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Claim Your College coalition
receives funding to make a College of Teaching a reality
THE Claim Your College campaign has
welcomed the announcement by the Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan
and Schools Minister, David Laws, of "no strings"financial
support following its world class teaching profession consultation to help
accelerate the start up phase of a member driven, independent and entirely
voluntary College of Teaching.
This firm endorsement of the Claim Your College's vision outlined in The
profession's new; College of Teaching; a proposal for start up comes in addition
to generous philanthropic funding and support from:- The Mercers' Charitable
Foundation, awarded recently.
The College of Teaching will be an independent, chartered membership
organisation, governed by a board elected from the membership and founded by a
group of teachers and supporters. Its purpose is to champion the status of
teachers by sharing knowledge and supporting professional development to help
learners succeed.
The Claim Your College campaign welcomes the statement by the Secretary of State
and the Minister that the funding will not compromise the independence of the
College of Teaching and will be issued on a 'fire and forget'
basis that will keep it free from government influence.
The Claim Your College campaign has always been clear that "no strings" funding was an absolute requirement of receiving government support. Whilst the
details of the final funding package need to be worked through, the coalition is
pleased that this commitment is echoed clearly by the government.
The funding will allow Founding Trustees to develop the structures to enable
teachers to invest in the growth of the new voluntary organisation through
membership. The announcement is the latest step in a process that began in 2012
when a number of congruent initiatives attracted the support of a wide range of
education stakeholders and cross party political support.
The Claim Your College coalition was initiated last year by the existing College
of Teachers, The Prince's Teaching Institute, the Teacher Development Trust and
the SSAT in collaboration with practising teachers and school leaders.
The profession's new College of Teaching proposal submitted by the coalition
presents a framework; based on years of consultation and engagement; for
Founding Trustees to consider and consult upon. The profession's hands are not
tied by this proposal and as a membership organisation the College of Teaching
will ultimately be funded by its members.
Gareth Alcott, Assistant Head Teacher at Kings Alfred's Academy in Oxfordshire
and a Claim your College supporter, says:- "This announcement marks a
major milestone. The Claim Your College coalition is deeply encouraged by the
government's evident commitment to an independent professional body, led by
teachers. The creation of a College of Teaching is a unique opportunity for
teachers to help create a vision for the profession and demonstrate that
professional autonomy is justified and long overdue. If teachers want to finally
rid themselves of the policy shackles that have for too long bound our
profession's development, it is crucial that we take control of the destiny of
the College of Teaching so we can reclaim our professionalism. This is our
chance; we must take it!"
Angela McFarlane, Chief Executive of the College of Teachers, says:- "We
have a once in a lifetime opportunity to shape the profession from within to
establish a clear vision that will help attract, develop and retain skilled
teachers. We welcome the government's support for our work and we have always
been clear that we could only accept a no strings grant. While we need to work
through the detail, we are very encouraged by this announcement. The great work
that exists in the profession and teachers' dedication deserves to be recognised
and championed through a College of Teaching. We are now one step closer to
making this vision a reality. Ultimately it will be for the membership to decide
what the College of Teaching will do for them but the potential is vast."
Chris Pope, Co-Director of The Prince's Teaching Institute, says:- "The
backing and support that the College of Teaching Blueprint received last year
and the strength of the Claim Your College campaign have been motivated by a
deep sense of moral and intellectual purpose amongst the teaching community. I
am thrilled at today's news, having been involved in driving the idea of a
College of Teaching since 2012. The College that we are working towards, with
widespread membership, has the power to change the educational orthodoxy to one
in which standards are determined by teachers."
David Weston, Chief Executive of the Teacher Development Trust, says:- "We
are at a crucial moment in the history of the teaching profession and today's
announcement supports us in taking forward a College of Teaching that is
designed, driven and run by teachers. This no-strings funding and positive
engagement from government will help us get the wheels of this important project
turning as we appoint a board representative of the best teachers to found it
and set its direction. We are also hugely grateful for the on going support from
The Mercers' Company. We will continue to fiercely guard the independence of the
future College and we must now work collaboratively to ensure relevant, high
status and true professional progress for teachers."
Sue Williamson, Chief Executive of SSAT, says:- "This's announcement
brings us a step closer to a College of Teaching that teachers rightly deserve.
Across our schools we see thousands of great teachers who are committed both to
their students and, importantly, to investing in their own professional
learning. The new College of Teaching will recognise and extend this - bringing
a professional balance of positive challenge with collegiate support. It is an
exciting time for the teaching profession."
The Claim Your College coalition consists of a wide range of organisations and
individuals from across the education sector including subject associations,
schools, practising teachers, school improvement and leadership organisations
and third sector organisations, supported by unions.
Teachers and the organisations that support them can contribute to the
development and consultation around the College of Teaching via events, social
media and the Claim your College
website.
The College of Teaching is not yet open for
membership, but those interested can sign up to support by visiting:-
ClaimYourCollege.Org/Cot-Supporters-From2Feb
or by following:- @CollOfTeaching #CollegeOfTeaching #ClaimYourCollege. To
pledge your support to the coalition, or to find out more information, visit:-
ClaimYourCollege.Org. |
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Edge Hill University has
announced a renewed and expanded partnership with Liverpool Sound City 2015
THE University has been named as the
Industry Connection Partner for the 2015 Festival and Conference, building on
the success of an existing 2 year partnership. This increased involvement will
see Edge Hill become the official sponsor of the industry marketplace at the
Conference, as well as hosting a showcase of acts from its own record label, The
Label Recordings, which has recently launched the careers of up and coming bands
Hooton Tennis Club, The Little Secrets and SeaWitches.
Award winning student dance company EdgeFWD will premiere a new dance piece on
the festival site, and 60 students will be taking part in real life work based
activities at the Festival and Conference.
Rebecca Ayres, COO, Sound City said:- "Over the last 2 years of working
together, Edge Hill students have twice won the prestigious UK Student
Innovation Awards, hosted a brilliant event with 'The Label' showcase; where
Liverpool artists Hooton Tennis Club were signed to Heavenly Recordings as a
result; and have seen students gaining valuable work placements and commissions
with companies including ITV. We are delighted to be working with Edge Hill in
what will be the biggest year yet for Sound City to create more opportunities
for their students to gain fantastic skills and experiences and for the
University to be recognised internationally as our Industry Connection Partner."
Roy Bayfield, Director of Corporate Communications at Edge Hill University
said:- "As University of the Year we are celebrating and exploring our
deep connections with the sectors where our students forge their careers.
Working with Sound City offers all sorts of exciting links for our students who
will have opportunities to volunteer, perform and organise an event as part of
the festival, and participate in an international conference."
Sound City is adding to an unparalleled line up of inspirational music figures
for this year's conference with a key theme of The Unsung Hero. Keynote speakers
include experimental rock pioneer Wayne Coyne and Orange Juice legend and hugely
accomplished solo artist Edwyn Collins. As well as performing at the festival
this year The Vaccines' Justin Young and Freddie Cowan will also appear In
Conversation at this year's conference.
Alongside the conference, Sound City has announced an incredible line up of live
acts for the festival, including:- The Vaccines, The Flaming Lips, Belle and
Sebastian, Roni Size Reprazent, The Thurston Moore Band, Gaz Coombes, The Cribs,
Peace and Swans.
60 new specialist primary
school PE teachers to boot School Sports
AN extra 60 new specialist primary
school PE teachers will be trained up in the North West; after an international
rugby star and a Great Britain Water Polo player were among the 1st wave of
recruits.
Hannah Rudman, 24, who has competed around the world in water polo championships
and John Gillam, a former Ireland international rugby league player, have
already got jobs in the classroom under the Government scheme.
40 of the next wave of recruits will be trained by the Ashton On Mersey Teaching
School Alliance with a further 15 at Liverpool John Moores University. 4 will
complete the programme at Holy Rosary Primary School, in Sefton.
Across England, 220 primary PE specialists
have been recruited in 2 years; and Children and Families Minister Edward
Timpson has announced a near doubling of the programme.
Nationally, 200 new specialist primary PE teachers will be recruited under the
scheme in 2015 to 2016.
Minister for Children and Families Edward
Timpson said:- "We've already recruited more than 200 specialist primary
PE teachers to bespoke training courses; but we want to go much further.
Specialist PE teachers are vital to help really embed a sporting culture in
schools; and get all children into healthy habits. Our £450million PE and Sport
Premium has enabled headteachers to deliver more and better quality sport. Now
we want to ensure more schools across the country can benefit from top class
games teachers."
The trainees will be the third wave of teachers recruited under the programme
launched after the Olympics to improve primary school sport.
The latest course for 199 new recruits will be delivered by 11 providers; up
from 3 a year ago.
Water polo star Hannah Rudman was 1 of the 1st recruits on the scheme.
The Year 5 teacher at Victoria Park Junior School, in Stretford, Greater
Manchester, competed for Britain in Hungary, Portugal, Canada and Italy. She
said:- "The specialist PE teacher training course appealed to me because
of its PE focus and its practical approach to learning and development.
The course was intense in the way it was jam packed with school placements,
training days, university lectures and assignments. I did this course after
getting involved with swim teaching and coaching young people gymnastics."
John Gillam, a former Oldham Roughyeds and Ireland rugby league player, now
teaches Year 5 at Moorlands School in Trafford, Greater Manchester, after
signing up for the scheme. He said:- "I was excited to be a part of
the new concept of becoming a PE specialist primary school teacher. Ashton on
Mersey gave a life changing experience, which included giving me vast amounts of
knowledge, confidence and the ability to become a highly skilled specialist when
entering my teaching career."
Trainees spend ½
their time studying PE and Sport; although they are not restricted to only
teaching PE. They also undergo training in the core subjects; English, maths and
science. They will be trained to support their colleagues to develop their
skills and improve quality of PE. On top of this, the government is investing
£450million in primary school PE over 3 years; and research has shown this has
led to children doing more and better sport. A typical primary school with 250
pupils is receiving around £9,000 per year of ring fenced funding over 3 years
to spend on improving sport..
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