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Website: www.durhamteachingschools.org.uk
Email: information@durhamteachingschools.org.uk
Welcome to the Durham Teaching School Alliance
Issue 11 November 2015
Values and Mission:
The Durham Teaching Schools Alliance aims to inspire learning for all through: support and
collaboration, reflection and enquiry, sharing and dissemination, access to expertise and nurturing
talent. Together we can shape the future of learning in Durham by: improving teaching, developing
leaders, raising achievement and promoting positive attitudes to learning.
The Durham Teaching School Alliance is a Cohort 3 teaching school alliance.
Alliance Schools: The following schools have signed a Memorandum of Understanding underlining
their commitment to the teaching school alliance and partnership working.
Aclet Close Nursery School, Bowburn Infant and Nursery School, Crook Nursery School, Tudhoe Moor
Nursery School, Lumley Infant and Nursery School, Cockton Hill Junior School, Esh Winning Primary
School, West Cornforth Primary School, North Park Primary School, Timothy Hackworth Primary
School, Chilton Primary School, Ludworth Primary School, Peases West Primary School, Langley Moor
Primary School, St Michael’s CE Primary School, Burnopfield Primary School, St Helens Primary
School, St Mary’s RC Primary School, Evergreen Primary School, Vane Road Primary School, Deaf Hill
Primary School, Shotley Bridge Infant School, Cockton Hill Infant School, Staindrop CE Primary School,
Escomb Primary School, Woodhouse Community Primary School, Fishburn Primary School, Langley
Park Primary School, Consett Infant School, Etherley Lane Primary School, Moorside Primary School,
Blessed John Duckett RC Primary School, Horndale Infant and Nursery School, Sugar Hill Primary
School, Oakley Cross Primary School and Nursery Unit, St Anne’s CE Primary School, Kirk Merrington
Primary School, Durham Gilesgate Primary School, Easington Colliery Primary School, Wheatley Hill
Primary School, St Mary’s RC Primary (South Moor), Gainford CE Primary School, Lumley Junior
School, Catchgate Primary School, Ingleton CE Primary School, Copeland Road Primary School.
King James 1 Academy, Wolsingham School, The Oaks Secondary School, Seaham School of
Technology, St John’s School and Sixth Form College and Greenfield Community College (52)
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Any school can be part of the Durham Teaching School Alliance and all are welcome. All schools have
something to offer and there are significant benefits to being part of the Durham Teaching School
Alliance. To find out more about joining the alliance please contact Joe Sonnenfeld.
What does the Durham Teaching School Alliance offer?
1. School to School Support
2. Opportunities for CPD
3. Succession Planning
4. Research and Development
5. Initial Teacher Training
6. Access to Specialist Leaders in Education, SLEs, and National Leaders in Education, NLEs.
System Leaders- National Leaders of Education (NLEs), National Leaders of Governance (NLGs),
Local Leaders of Education (LLEs), Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs)
Name/Designation
NLEs
Mrs L. George
Mrs L. Patterson
Mrs F. Gowland
Mrs A. Lupton
NLG
Mr J. Buckham
LLEs
Mr D. Brown
Mrs J. Sarsfield
Mrs S. Taylor
Mr S. Whelerton
Mr D. Eason
SLEs
Mrs K. Bushby
Miss A. Grayson
Mrs E. Sturrock
Mrs T. Kidd
Mr P. Atherton
Mrs L.Cooper
Miss R.Stanhope
Mrs K.Costello
Mrs K.A.Lee
Mrs J. Crosby
Mrs C. Speight
Mrs J. Madgwick
Mrs K. Lee
Mrs R. Newbold
Mr P. Robertson
School
Prince Bishops Community Primary School
Etherley Lane Nursery School
Our Lady and St Thomas RC Primary School
Crook Primary School
Prince Bishops Primary School
Ramshaw Primary & St Chads RC Primary
West Cornforth Primary School
Burnopfield Primary School
Staindrop CE Primary School
Fishburn Primary School
Crook Primary School, Curriculum/English
Chilton Primary School, Curriculum
Ramshaw Primary School, English
St Andrew’s Primary School, Maths
Deaf Hill Primary School, Maths
Sunnybrow Primary School, Maths
Burnside Primary School, Attendance
Vane Road Primary School, ICT
Prince Bishops Primary School, ITT
Ludworth Primary School, EYFS
Langley Park Primary School, EYFS
Etherley Lane Nursery School, EYFS
Hartside Primary School, SBM
Glendene Arts Academy, Behaviour
St John’s School & 6th Form, MFL
To find out more about system leaders and how they can help your school contact Joe Sonnenfeld
The Durham Teaching School Alliance is delighted to announce that Mr Joe Buckham, Chair of
Governors at Prince Bishops Primary School, has been designated a National Leader of Governance.
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National Leaders of Governance (NLGs) are highly effective chairs of school/academy governing
bodies who are selected, trained and designated by the National College for Teaching and Leadership
to provide support to chairs of governors in other schools. There are twenty one NLGs designated in
the North East of England. Having an NLG deployed to your governing body is usually free of charge,
and NLGs can provide support in a number of different ways: supporting the chair to focus more
closely on raising standards and leading improvement, helping the chair to understand and interpret
strategic school/academy data, coaching a chair in developing solutions to identified problems or in
providing more effective challenge to senior leaders or helping the chair build his/her relationship
with the headteacher/principal. To find out more about NLGs go to www.nlgnortheast.co.uk
The Durham Teaching School Alliance has a directory of Lead Teachers
Lead Teachers are teachers whose practice is judged outstanding by their Headteacher and EDP. If
you have a member of staff whose practice is consistently good or outstanding we want to hear from
you. Simply download the application form from the website complete it and send it to me. I will
request a reference from school and your EDP. Names will be added to the data base which can be
accessed by all schools. Teachers from across the County will then be able to visit your school,
subject to capacity, to observe excellent practice. If you currently have a Lead Teacher on the data
base who is changing or has changed year groups or left your school please let me know so that I can
keep the data base up to date. The Lead Teacher role does not involve any outreach work.
Please browse the Lead Teacher Directory on the teaching school website.
The Durham Teaching School Alliance is looking for Lead Practitioners
Do you have support staff in your school whose practice is exceptional or innovative?
We are looking for: School Business Managers, TAs, HLTAs, Learning Mentors, Attendance Officers,
PSAs, Midday Supervisors, Caretakers…….. who are willing to share their practice with colleagues
from other schools. Please encourage them to apply to be a Lead Practitioner. The application
process is very simple. Application forms can be downloaded from the website.
Once completed you must endorse the application by providing a short reference and then return
the form to me. Lead Practitioners are not expected to engage in any outreach work.
Please browse the Lead Practitioner Directory on the teaching school website.
International School Award
Congratulations to Bowes Hutchinson’s Primary School for being awarded the British Council’s
prestigious international School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the
classroom. The International School Award is a badge of honour for schools that do outstanding work
in international education, such as through links with partner schools overseas. Fostering an
international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of the British Council’s work with schools, so
that young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need to live and work as global
citizens. Bowes’ international work includes projects, visits and cross curricular work with a school in
Sri Lanka, teachers in Chile and global learning embedded across the school curriculum. If you want
to find more about this award and how your school can get involved contact Mrs C. Matthewman,
Headteacher, of Bowes Hutchinson’s Primary School 01833 628291
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Invitation to a Demonstration of Yoga for Children
Beth invites you to attend a demonstration of Yoga for Children at Prince Bishops Primary School on
Monday 7th December. Beth will be teaching EYFS/KS1 from 9 a.m until 10 a.m and KS2 from 10 a.m
until 11a.m. If you would like to watch one/or both of these session please contact me to reserve a
place. (this is free of charge- I simply need to know numbers for seating)
Are you looking for ways to develop pupil resilience, patience and self- belief, have you considered
yoga? Contact Beth Hayward- yoga Instructor and find how yoga can bridge the gap between pupil
wellbeing and attainment. Beth taught at Prince Bishops Primary School until July 2015 before
embarking on this new and exciting venture.
Yoga Children North East www.yogachildrennortheast.com info@yogachildrennortheast.com
tel: 07916107510
Initial Teacher Training 2016-17
The Durham Teaching School Alliance offers two School Direct Initial Teacher Training courses.
1. A general Primary Post Graduate Certificate in Education validated by the University of
Northumbria. On completion of this one year full time course trainees will be awarded Qualified
Teacher Status with 60 Master Level credits. Applications for this programme are made using the
UCAS website. Apply 1 opened on 27th October.
2. A Post Graduate Certificate in Education with Early Years Teacher Status. This is for graduates who
want to specialize in child development and the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum 0-5 years.
On completion of this course trainees will be awarded Early Years Teacher Status.
To find out more about both of these courses please look on the teaching school website and/or
contact me.
Continuing Professional Development Diary Dates
To check availability of these courses please contact me by phone or email
Course
Date
Audience
Pupil progress and Feedback
Tuesday 10th November
primary school teaching assistants
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SEN Intervention and behaviour
Wednesday 9 December
primary school teaching assistants
Meeting the end of year
Tuesday 1st December
Primary School teachers
expectations
*RWI Fresh Start
7-8th December
Teachers, teaching assistants
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Too Young Two be in School
Friday 15 January 2016
Early Years Practitioners
An Introduction to Letters and
Tuesday 2nd February
NQTs, TAs, Literacy subject leaders
Sounds
How to get rid of the fear factor of Friday 4th March
Teachers and teaching assistants
using Spanish
*Read, Write, Inc-Fresh Start Training 7-8th December
This training is for Key Stage 2 teachers and teaching assistants and teachers in secondary and special
schools. This course is designed to support pupils aged 9+ who are working below age related
expectations in reading and writing. The deadline for expressions of interest for this course is
Thursday 5th November.
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Mindful Leadership- Wednesday 20th January 2016
I have been working closely, for some time, with Zara Cordella who has been practising and
developing mindfulness therapy for over 20 years. We have put together a training package for
Headteachers/senior leaders called Mindful Leadership. The day is designed around helping senior
leaders to explore their values, beliefs and intentions and understand their own strengths and
weakness and the implications for the school and workforce. We will explore the difference between
fear, anxiety, stress and depression and learn how to be happier, healthier and more mindful. This
course is designed to improve self- awareness and school effectiveness. Please note this course does
not involve meditations, mantras or breathing exercises…
Conference for Deputy Headteachers and Senior Leaders- Thursday 19th May 2016
Following on from the success of the Deputy Headteacher’s Conference in June we are planning
another conference for senior leaders to take place in May 2016. Please put Thursday 19th May in
your diary. Next years conference will be held at Headlam Hall. The Key Note speaker will be John
Carey. John has been practicing Neuro Linguistic Programming, (NLP) and hypnotherapy, for many
years. John will help delegates to understand the power of words and beliefs and how to deal with
the challenges and pressures of leadership.
Professional Development Days
The Durham Teaching School Alliance can design and deliver a bespoke training day for your school.
Do you want teachers and teaching assistants at your school to receive a different input during a
training day? The Durham Teaching School Alliance can help to provide training for staff which
focuses on good value and quality. If you have a particular need in mind please contact me to discuss
how we can help.
The Key
You may be aware, as a Durham school, you are able to benefit from a 20% discount on membership
of The Key for School Leaders through their partnership with Durham County Council. Over 140
Durham schools already use The Key for School Leaders to save time, solve problems and increase
efficiency. In September The Key for School Leaders had a record month for schools using the service.
The most popular articles read were:
 School leaders’ year planner
 QuickRead: Ofsted inspection from September 2015
 Changes in education in 2015/16
 Interactive online calendar for school leaders
 Removal of National Curriculum levels: frequently asked questions
To join The Key for School Leaders, or to renew your membership, and benefit from the reduced
membership fee, please email Debbie Hillam on debbie.hillam@durham.gov.uk
Charges for CPD
The Durham Teaching School Alliance will always endeavour to keep its charges for CPD as low as
possible. Whenever we can we will pass on savings to you and keep you informed of funded places/
opportunities.
Charges for CPD will now be made directly to your school budget, (except for Academies),
following training events. You will not be sent an invoice unless you request one.
Cancellation Fees:
If a member of your staff cannot attend a training event no charge will be made to your school
providing you give me a minimum of 5 days notice. You will incur a cancellation fee (50% of the cost
of the course) if you withdraw from a course giving less than 5 days notice.
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Your school will be charged the full cost for non- attendance without prior warning, unless there
are mitigating circumstances.
Confirmation of CPD:
All bookings for training are made by email. Confirmation of places on training events are sent to all
schools within 24 hours of a booking. The confirmation is sent to the person making the booking or
to the email address given by the school. A reminder is sent to all schools a week to ten days before
the training event. Please make sure that delegates booked on courses from your schools receive
the necessary information.
FAQs:
How many teaching school alliances are there in the Northern Region?
 There are now 40 teaching school alliances in the Northern Region (soon to be 600 nationally)
How many teaching school alliances are there in County Durham?
 There are now 5 teaching school alliances operating in County Durham
Can I be part of more than one alliance?
 Yes you can
Is the Memorandum of Understanding a contract or binding?
The MoU is an agreement NOT a contract and is not binding. It contains a short mission statement;
explains the management structure and governance of the group and asks alliance schools to work
collaboratively and inclusively.
What are the benefits to my school of joining the alliance?
 You become part of a family of schools committed to collaborative endeavour.
 You can engage in an increasing range of opportunities for CPD
 Your staff can gain professional qualifications/accreditation inc: NPQML, NPQSL, HLTA status,
MA…etc.
 The alliance can design and deliver bespoke CPD for your school.
 The alliance can provide or broker bespoke support for your school.
 Your staff can become involved in the work of the alliance e.g as an SLE, School based Mentor,
Lead Teacher, Lead Practitioner...etc
 Your school can become involved in the work of the alliance e.g as a placement school for ITT.
 Your school could be involved in a Research and Development project.
How can I find out more about the Durham Teaching School Alliance?
 Look on the website: www.durhamteachingschools.org.uk
 Contact Joe Sonnenfeld j.sonnenfeld200@durhamlearning.net tel 01388 451278
Best wishes Joe Sonnenfeld