Welcome

Hello! As we enjoy* flurries of unseasonal snow here in Norwich, we begin by thanking our brave spring 2023 NPQ participants for venturing out to attend their first face to face sessions this week - it was lovely to meet you, and we hope you've warmed up!

We've also delivered multiple ECT programme clinics this week (fortunately online): we really value these opportunities to keep in touch with our ECTs, and look forward to seeing even more of you next week. We appreciate your continued commitment to the programme and to your own professional development.

And finally, more of our 2021-22 NPQ participants have just completed their final assessments: congratulations and best of luck to you all!

Scroll down for opportunities from the Education Endowment Foundation and Norwich Research School, as well as some useful wellbeing resources.

See you again soon,

The Julian Teaching School Hub Team

Keep in touch

You can follow us on Twitter, sign up to receive this newsletter - or just drop us an email: julian-tsh@ndhs.org.uk.

*CLARIFICATION: we are absolutely not enjoying them.

REMINDER: progress review deadline

For those of you signed up to our Appropriate Body service, the deadline for spring term progress reviews is next Friday, 17 March. This deadline allows our team to assess and approve the reviews in good time for the start of the summer term. If you know you're likely to experience difficulties in meeting this deadline, please get in touch to let us know.

Spotlight on... Why become a mentor?

We asked Sarah Bird, Deputy Director of the Julian Teaching School Hub, to tell us more about mentoring and the support available:

"Why become a mentor? That's a good question! Mentors are the cornerstone of early career teacher induction, and key to the success of initial teacher training trainees. While the mentoring role is an additional one for many teachers, the benefits to your own practice can be extensive - from access to the most up-to-date evidence around what makes good teaching, to dedicated training and networking events. Successful mentors develop their interpersonal skills as well as seeing improvements in their own teaching.  

The Julian Teaching School Hub, in partnership with NASBTT, is currently piloting an Advanced Instructional Coaching course, aimed at experienced mentors. Over 100 mentors have been exploring examples of effective approximations of practice, culminating in recomposition of practice in a lesson context, including video examples from both primary and secondary teachers.

The National Professional Qualification in Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD) is ideal for those who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers, such as Senior Leader, initial teacher trainee/early career teacher mentor, faculty leader and classroom teacher."

Read more from Sarah.

Focus on... Wellbeing

For 25 years the Charlie Waller Trust has provided expert mental health training and resources with a focus on young people.

The Trust raises funds so that its training is free to schools, colleges, universities, parents and carers.

The website also has booklets, guides, posters, and articles aimed at parents and carers, educators, students, and workplaces.

Check it out.

Spotlight on... EEF research projects for secondary schools

Are you interested in getting your school involved in research or using evidence-informed practice to improve attainment? 

Taking part in education research allows you to: 

• Contribute to the evidence base on what works and support your colleagues to improve teaching and learning 
• Access professional development for your staff 
• Deliver promising approaches in your setting at a heavily subsidised rate.

Norwich Research School is hosting a webinar for secondary schools to find out more about the trials relevant to our area, which will give you more information about how taking part in an Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)-funded project can support your attainment priorities.  

We will: 

• Give an overview of the EEF’s evidence-generation activity. 
• Explore how to identify your school improvement priorities and make evidence-informed decisions about which projects to sign-up to 
• Explain how your school can get involved in an EEF-funded project. 

The session will last around an hour and will include information about all projects currently on offer in our area, and information on how to get involved. The webinar will be held on 19 April, 3.45-4.45pm.  

To sign up to the webinar, visit https://eefoundation.tfaforms.net/5041061 and select the right one for your phase and region (East of England – delivered by Norwich Research School). 

More from Norwich Research School

There are just three Deep Dive Days left this year, all in-person:

• Improving Literacy in Secondary Schools, with Tom Stevens (Assistant Head at Notre Dame High School for Teaching and Learning, Evidence Lead in Education at Norwich Research School, English teacher)
• Primary Maths, with Rachael Wilson (Deputy Director of Norwich Research School, Norfolk LA writing moderator, Year 6 teacher, Mathematics Specialist Teacher (MaST))
• Metacognition and self-regulated learning, with Dr Niki Kaiser (Director of Norwich Research School, President-Elect of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Education Committee, Assistant Head at Notre Dame High School and Chemistry teacher) and Rachael Wilson.

Find out more.