Education in Wales and in Ysgol Bod Alaw 2015

EDUCATION IN WALES Structure:  From without  From within A day in the life of Bod Alaw:  Pupil / staff numbers.  Class structure and sizes.  Ability grouping  A typical day/term/year Teaching and Learning :  Stages of learning.  Curriculum content.  Pedagogy Assessment and monitoring:  From within.  From without. Working in Education:  Variety of opportunities  Training  Career progression and salaries.

Structure:  From without From without  Welsh Government – elected Members  Set and decide upon National Curriculum. (2008)  Literacy and Numeracy Framework. (Legal requirement 2014)  Compare schools and results – drive to rise standards. (Yearly)  GwE – regional consortium (6 counties accross North Wales).  Challenge standards – designated Challenge advisors.  Support progress.  Local Education Authority ( Conwy)  Decide school budgets – for individual schools to manage.  Support schools resolving issues e.g. Child protection; Health and Safety; Site management; Personnel; Legal etc.  ESTYN – Government body  Inspect and report on Individual school standards.  Create and share reports on Good practice.

Structure:  From within  Governing Body  Elected body representing the school community.  Challenge and monitor school standards/provison as a ‘Challenging Friend’.  Appoint staff.  Support school initiatives and needs.  School Management / staffing structure.  Headteacher  Deputy Headteacher  3 Upper Management – receiving management pay point. 8 full time teaching staff/ 6 part time teaching staff. 1 SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co ordinator) 2 HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistants) 12 Classroom assistants 3 classroom assistants designated to Additional Learning Needs. 1 School Secretary 1 Caretaker and 2 School cleaners. 4 Lunch time supervisors.  School to School partnerships – may include training; planning; assessment; shared resources.  Family of schools.  Cluster of similar schools.

A day in the life of Bod Alaw:  Pupil / staff numbers. 340 Pupils 3 – 11 years of age. 44 members of staff  Class structure and sizes. 13 registration classes – 2 nursery; 2 reception; 3 - Year 1 and 2; 3 - Year 3 and 4; 3 - Year 5 and 6.  A typical day/term/year Nursery: 2 ¼ hours daily. Day: 8.55 – 3.00 (3 – 7 year olds) 8.55 – 3.10 (8 – 11 year olds) 6 half terms (30 weeks in all) 6 School holidays – 12 weeks in all (6 in the summer) 1 week spread over the year for staff training days. (No Pupils)  Ability grouping Pupils placed in ability groups for Language and Maths. Including More Able and Talented. Language/Maths 1 hour each daily. Science 2 hours weekly. Other subjects taught thematically.

Teaching and Learning :  Stages of learning.  EARLY YEARS Nursery – non statutory Reception – Legal requirement from 5 years of age. FOUNDATION Phase – 5 – 7 years of age (year 1 and 2). KEY Stage 2: 7 – 11 years of age. Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. SECONDARY education: Key stages 3 and 4; and Higher ‘Level’ 16 – 18 year olds.  Curriculum content. EARLY YEARS/FOUNDATION PHASE: Personal, Social and Wellbeing development; Language and communication development; Mathematical develpmnent; Knowledge and Understanding of the World. Physical and Creative development. KEY STAGE 2: English and Welsh – 1.5 hours daily. Mathematics – 1.5 hours daily Science – 2 hours weekly History; Geography; Art; Music; Design and Technology; Religious education; ICT – taught through thematic work. Physical Education – 2 hours weekly. Literacy and Numeracy Framework – to be developed across the whole curriculum. (Legal requirement since 2014) Learning Wales website.  Pedagogy  Skills based.  Literacy and Numeracy at it’s core.  3-7 years learn through structured play and focused work.  years old – developing pupils to be independent; motivated fully involved through personal next steps targets.

Assessment and monitoring:  Assessment From without.  YEARLY Reading and Numeracy national tests. (May) All pupils from Year 2 to Year 9. Teacher assessment level reported – parents/LEA/ Government for Year 2 and 6 pupils. Parents receive yearly progress reports.  Monitoring:  From within Headteacher book/lesson observation weekly/termly. Teacher led book scrutiny/classroom observations. Governing body visits. Performance management for all teaching staff yearly.  From without. Challenge advisor visits at least 3 times a year – colour grade given. Yearly DATA comparison report – Governement. Comparing 11 similar schools/ Quartile ranking given. NEW – schools given colour coding ranking announced nationally. ESTYN – Full inspection and report (at least every 6 years). 4 weeks notice given.  Assessment From within:  WEEKLY From age 6 years: weekly testing – spelling/reading. From 7 – 11 years old: spelling; times tables; reading.  TERMLY Language skills. Diagnostic assessment of writing to inform planning/targets. KS 2 – diagnostig maths testing to inform planning/tartets.

Working in Education in Wales:  Career progression and salaries. Main Pay scale: Starting salary £21,804 (NQT) yearly progression dependent on successful Performance Management report up to £31,868. (over 6 years) Apply for Upper Pay scale between £34,523 and £37,124 Salary dependent on wider contribution. (3 scale points over 6 years) Management points available £2,561 year additional salary – middle leadership roles. Management salaries: -Deputy between 40,743 and £44,971. -Headteacher between £48,505 And £56,109. Increments dependent on Performance management yearly.  Training. Teachers – graduates: -Teaching degree B.Ed. -Initial degree and graduate teaching diploma. B.A./B.Sc./B.Mus. Etc. Newly Qualified teacherts (NQT) are supported/assessed for 1 full year before becoming Fully Qualified Teacher status. NQT – encouraged to study for M.Ed.  Variety of opportunities. Teachers Higher Level Teaching Assistants. Classroom assistants. Additional Learning Needs assistants.  School Budget and Funding. Funded by the government – by core budget; various grants. Local Education Authority decide budget allocation to individual schools (Formula). BOD ALAW 2015 – 16 -£1,057, core (staffing; resources; utilities) -£75,000 Foundation Phase -£14,500 grant – Literacy; Numeracy and closing the gap. -£22, targeted to support Underprivelaged pupils. (Free school meal pupils)