Newsletter
Issue 2 Summer 2015
We are delighted to welcome you to the second edition of the Beacon Teaching Alliance newsletter of
Summer Term 2015. We hope to keep you updated on all Beacon Teaching School activities and share
with you our plans for the next academic year. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all
partnership schools for their support since our launch in September 2014. Your support is greatly
appreciated and benefits staff and students in all our schools. We look forward to continuing to work with
you in 2015-16.
Continuing Professional and Development and Leadership Training Update
We deliver a range of school-based CPD opportunities in response to the needs of the Alliance. There
have been opportunities for staff development at all levels. Key areas of training include developing
leadership potential, sharing good practice events and bespoke training.
Examples of some of our activities include:
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“An excellent course, really
helpful, lots of practical advice
Aspiring Middle Leaders Programmes
and tips.”
French Language Upskilling
National Professional Qualification for Middle Leaders
‘Dealing with Difficult People’ workshop
‘Twitter Twilight’ focusing on the use of social media websites and Google apps in the classroom
‘Talking Voices’ vocal training
‘Innovate My School’ speed dating event for School Leaders
We facilitate a number of Curriculum Support Groups in History, Geography, MFL and Design and
Technology. We have been delighted with the feedback and evaluations from colleagues, who find the
experience of sharing good practice extremely positive and a valuable use of their time. We are adding
English, Maths and Science groups to our programme this term.
Leadership development courses are ongoing. Beacon Teaching School works alongside a number of
other providers including L4NE, Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and Carmel Teaching Alliance, to offer
middle and senior leadership training. Recruitment for National Professional Qualification for Senior
Leaders has begun with a cohort commencing in September 2015 in conjunction with St Bede’s Teaching
School in Lanchester and L4NE. Please see the Beacon website for further information or contact
Marie.lanaghan@st-anthonys-academy.com for all information regarding upcoming CPD/Leadership
activities.
“A great time to get
together with other
teachers and share
ideas and resources”
Initial Teacher Training
Beacon Teaching School Alliance works in partnership with Carmel Teaching School Alliance to offer a
number of School Direct places for initial teacher training. In 2014-15 we have trained five students in
Design and Technology, RE, English, History, and Music. Three students completed their second
placement with us in MFL, Music and History. All trainees were graded as outstanding in their final
assessment. We also offer work experience and a series of open days to individuals who are considering
teaching as a career. These events offer the chance to observe some teaching and include discussions
around the various routes into teaching, including PGCE and School Direct. Six School Direct trainees will
be joining us in September 2015.
We also welcomed a total of 17 students from the Universities of Durham and Sunderland PGCE courses
for both the preliminary and main practices in a wide range of subjects. All are expected to be graded at
least good, with many expected to be outstanding by the end of the course. An OFSTED inspector for the
Sunderland PGCE course visited St. Anthony’s in May. He observed lessons and met with the trainees and
subject mentors. He was very positive about the experience that trainees received at our Academy, stating
that their needs were met very well and he agreed with all of our judgements.
A School Direct school based training programme was delivered for the first time this year by St. Anthony’s
staff. Training sessions ran every Thursday over 20 weeks, covering themes such as active teaching and
learning strategies; behaviour management; safeguarding, SEND etc. The training team includes members
of the Senior Leadership team, Specialist Leaders of Education, the Teaching School team, the SEN Coordinator etc. School Direct trainees from other schools have attended some training sessions e.g. from
Framwellgate School Durham, St. John’s School in Bishop Auckland and English Martyrs School in
Hartlepool . The training sessions have been very successful and consistently graded as outstanding in
trainee evaluations.
For more information on teacher training programmes please
see the Beacon website or contact
sam.ward@st-anthonys-academy.com
Research and Development
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An important aspect of the work of the Teaching School this year has been to undertake research
and development as part of our vision to transform teaching into a research based profession. Dr
Gillian Emery has led staff across the Alliance in Practitioner Enquiry, looking at the ‘what, why and
how’ in everything we do in the classroom, ensuring practice is rooted in evidence. We have
established a Masters Programme in Teaching and Learning in conjunction with Sunderland
University, delivered an Action Research programme with Catholic Partnership schools and have
undertaken in-house work with Kepier School and Harton Technology College to lead practitioner
enquiry training sessions. We have also worked with a number of schools on externally funded
research projects:
Evidence Based Teaching (in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University). This is a
two year project focusing on ‘Lesson Study’. The project involves working with Carmel College and
St Bede’s Catholic School and Sixth Form.
Research Rich Schools, a project involving collaboration with 14 other Teaching Schools. This
has led to the development of a website that provides resources and case studies to support the
development of R&D in other Teaching Schools.
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Closing the Gap: Test and Learn 11 schools recruited and key staff in each school have received
training in one of the interventions being trialled (Growth Mindsets, RTI-Literacy, Numicon, or 1st
Class for Number). Evaluation is ongoing but early feedback is very promising.
We look forward to working with other schools in the coming academic year on R & D across the
region, for further information please see the Beacon website or contact Gillian.emery@st-anthonysacademy.com
Specialist Leaders of Education and School to School Support
We have a strong team of 13 Senior and Middle leaders who can offer support across the region in
a whole range of specialisms:
Member of Staff
Specialism(s)
Mrs Monica Shepherd (Head Teacher)
National Leader of Education
Mrs Ruth Abbs
Behaviour and discipline, Attendance
Mrs Julia Adamson
English, Closing the gap, Assessment,
Leadership of curriculum
Mrs Amy Roddam
Physical Education
Miss Kate Brown
Design and Technology, ITT
Mrs Frances Collins
Behaviour and discipline, Attendance, MFL
Mrs Elena Diaz-Frances (St. Aidan’s)
MFL
Mrs Laura Dudley
Music
Dr Gillian Emery
Science
Mr Steve Jordan
Design and Technology, Assessment, ITT
Mrs Sarah Marshall
MFL, Behaviour and discipline, ITT
Mrs Sam Ward
MFL, ITT
Miss Jude Wallis
History
All of our SLEs have an extremely successful track record of working effectively within their departments in
school, have outstanding subject knowledge within their specialism, and are committed to innovation in
their working practices. They could be deployed to coach other leaders, for example they may observe
lessons, complete data analysis, identify priorities, jointly create action plans etc. We are hoping to recruit
SLEs in Maths, Science and Geography within and beyond our Alliance. For more information on schoolto-school support or if you wish to know more about becoming an SLE please contact kate.brown@stanthonys-academy.com
Contact details:
Beacon Teaching Alliance
Thornhill Terrace
Sunderland
SR2 7JN
Telephone: 0191 5537700
e-mail: enquiries@beaconta.com
KEY PERSONNEL
Mrs Monica Shepherd
Director of Teaching School
Mrs Maria Burns
Deputy Head
Mr Michael McDonagh
Deputy Head
Mr Michael Flores
Consultant
Mrs Marie Lanaghan
Assistant Head Teacher – Partnership and CPD
Mrs Samantha Ward
Teacher Training
Ms Judith Wallis
Teaching and Learning Co-ordinator
Dr Gillian Emery
Research and Development Co-ordinator
Ms Kate Brown
School to School support Co-ordinator and SLE Recruitment Co-ordinator
Mrs Julia Adamson
Marketing Co-ordinator
Mrs Joan Donaldson
Administrator