Professional Development Opportunities

·     A fourth recognition as an IIP school demonstrates how we put people at the heart of the organization.

·     Our Performance Management system equips staff with the information they require to reflect on their performance prior to the annual review, by means of an on-line diagnostic. Our commitment to staff welfare is highlighted with a compulsory ‘well-being’ target and through the various opportunities for training both internally and externally.

·     We have a robust line management structure that details staff roles and responsibilities so that staff are clear about their job and what to do if a problem arises.

·     We have career structures in place for all non-teaching staff.

·     We run programmes for Oversees Trained Teachers (OTT); have an excellent relationship with the University of Hertfordshire in developing our Graduate Training Programme and several GT’s have worked with us and have been employed by us. Our NQTs follow an excellent programme that starts in July and they access the County programme to compliment the school’s work. Our current drive to provide a ‘world class’ induction programme demonstrates our ethos.

·     We have two advanced skills teachers who do one day a week ‘in-reach’ work here at Longdean. This means that they support staff in developing their practice, visit other schools to develop their own practice so that they can share it with us and they research national intitiatives.

·     We are heavily involved in all the NCSL programmes. Currently 14 colleagues have participated in ‘Leading from the Middle Programme’, 3 on the ‘Leadership Pathways’ programme and 2 NQTs on the fast track programme.

·     We run a fortnightly teaching and learning briefing.

·     We have regular ‘Learning Lunches’ and a termly Teaching and Learning newsletter is sent out to all staff.

·     Staff participate in the Teachers’ International Professional Development, including a visit to China in 2005, Singapore in 2008 and we are waiting to find out the next destination some time this year.

·     We have an open door policy and collaborative ethos where staff are encouraged to observe one another and provide feedback through our buddying system.

·     We hold one INSET day off-site and last year we visited Whipsnade Zoo with assessment for learning as our focus.