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The General Teaching Council for England (GTC) has appointed Cambridge Education to support the expansion of its Teacher Learning Academy, the first national scheme to support and recognise teachers’ professional learning.
From September 2008 Cambridge Education will manage the day-to-day operations of the Teacher Learning Academy, making it possible for more teachers and schools throughout England to enhance their professional excellence and gain further recognition.
The appointment of Cambridge Education follows a successful pilot of the Teacher Learning Academy and approval from the GTC’s governing Council to expand the Academy to a truly national system, accessible to all teachers registered with the GTC.
As the delivery partner for the Teacher Learning Academy, Cambridge Education will be responsible for the management of teacher enrolments and their presentations to the Academy. With over 20 years’ experience of providing expert education services to organisations around the world, Cambridge Education will also manage the licensing and training of the Academy-approved schools that provide guidance and verification to teachers in their own schools and their local areas.
Cambridge Education will provide training for accredited support partners – higher education institutions and other organisations that have aligned one or more of the four stages of the Teacher Learning Academy with their own training and development programmes.
The GTC will retain responsibility for the overall strategy of the Teacher Learning Academy, quality assurance of the verification and award process, and engagement with national partners.
GTC Chief Executive Keith Bartley said:
‘More than 8000 teachers across England are enhancing their teaching practice through the Teacher Learning Academy. Our partnership with Cambridge Education, an organisation that shares our commitment to supporting the teaching profession, will make it far more widely accessible. Many more teachers will have the opportunity to build their skills and confidence and to gain recognition for their learning and development in the classroom.
‘Our close engagement with Cambridge Education will ensure that the schools and teachers who continue to drive forward the Teacher Learning Academy and derive significant benefits for them and their pupils will be supported by a robust, secure platform.’
Marian Brooks, Executive Director, Cambridge Education said:
‘Cambridge Education is delighted to have been appointed as the retained logistics partner to support the further development and extension of the Teacher Learning Academy. We perceive the Teacher Learning Academy as being of fundamental importance to the standing and progression of the teaching profession, rooted in action research by teachers themselves and fully recognising the worth of rigorous peer assessment. We have no doubt that the Teacher Learning Academy plays a vital part in ensuring that our teachers have access to professional development models. Our company’s core focus is on school transformation and we welcome the opportunity to support the GTC in this vital aspect of their work.’
Ossett School in Wakefield has been involved with the Teacher Learning Academy since 2005. Martin Beedle, assistant head teacher for professional learning and head teacher Martin Shevill reflected on their experience of the Academy:
Martin Beedle, assistant head teacher for professional learning, said:
‘Sixty of us have taken part in the Teacher Learning Academy so far. Teachers from across the school, from newly qualified teachers to our head teacher, have made presentations on a wide variety of subjects including behaviour for learning, special educational needs and leadership development.
‘We like the national recognition that the Academy provides and many teachers have used it to support their career development by linking it to performance management and by using it to provide evidence of their continuing professional development.
‘We are now looking to expand further the benefits we’re gaining through the Teacher Learning Academy by building activities with a group of schools in our area.’
Martin Shevill, head teacher, added:
‘Participating in the Teacher Learning Academy has helped us to increase the opportunities for staff to take part in collaborative learning at Ossett and to take part in projects with other schools, for example looking at pupils’ experiences of transition from primary to secondary.
‘The Academy has been a catalyst for extending and enhancing coaching and mentoring relationships at Ossett. We have also set up focus groups to encourage staff to take on new initiatives through action research, for examples on cross-curricular initiatives.
‘The Teacher Learning Academy has really helped us to develop the idea of the school as a learning organisation for both students and staff and we’re looking forward to extending the opportunities through the Academy still further.’
