Author Archives: Craig Docherty

Teachmeets and Classhacks⤴

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Teachmeet WDC

 

Following the success and fun of last sessions two “teachmeets”, we will be running a series of events to support teacher sharing and creativity this year.

We will be holding two “teachmeets” and two “classhacks” this year. The dates are as follows:

Teachmeets

  • Thursday 27th November 2014 at Clydebank High School (Conference Room) from 3.45pm until 5.15pm
  • Thursday 28th May 2015 at Dumbarton Academy (Conference Room) from 3.45pm until 5.15pm

Our “teachmeets” will be twilight events allowing teachers to share short presentations of ideas or approaches that have been interesting or successful. Teachers can undertake to do a 7 minute mini-presentation or a 2 minute micro-presentation for their colleagues. (Micro presentations are often used to share resources or quick ideas). The spirit of our “teachmeets” are very much sharing by teachers for teachers.

Classhacks

  • Thursday 22nd January 2015 at Dumbarton Academy (Conference Room) from 3.45pm until 5.15pm
  • Thursday 19th March 2015 at Clydebank High School (Conference Room) from 3.45pm until 5.15pm

Our “classhacks” will be a new kind of meeting. The same sticky buns and coffees as the teachmeets, but instead of a series of short presentations, we will choose a classroom challenge, such as redesigning homework for engagement, and roll up our sleeves using co-operative methodologies and produce some new ideas or approaches together. The spirit of these will be fun and creativity.

As before, teachers from other authorities are very welcome.

Sign up for these events using our wiki at:

http://teachmeetwdc.wikispaces.com/

 

NASUWT Conference Education and Gender Equality: Learning Lessons, Moving Forward⤴

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Please see information about the NASUWT Conference Education and Gender Equality: Learning Lessons, Moving Forward which is taking place at the QE2 Conference Centre, Westminster on 17 November 2014. This is a high profile Conference that will address some very significant issues and Sarah Brown has been invited to give the keynote address.

We hope that you are able to attend the Conference. Please contact Conferences and Events to book your place.

Education and Gender Equality: Learning Lessons, Moving Forward – Monday 17 November 2014

10am to 3.45pm (Registration is from 9.15am)
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, London

A continuing professional development (CPD) opportunity for teachers and school leaders

This national Conference takes place at the end of the campaign year, Unite for Quality Education. The campaign aims to secure quality education for every child and young person on the planet. Against this backdrop, the Conference will consider why education equality for girls and women should be a national and international priority, and the role that schools and teachers play in securing better outcomes for girls and women.

The Conference will:

  • stimulate professional and policy debate and consider policy priorities for advancing gender equality in schools and colleges;
  • give participants access to practical information, materials and resources; and
  • enable participants to understand and share research, practice and developments in the area of gender equality in education.

Speakers include:

  • Sarah Brown, Campaigner on global health and education (invited);
  • Professor Averil Macdonald, WiSE Campaign;
  • Professor Gaby Weiner, Visiting Professor, University of Sussex;
  • Haldis Holst, Deputy General Secretary, Education International (Conference Chair); and
  • Chris Keates, General Secretary, NASUWT.

Planned seminars and workshops include:

  • using values and global learning to promote gender equality in the classroom;
  • international development, volunteering, gender equality and education;
  • strategies for increasing girls’ participation;
  • identifying and supporting girls who suffer abuse (e.g. forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), involvement in gangs); and
  • career prospects for women teachers.

For further information and to reserve your place at the Conference:

The Conference is a one day event and is FREE to NASUWT members. Accommodation is not available to book through the NASUWT Conference and Events team.

NASUWT – The largest teachers’ union in the UK

Probationer Induction Scheme – Report Writing (resource)⤴

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WDC logo

 

Probationer Induction Scheme

Please follow the link provided to access the handouts from the Report Writing course for Secondary Probationers – Probationer Induction Scheme – Report Writing Presentation

Throughout the year, we will be adding more resources to this blog in order to support both Primary and Secondary Probationers in every way possible.

Support Staff Training – Building Better Relationships, Better Learning, Better Behaviour – Resources⤴

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Education Scotland

Education Scotland have revised their support materials for “Better Learning, Better Behaviour”. These materials are really simple to use and will support schools, network support teams or even individual staff in running internal training sessions.

Please follow the link provided for more information: http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/resources/s/supportstafftrainingbuildingbetterrelationships/index.asp?strReferringChannel=educationscotland&strReferringPageID=tcm:4-713590-64

Educational Colloquium Programme – 2014/15⤴

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The Educational Colloquium of the Universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde and the West of Scotland

Educational Colloquium

At this time of year we have the pleasure in sending out the new programmes of activities for the Educational Colloquium.

The programme is as usual varied and will be delivered by a range of high quality presenters.  It continues to represent excellent value in terms of the CPD opportunities on offer for teachers.  All participants receive a CPD certificate of participation and each session counts as 2 hours of CPD.

Please find attached a flyer about the Colloquium – Colloquium Article for LEAs 2014-15 & EdcollFlyer

 

Lindsey’s Blog – Welcome Back!!⤴

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Back to school

 

Welcome back one and all! Is it my imagination or was that the fastest summer ever?

It was a busy old year last year and I don’t expect this year to be any different. Matthew has already outlined some of our priorities this year and as he says it’s exciting and challenging at the same time.

We met with our new probationer teachers last week. It’s always good to see their energy, enthusiasm and fear in equal measure! There was an opportunity for them to share what they were looking forward to and identify their concerns, needless to say there were similarities in both. We know from experience that our probationers get a wonderful, supportive experience in our schools for which we are really grateful.

We are also grateful to our Chief Executive Joyce White, who welcomed our probationers at St. Peter the Apostle High School. Joyce explained our ‘Be the Best’ initiative and shared the progress West Dunbartonshire Council has made over the past few years.

At the end of the summer term I was approached by Strathclyde University looking to introduce their partnership model for Initial Teacher Education. I was happy to agree with this given the success of the University of Glasgow model.  We are now in a very fortunate position where we have two models running from two Universities, and given the size of our authority this is quite an achievement.

I’m looking forward to working with Linda McGregor this year. Linda has an exciting role in supporting our probationer and supply teachers. We have plans afoot to develop professional learning opportunities aligning both groups of teachers with an emphasis on making professional learning relevant and self-organising.

Leadership Skills Programme – update⤴

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Leadership course 2014Thanks to all of you who are taking part in the current core leadership skills programme. The next sessions taking place in ERS are as follows:

 

 

 

Cohort 1 

Day 3 (Clyde Room) – 9am – 4pm on Tuesday 7th October 2014

Day 4 (Clyde Room) – 9am – 4pm on Tuesday 11th November 2014

Cohort 2

Day 3 (Clyde Room) – 9am – 4pm on Thursday 9th October 2014

Day 4 (Clyde Room) – 9am – 4pm on Thursday 13th November 2014

 

The programme for day 3 will be built largely around communication skills as a leader. This will look at coaching skills, assertiveness skills and team communication for growth.

The day 4 programme is built around leadership for change, how we build learning teams and organisations as well as the role of distributed leadership in building happy and effective schools.

 

We have also organised two twilight sessions as follows:

Session 1

Twilight session (Clyde Room) – 4pm – 5.15pm on Tuesday 21st October 2014

This will be a chance to hear from a transformational leader outwith education.

Session 2 

This will be a chance to meet some of our own school leaders and to connect some of your learning to their practice.

Twilight session (Clyde Room) – 4pm – 5.15pm on Monday 12th January 2015

Timetabling for the Present and the Future⤴

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We are delighted to advise you of an updated version of the 6-Day Timetabling Course (by Tony Conroy)  across November 2014 and March 2015 with a facility for delegates to receive help with their own school’s timetable utilising the techniques learned on the course. Delegates will be shown how to construct a Timetable for 2015-16 which takes account of the roll out of Curriculum for Excellence.

The course is updated each year to incorporate the changes required each year as Curriculum for Excellence is rolled out. This year will again be timetabling S1, S2 and S3 as part of the Broad General Education.

Tony has provided some information below, along with a booking form which is required, if you wish to attend.

I will again Timetable S4 as having 7 option columns.

I will be Timetabling S5 again as having 5 option columns but it will be following on from the 7 options in S4 last year.

I will discuss the implications of Timetabling S4,S5and S6 on a 6 Column structure.

I provide Excel spreadsheets with formulae embedded to assist in the construction of the timetable. All delegates must bring a laptop computer.

The programme for the 6 days is delineated below. The course is residential and will be based in the Gailes Hotel (Irvine) at a cost of £980.

An Application Form is attached.

Day 1–Monday 3rd November 2014

0900-0945 Registration/Tea/Coffee/Bacon Rolls

0945-1015 Introduction to CfE context

1015-1100 Collection, collation and analysis of staffing data

1100-1115 Tea/Coffee

1115-1230 Collection, collation and analysis of pupil data

1230-1330 Lunch

1330-1500 Comparison of Staffing and Pupil data with accommodation data

1500-1515 Tea/Coffee

1515-1700 Cross Setting

1915-200  Pre-Dinner Reception

2000-           Dinner

 

Day 2–Tuesday 4th November  2014

0900-1030  Preparation for the Conflict Matrix

1030-1045  Tea/Coffee

1045-1230  Construction of the Conflict Matrix

1230-1330  Lunch

1330-1500  Construction of the Schematic

1500-1515  Tea/Coffee

1515-1700  Construction of the Schematic

1700 on Day2- Day 3 = Homework on the Schematic!!

Day 3 –TBC- November  2014

0900-0945  Registration/Tea/Coffee/Bacon Rolls

0945-1100  Analysis of Schematic to facilitate blocking in Junior Phase

1100-1115 Tea/ Coffee

1115-1230 Blocking S2 and S1 -amending schematic if necessary

1230-1330-Lunch

1330- 1500 Blocking S2 and S1 -amending schematic if necessary

1500-1515- Tea/ Coffee

1515-1700 Blocking S2 and S1 -amending schematic if necessary

1915-2000  Pre-Dinner Reception

2000-           Dinner

 Day 4-TBC- November  2014

0900-1030 Blocking S2 and S1 -amending schematic if necessary

1030-1045  Tea/Coffee

1045-1230  Allocation of Classes to teachers

1230-1330  Lunch

1330-1700  Balancing Contact time and finalising Timetable.

 

Day 5 and 6–TBC-March 2015

Tutor support /Troubleshooting with delegates on their own school’s 2014-15 timetable over 2 days in a residential setting.

Support will also be offered to delegates, from the same authority, who wish to align timetables.

Please click on link provided to access more information and the booking form for anyone wishing to attend.

Application New Timetabling Course 9- Nov 2014-March 2015 Blank V1