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The heartbeat of learner improvement services
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Advance
Skills
Teacher
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Standards and School Effectiveness
Robertson House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage
Hertfordshire, SG1 2FQ
www.hertsforlearning.co.uk
Index
What is an Advanced Skills Teacher?
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What are the key purposes of an AST?
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What can a Curriculum Adviser do for an AST?
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What do ASTs do?
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How might an AST support an individual teacher?
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Contacts
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Publications and useful websites
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What is an Advanced Skills Teacher?
An Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) is an excellent practitioner who has met
standards set by TDA and been assessed by VT. An AST shares his or her
skills and experience with other teachers. Some Advanced Skills Teachers
are working in schools in the County, supporting established teachers as well
as those new to the profession and play a part in; helping to attract and retain
key teachers, improving staff motivation, raising achievement levels,
broadening the professional base and increasing the prestige of our schools.
An AST supports activities that take place, not only within their own school,
but in other schools and is a key player in Hertfordshire’s school improvement
strategy.
What are the key purposes of an AST?
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intervention and support
which builds capacity of teachers in schools
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training and development
which extends direct LA Curriculum Adviser provision and
contributes to school priorities
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innovation
where ASTs model innovative and creative practice which works but
reflects the contextual demands of working in different schools
What can a Curriculum Adviser do for an AST?
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Make contact with ASTs.
Identify particular strengths of each AST.
Establish which schools in Hertfordshire need support.
Identify and establish, for schools in need of support, opportunities for
the AST to visit so that they can work alongside teachers in the
classroom.
Involve ASTs, as appropriate, in curriculum development projects being
set up in Hertfordshire.
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What do ASTs do?
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Advise teachers in classroom organisation and teaching methods.
Provide model lessons.
Share good practice based on educational research.
Produce high quality teaching materials.
Peer or specialist coaching.
Advise on professional development.
Establish professional learning teams in schools.
Support teachers experiencing difficulties.
Help with the induction of newly qualified teachers.
How might an AST support an individual teacher?
Leading improvements in teaching has significant benefits for teachers,
students, school leaders and ASTs:
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Students improve their motivation, organisation and learning skills
and use a wider range of learning strategies.
Teachers gain a wider repertoire of teaching and learning styles,
increased self-confidence, belief in their professional capacity to
make a real difference, and a willingness to learn, adapt and
change.
ASTs enhance their leadership of learning at both the individual and
organisational level.
ASTs bring with them:
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a burning desire to make a difference to student learning
a deep commitment to professional learning
a profound and unshakeable belief in the abilities of teacher colleagues
a total commitment to developing the emotional quotient of the school
in which they are working.
ASTs will coach partner colleagues helping them to discover their ways to
improve. ASTs will not have all the answers and don’t need to have. They
lead adult professional learning by helping colleagues to find their own
answers and to use their inner resources in new ways. They engage in good
dialogue which explores the challenges being faced. They provide a rigorous
and objective view of what is happening in order to help colleagues see things
differently and they promote growth and capacity in the system by establishing
a joint commitment to take action.
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Contacts
Heather Jones
Senior Adviser Teaching and Learning
heather.jones@hertscc.gov.uk
Julie Garstang
Project Officer – Fieldforce
julie.garstang@hertscc.gov.uk
Liz Shapland
Samantha Burns
County Adviser for English, Drama and County Adviser for Mathematics
Media
samantha.burns@hertscc.gov.uk
liz.shapland@hertscc.gov.uk
Joanna Conn
County Adviser for Science
joanna.conn@hertscc.gov.uk
Jackie Rayment
County Adviser for MFL
jackie.rayment@hertscc.gov.uk
Karen Summer
PSHE Adviser
karen.summers@hertscc.gov.uk
Nic Holmes
PE Adviser
nic.holmes@hertscc.gov.uk
James Dickinson
Head of Hertfordshire Music Service
james.dickinson@hertscc.gov.uk
Publications
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Advanced Skills Teachers Promoting Excellence
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Performance Management and Advanced Skills Teachers
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Building on your strengths: A guide for headteachers and governors
Useful Websites
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www.advancedskillsteachers.com
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www.teachernet.gov.uk/professionaldevelopment/ast
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Standards and School Effectiveness
provides a wide and diverse range of flexible and bespoke school improvement
services to help raise achievement and improve the quality of teaching in schools
and academies.
These include:
■ School improvement advice and consultancy
■ Training and development programmes
■ Hertfordshire School Improvement Partner (HIP) programme
■ Hertfordshire Internet and Connectivity Services (HICS)
■ Schools’ HR
■ Governance
■ School IT Systems Support (SITSS)
■ Financial Services for Schools (FSS)
■ Hertfordshire Music Service
■ Virtual School for Children Looked After
And support for:
■ leadership
■ teaching and learning
■ curriculum
■ assessment
■ BME achievement
■ SEND/able, gifted and talented pupils
■ health and wellbeing
■ ICT
■ early years
■ NQT’s
For further information on how Standards and School Effectiveness can support
your school in raising achievement please call 01438 845111
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Hertfordshire County Council
Children’s Services
Robertson House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, SG1 2FQ