1. TLA – Teacher Learning Academy A Brief Overview

2. What is the TLA? The TLA provides a national system for teacher learning and professional development in England. It was created by the GTC as a way of improving teachers access to learning and improving standards of teaching. The TLA provides support and guidance while giving you the formal recognition for you development.

3. Developing Your Teaching Career. The TLA makes you take the time to reflect and evaluate what you are doing every day in your classroom. It creates evidence of learning and development It can create evidence for performance management It can support application for advanced skills or excellent teacher status It can create evidence towards threshold applications It can help with interviews and job progression

4. Benefits to pupils and the school TLA projects are rooted in classroom practice. They help you make practical, tangible changes that benefit your pupils directly. Because the TLA approach to learning involves coaching and mentoring and sharing what you have learned, other colleagues benefit too.

5. How does the Academy recognise teacher development? There are 4 stages in the TLA. It is not necessary to work through from stages 1 to 4. You should select the stage that is most suited to you. It is though strongly recommended that you consider stage 1 or 2 before embarking on a project at stage 3 or 4.

6. TLA Framework Stage One half a term Stage Two 1 – 2 terms Stage Three 2 – 3 terms Stage Four 3+ terms Widening of influence Increase depth of enquiry, reflection and analysis

7. Stage One Depth –You will give a descriptive account of your learning Timescale –The project should take no more than half a term Sphere of influence –The impact on your work will mainly be seen in your own classroom, but other colleagues in your department or teaching the same year or key stage could benefit from your learning Presentation –Learning plan (written) –Learning journal (any media; if written, no more than 1,500 words)

8. Examples of stage One Observing another teacher, considering what you have learnt from this and adapting your own practice as a result Finding out more about a new initiative or teaching and learning strategy and exploring ways in which it might benefit your class or school Attending a training day/seminar/workshop, identify which skills you want to build on or acquire as a result and taking steps to do this Exploring an area of subject knowledge with which you are less familiar, introducing it into your teaching repertoire and evaluating its impact on your practice.

9. Stage Two Depth –Evidence of reflection through your account of a learning breakthrough Timescale –One to two terms Sphere of influence –Your work should have an impact on other colleagues in your year, key stage, department and or whole school Presentation –Learning plan (written) –Learning journal (any media; if written, no more than 1,500 words) –Learning breakthrough (written; no more than 1,000 words) –Supporting evidence (any media)

10. Examples of Stage Two Observing other teachers, visiting other school, then being observed and using co-coaching in order to apply your learning Investigating a new initiative or teaching and learning strategy, then planning and evaluating ways in which you and others will develop this in you own school or setting Creating or revising a policy or scheme of work by planning and trialling changes to practice Learning about a new area of subject knowledge, exploring how to introduce this into your teaching and evaluating its impact upon your practice and pupils learning Developing practice after considering the evidence provided by relevant literature and research findings

11. Stage Three Depth –Your account of your journey and learning breakthrough is both analytical and reflective Timescale –Two to three terms Sphere of influence –You will have an impact on your own and other schools. May extend to local authority or beyond Presentation –Learning plan (written) –Learning journal (any media; if written, no more than 2,000 words) –Learning breakthrough (written; no more than 1,500 words) –Overview (written; no more than 250 words) –Supporting evidence

12. Examples of Stage Three Working with a cluster of schools to respond to the national strategies and enhance particular aspects of teaching practice Developing a coaching or mentoring programme for trainee teachers in a locality Building on the NCSL Leading from the Middle or Leadership Pathways programme

13. Stage Four Depth –Your account of your journey and learning breakthrough is both analytical and reflective Timescale –Minimum of three terms Sphere of influence –Wider professional community Presentation –Learning plan (written) –Learning journal (any media; if written, no more than 2,000 words) –Three learning breakthroughs (written; total no more than 3,00 words) –Supporting evidence (any media) –Abstract (written; no more than 250 words) –Published resource for sharing (any media)

14. Examples of Stage Four To focus on an area of professional interest about which you already have a significant knowledge and understanding and that you want to develop further over a substantial period of time so as to benefit the wider education community.

15. Achievement Once your presentation has been successfully verified the TLA will send you a congratulatory letter and a certificate. The TLA will work with its partners to arrange events that showcase teachers’ achievements both at a local and a national level. We will also offer opportunities to include references to your work in any local or national publicity or media coverage, as well as on our website.

16. TLA website http://www.teacherlearningacademy.org.uk /TLA/index.aspxhttp://www.teacherlearningacademy.org.uk /TLA/index.aspx