by the LEA. They are also required to meet their Subject Mentor once a week for an hour to discuss progress and set targets. NQTs are observed each half term by various staff including the HOD, Subject Mentor (if different), Professional Tutor and an LEA Advisor. A record of these activities forms part of each Assessment Report.

CPD - We arrange a “Twilight CPD Seminar Programme” each year which is aimed at all staff in our workforce. This programme complements INSED days. All staff are expected to attend 6 twilight sessions during the academic year. One INSED day has been disaggregated with the agreement of Unions, to allow this. This enables staff to personalise their CPD and professional learning and link it to performance management targets if appropriate and if desired. The twilight programme includes access to a variety of Oxford Brookes MA modules delivered at Samuel Whitbread and Redborne Training Schools.

The Training School makes the arrangements for INSED days. Two INSED days traditionally occur at the start of the academic year for preparation and administration, followed by one in October and one in April – these two days tend to be set aside for professional development – please see calendar for dates. Detailed programmes for each day are published nearer the time.

All staff receive a CPD Portfolio when they join Stratton and gain Certificates for attendance at school led INSED. The Training School has a notice board in the staff room with course information. All forms etc are available on the Q drive, in the staff room and also from Helen. Travel expenses are released on receipt of evaluation forms.

We are currently developing our part of the school website to ensure dissemination of information.

Staff attendance on courses, conferences, seminars, PSGs (Professional Study Groups) and the CPD Budget is managed through the Training School. The CPD Budget is split into learning areas and the Heads of Area have control of their area’s CPD expenditure – which is linked to Improvement Plan priorities.

Stratton Training Partnership – we work closely with local schools from the East Beds area to support their CPD and this outreach work is an important part of the Training School’s work. Anne Pettifor co-ordinates this work. Each Autumn Term she visits schools to conduct a needs audit and then plans the outreach programme which includes access to our Twilight Seminars, Stratton ASTs, and the Student Voice Gap Year Consultant . This programme aims to meet the needs of our whole workforce and is available to Stratton staff.

Staff in the Training School

Director of Training – Jane Harper Oversight of CPD provision, co-ordinator of ITT activity, Staff Professional Tutor, Teacher in charge of induction programmes, NQT supervisor.

Administration Assistant – Helen Richards PA to the Director of Training School. Day to day work includes the administration of CPD Courses for all staff, support for Trainees and NQTs. To provide a first port of call on all training matters.

CPD Co-ordinator for Stratton Learning Partnership – Anne Pettifor Co-ordinator of the CPD provision for the STP in conjunction with the Training School’s Twilight CPD Programme.

Kay Murphy AST Student Voice Co-ordinator.

Hannah Mayston Student Voice Gap Year Consultant – working with Kay Murphy.