1.00pm          A1. Raising Challenge in the Classroom             Led by Sharon McCammon and Dave Beddow

Both Dave and Sharon are ASTs for teaching and learning in a Derbyshire comprehensive school – Swanwick Hall School. Between them they have tried out the strategies with a wide range of students in terms of age and abilities, and worked with schools from Merthyr Tydfil to Hong Kong!

During the workshop we will explore practical strategies to raise the level of challenge in our classrooms with ideas that are useful at KS2, 3, 4, 5. We will have time to try them out and discuss their effectiveness.

1.00pm          A2. Coaching your Way out of Trouble!                Led by Stephanie Hughes

Stephanie is an AST for Drama in Nottinghamshire, and a teacher at The Kimberley School.

This workshop will take you through how 3 disparate (and eventually desperate) ASTs coached their school out of Notice to Improve to a school on its way to Outstanding. We will look at how ASTs can change the culture of teaching and learning in just two terms and survive! This workshop is relevant to all key stages and focuses on the AST as an instrument for change in schools.

1.00pm          A3. Video Learning Across the Curriculum                Led by Ashley Jones

This workshop will explore the uses of video technology across the curriculum from it‘s obvious uses in PE , Dance and Drama to more elaborate ones in Modern Languages, Science, History and Geography.

The  delegate will get to see and experience the lastest video technology and how it is being applied across the curriculum.

1.00pm          A4. Thinking Tools to Engage and Challenge              Led by John Turner

John Turner has been an Assistant Headteacher in a large secondary school and is now an educational consultant working with Alistair Smith’s, Alite Company and a number of Local Authorities. He spent a year recently in Australia looking at Thinking Skills and Learning to Learn.

Delegates will be introduced to and use a range of great thinking tools that can be used immediately to improve learning in the classroom. These tools are part of Derby City’s newly developed Thinking Skills Toolkit and are particularly appropriate to KS 2-4.

 1.00pm          A5. Mind-probe Tools - 20 odd types of activity that extend learning                   Led by Lee Sheldon

Lee is on a top-secret mission to brain wash teachers with subliminal messages about what good learning and teaching is all about. His cover is as a consultant for Leicestershire Local Authority. In previous missions.. he has been an assistant head, a subject leader and a head of year. He is also an active and practising Advanced Skills Teacher. His hobbies and interests include yak herding and knitting.

Hello Primary and Secondary AST Dragons…I’m looking for an hours investment of your time for a 100% investment in my new Mindprobe © technology. This amazing new technology quickly and accurately determines what your students are thinking and lets you know. It has a range of day to day teaching uses and has a simple interface. Research has shown that it can also increase the brainpower and progress of your students by at least a million percent (results can vary depending on application strength and usage)!

1.00pm          A6. Crossing to the dark side!!!                  Led by Leah Jenkins

Leah currently works as both an AST, in learning and teaching, and as a deputy headteacher in a large primary school in Northamptonshire. Perhaps the very reason she was asked to facilitate this workshop!

Aimed at primary ASTs, an opportunity to reflect on “what next” in terms of your career. ASTs are well paid and the most qualified practitioners, but also have an immense enthusiasm for learning, challenge and development so need this in their careers. So, the dark side (school leadership and management), can you do it? Join me and find out how surprisingly similar it is to the skills developed as an AST!

Session 2

2.10pm          B1. Creative approaches to teaching and learning in Humanities  or how to take on Super Mario and win!                    Led by Paul Day

Paul was appointed as an AST in 2002 having previously been Head of the Humanities Faculty.  His is now Lead AST and a member of the Senior Leadership Team with responsibility for CPD, quality assurance, AfL, teaching and learning and staff coaching. 

The workshop will look at creative approaches to teaching and learning and explore strategies to create excitement, risk-taking and imagination into the Humanities classroom.   Delegates will learn why creativity in the classroom matters and look at creative ways of taking students out of their ‘comfort zone’ and into new and appealing ways of learning.

2.10pm          B2. Early Years., a new landscape for AST practice       Led by Pat Ashfield

This workshop describes the challenges presented by EYFS and the particular issues for change in practice by all staff working in the phase.  It will point up some significant areas where ASTs may be best-placed to address new working expectations and will describe some experiences of working in settings where issues have arisen.  Participants will be encouraged to debate some issues and review some practice examples.

2.10pm          B3. Stepping up… beyond the practice environment and into Leadership               Led by Pat Thompson

Pat Thompson was an AST for 7 years before being appointed as Vice Principal at Sir Jonathan North Community College Leicester.

This workshop provides a story of how an AST used her practice knowledge and experience to further develop her career into a Leadership role.  It will offer participants the chance to reflect on how and why they make career choices and to consider what might be good choices for them beyond an AST role.  It will challenge the perception of “an AST for life”!

2.10pm          B4. Using Teacher TV to Support Lesson Observation           Led by Richard Roberts

Richard is a senior school improvement adviser with Lincolnshire SIS run by CfBT.  In this role, he is a member of the workforce development section is a SIP for 7 secondary schools, supporting schools with all aspects of school improvement. 

Delegates will be shown how to download from teacher TV.  A teacher TV lesson will then be observed for strengths and areas for development using criteria drawn from the new Ofsted framework for teaching and learning.  The lesson will be year 6 History/IT, accessible to both primary and secondary colleagues.

2.10pm          B5. PC4U                  Led by Jenny Anderson

How a Peer Coaching model was established in a Primary & Nursery School (FS/ KS1&2).

Step by step details of how to set up the process in delegate’s own school or schools seeking longer term support; strategies used; lessons learned; feedback from staff and children involved and impact on School Improvement.

Peer coaching was established in our large Primary & Nursery following a series of staff meetings focussing on AfL. Staff were split into groups of 3 (cross phase), who took it in turns; one to teach a session whilst 2 staff observed & gave feedback on effective AfL strategies observed and development points highlighted.

**Cancellations cannot be accepted after Monday 23^rd February and will be charged for** 

As mentioned above there is a cost for this event. The cost will have been made clear to you in the email you recieved about this from your Local Authority. If you are unsure what the cost should be please contact your Local Authority. If you are unsure who to contact please contact the SDSA by emailing ast@sdsa.net or calling Julia Smith on 0116 2995944.

Yew Lodge Hotel
Packington Hill
Kegworth
DE74 2DF Leicestershire
United Kingdom

Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 3:00 PM - Friday, March 5, 2010 at 4:00 PM (GMT)

SDSA

Description of your organisation