I am delighted to be working at the Foundation Office this academic year as Interim Director for Educational Development. Our students learn in schools which are part of a unique Foundation serving all parts of Birmingham and our mission is to make Birmingham the best place in the UK to be educated. Our schools deliver this through inclusive, accessible and challenging curricula which celebrate the distinctiveness of our schools and communities. To achieve this mission, we want to work with all our schools and all our colleagues to impact on all of our students.
In collaboration with teaching and learning leads in our schools, we have written a set of core principles around curriculum, teaching and learning. We will then be exploring common principles around student behaviour and supporting disadvantaged students. The aim of these documents is to have common, agreed principles upon which schools and individual teachers can support students in ways that is appropriate and relevant within their distinctive communities.
In addition, we are pleased to announce three new opportunities within the Foundation this year to support educational development and school improvement. I wanted to share some information and timeframes around these opportunities, along with the ways that you can get involved.
- Subject Network Leads
We will be establishing formal Foundation networks in Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, PSHCE and Economics. There will be an opportunity for a middle leader from one of our schools to lead each subject network, meeting half termly with colleagues and developing action plans to address strategic development priorities in each of the subjects. The application process will open early October for the roles to begin in November and run for the remainder of this academic year, in the first instance. These roles would suit current middle leaders or experienced classroom practitioners. - Foundation Leaders in Education (FLEs)
We are also seeking to appoint outstanding specialist leaders in Safeguarding, SEND provision, PSHE/RSE, MFL and Challenge for More Able. These roles are designed to offer specialist coaching, support, review and development in an area of need identified by a school. These roles will run for the duration of the academic year and could involve work with any of the schools in the Foundation. In addition, we are also seeking to appoint FLEs in Science, RE, DT, Food and Music to work specifically with Balaam Wood Academy. The application process will open early October and would suit experienced middle or senior leaders within school. - National Professional Qualifications
Finally, we are partnering with the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership to provide centrally funded access to three of the new NPQs through Ambition Institute. Expressions of interest will soon open for the National Professional Qualification in Leading Teaching (NPQLT) and Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC) along with opportunities to complete the National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership (NPQSL). All courses will be fully funded by the Foundation and will be offered alongside additional training and coaching by the Foundation to support and enhance the learning in the NPQs.
Next Steps:
Check your emails/shared notice board for further information and timescales which will be shared across the Foundation shortly.
Discuss your application with your Headteacher and professional development lead in school.
Any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me directly via email: [email protected]
