Manage your account

To join the networks you need an account. To create a profile select "set up a web profile" from the login page. Click the link below.

Introducing the GTC Networks.

Good teaching needs good networks and good networks need good teachers.

The GTC Networks provide support by linking teachers nationally and putting them in touch with the latest research and evidence. They let teachers have a voice at national debates on changes to education.

It’s not what you say – it’s the way that you say it!

What we can learn from supporting the professional development of teaching assistants?

With the workload reforms, PPA (planning, preparation and assessment) and remodelling, the roles of teaching assistants (TAs) are changing significantly.

But who is supporting and co-ordinating their professional development in these enhanced roles? If this is now falling to you, as the CPD co-ordinator, then you may be interested to learn more about the experience of The Bawburgh School.

Headteacher, Cindy Baldwin writes:

We are a training school for initial teacher training and we support TAs in the Eastern Region.

The audit

Every teaching assistant undertook an online audit of their skills and roles. They were asked to indicate:

in green – if they are doing a particular task now
in orange – if they could do the task if asked, or
in red – if they could not do the task.

The findings

I could then see at a glance how TAs, as a group, were being deployed.
I noted an all red line indicating that no TA could order stock – but that was not a problem.
The red line for ‘helping to develop a child’s individual ICT skills’ – now that was worrying!

Teachers were also worried when they looked at their individual TAs results and TAs were horrified!

During the appraisal process, it soon became clear that TAs had not understood the audit questions.

After further investigation, we realised that ‘pre/post-lesson briefings’ and other professional conversations were not mutually understood – although, at the time, both parties had thought that they were.

The outcomes

Time was given for teachers and their TAs to plan together so that the messages are clearly understood.
The school began to see teaching assistants as specialists with their own set of skills and professional standards.
Teachers and their TAs were encouraged to train and learn together.

And now…

Our TAs, as well as our teachers, have PPA time.
We use everyone’s expertise to provide the best education for our children.
We operate on the principle of ‘the best person for the job’ with regard to CPD.
We are just one TEAM! (Together, Effort Achieves More).

To contact The Bawburgh School email: connect@gtce.org.uk
(Please use the subject line: The Bawburgh School enquiry)


About the GTC
Registration
Standards and regulation
	GTC Networks


Teacher Learning Academy
Continuing professional development
Policy
Research
Parents
Events
News and features
GTC Publications
Teaching: the GTC magazine
Video section
Useful websites