Caroline Craig, Secondary Probationer Supporter of Falkirk Council’s Curriculum Support Team is supporting our Secondary Schools in developing a standardised approach to probationary year observations for next session, in light of the new Standard for Full Registration. This will ensure that there is a consistent approach during observations of our probationers ensuring that pupils within Falkirk Council are being taught to the highest standard.
Category: Larbert High School
Shiny new database – making the work experience process easier
Lorraine Hamilton, Work Experience Administrator and Health & Safety Assessor, Falkirk Council Education Services Curriculum Support Team has been working with partners and schools to move to a new database which should make the process easier for all.
The new database (WorkIT) will be up and running for the new session and Work Experience Co-ordinators and Administrators will received training in May/June. Comments made by one school are:
‘appears more user friendly’
‘modern look to it which may appeal to and encourage pupils to input more info.’
‘extended placement info seen clearly’.
Getting Ready for Employee Review and Development!
All our schools are moving forward on implementing the new Employee Review and Development (Glow login required) process( ERD). Some have already begun while others are getting ready. Anne Hutchison (CPD Co-ordinator in the Curriculum Support team of Falkirk Council Education Services) co-leads the implementation strategy at service level along with Anne Pearson (Service Manager: Curriculum Support team) and today they were out and about in schools across Falkirk working with staff from Grangemouth High, Graeme High, Laurieston, Hallglen, Victoria and Westquarter primary schools. Preparation is key to getting this effective way of working off on the right foot. So what were we doing?
1. Speaking to support staff to let them know that they are key players in supporting the delivery of high quality teaching and learning for all children and young people
2.Raising awareness of what an ERD meeting looks, feels and sounds like. Big thanks to Hazel Cunningham (Primary Probationer Supporter:Curriculum Support team) and Fiona Anderson (HT: Head of Muir PS) who bravely modelled the role of a self evaluator whilst Anne H and Anne P acted as Validators. The role of a validator is to support, extend and challenge the self-evaluator.
Everyone has a role in this important improvement priority. During January and February of this year all Headteachers and Early Years Managers are using their work profile as a self evaluation tool in preparation for their ERD meeting. To support them in their preparation a series of 90 minute training sessions have been designed and delivered by the Curriculum Support team . By session 2014-15 the aim is that:- all Falkirk schools are implementing the revised scheme
- the revised ERD scheme is integrated with schools’ ongoing self evaluation and quality improvement processes
- we can see evidence of cultural change in relation to self evaluation
- GTCS registered staff are well prepared for Professional Update
- we can see evidence of the impact of ERD on our children and young people’s learning experiences
