ICE on a sunny day!
An excellent opportunity to see an excellent small school in action with grateful thanks to John Pettinato (Principal), staff and students who were all keen to share practice, ideas and receive feedback. ICE, Institute for Collaborative Education, Respecting John’s views I am posting comments that will influence our development at WTC.
Things to think about and act on at WTC;
- phone, e-mail and messaging contact to add to more common communications for students and parents directly to teacher advisers and principal – no filter / high trust?
- continue to select the best staff, irrespective of subject and preferably through the ITT placement route?
- induction of teachers – first year co-teach with experienced colleague?
- induction of other staff – co-support with experienced colleague?
- immersion for EAL students with 1:1 support?
- teacher advisers meet weekly to discuss students (similar to extended GAR/B&A/SEN) and update HT whose prime role is leading learning & teaching
- establish, share and work to explicit ‘habits of mind’ within a community of learning?
- family photos?
- open door policy – completely open plan HT office and soft seating?
- how best to meet, greet and bid farewell through D/G/S schools?
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An interesting place. A little too much of trying to solve all the problems of the students which may have come from the social work background of some of the staff. As with most of the schools we visited lessons that we were told were very student centered actually involved the teacher leading from the front for 10 minutes and then a discussion on the topic with students. It was very well done and students seemed to get a lot out of it as well as dealing with some very difficult topics but I am not sure it would match the Ofsted criteria of what a lesson should be about. The teachers and staff here seemed to go above and beyond when working with students and working 12 hour days in the school had been the norm for some. Really cared about the student, lead by a very interesting headteacher, and would do whatever it took to ensure that their students stayed in education and had the opportunit to learn.