Trusted Colleague Network: Observing Pupil Responses to Changes in Teaching

TCN – General Points Not a method for monitoring teaching methods but a means to look at the impact changes in our teaching can have on pupils. Not a method of appraisal. It is an opportunity to experience another pair of eyes on our teaching from a trusted colleague – something that we usually experience only in high pressure situations (Inspections/PRSD observations).

Initial Preparation Recruit staff (not SLT) around 20 staff members to form a focus group. Provide focus group with results from the pupil voice exercise to show what pupils feel are the key elements of a good lesson. Ask staff to individually answer questions relating to the following four areas:

4 Key Questions What aspect of their current classroom practice would they like to develop? This will be accompanied by a framework for teachers to consider as a point of reference – highlighting skills, knowledge and values. What training do they feel they need in order to bring about improvement in this area? Staff must define what specific aspects of their development require training. How do they feel this improvement will directly impact on the pupils they teach? This will be accompanied by a framework for teachers to consider as a point of reference – highlighting aspects of pupil impact tabulated under the areas of knowledge, skills & attitudes. How do they feel this impact can be effectively measured? How can we tell if it is making a difference? The answer to this or an agreement on this will be reached by the pair of observing teachers after their series of observations is complete. They will think of how these pupil responses will be measured before hand.

Contd Staff questionnaires are collected and staff paired off accordingly, if possible matching their development needs, though this is not essential. Training to be provided for these staff members on how to conduct peer observation and offer constructive feedback.

TCN in Action This should be a recognised process across the school (otherwise it will not be sustained). A lesson observation sheet will be completed as a paired activity for each teacher in the pair. They will refer to their answers from their initial audit when completing this task. They will agree on the parameters for observation i.e. what they expect to see in terms of pupil response. This will ensure that they both feel comfortable addressing the competencies associated with their development area. Teachers will jointly observe each other once per month. They will be given one period to design and draw up a peer observation sheet and agree how long they want to be observed for each area of focus – one lesson, two lessons, whole term. During the lesson the observing teacher should look for and record against the agreed list of pupil responses listed under pupil impact. They should also highlight aspects of the lesson they feel could be used to develop their own practice.

Contd A record of this should be kept in order that pairs can agree if the desired pupil responses were achieved. At the end of this time period staff pairs will meet to discuss the extent to which previously agreed impact on pupil learning had been achieved. During this meeting staff should review notes from the completed lesson observation sheets. Staff should also agree what, if any, obvious next steps are apparent from their mutual experience and discussion. Staff will judge whether to shift the focus if the desired pupil responses are evident. Pairs of staff with different initial foci can swap to accelerate the process for learning.

Sharing of Good Practice Encourage the dissemination of good practice through the operation of a Trusted Colleague Network. Departments to identify one or more active learning strategies as a focus. Teachers can nominate a colleague from within their department to observe their lesson.

The nominated teacher does not have to be the HOD. The HOD can also nominate a departmental colleague to observe his/her lesson. The HOD will keep a record of who has been observed and by whom.

Observations to be completed by 16th December 2013. Teachers will share their observations of the Teaching Strategy, not the teachers, in the departmental meeting on 23rd January 2014. Where the observer is not the line manager of the teacher being observed, the very fact of the observation is sufficient to fulfil the objective.