As the second half of the winter term gets into swing, there have been some important developments in our various strategies, some of which will be outlined in more detail by other colleagues in this edition of Foundation News.
Our strategic partnership with the new Birmingham Teaching School Hub (TSH) co-ordinated by the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership is proving very positive. In addition to the more than twenty colleagues from across the Foundation who will be undertaking the new National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) through the Hub starting in November, a large number of the courses will be facilitated by us too, with 30% of the facilitators (or Visiting Fellows as they are known) coming from the Foundation. Many thanks are due to Amy Whittall, Jane Glendenning and Tracey Goodyear, all from King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls, and Chris Conway from King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School, who are joining me in delivering these courses.
As COP26 begins in Glasgow, we are very pleased to be committing to auditing and planning to reduce our energy consumption across the Foundation, along with undertaking a range of other sustainability-related activities, as our Director of Finance and Operations, Tom Rowland, points out elsewhere in this issue. With so many students, colleagues and families within the Foundation, our individual actions can really make a difference.
A significant development taking place for us is the departure of Louise Leigh as Director of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) for the King Edward’s Consortium (KEC).
Louise has led our ITT provision with great skill and expertise. We are delighted that Annie Gouldsworthy, currently Assistant Headteacher at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, has been appointed to take on the baton from Louise. Annie has been involved as co-chair of the student Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee this term and is sure to make a great impact in her new role come January. If you have any contacts interested in training as a teacher, then please guide them to the KEC website.
Finally, a number of colleagues from the Foundation Office have been joining me in weekly mentoring sessions with Year 11 students at King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy. It is proving to be a very rewarding part of the week in supporting the students with a range of matters and we look forward to continuing it this half term. If any colleagues or governors would like to support this important initiative, please do get in touch with me at [email protected].
