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Last updated: July 18th, 2022

Staff Development

Staff Development

DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

We are committed to providing staff with the very best opportunities for professional development, no matter what stage of their career they are in and providing clear career progression pathways to ensure all staff are supported in their development. Emily Cavell is our Learning & Teaching Lead and is the person to see if you require any support or have any questions about your professional development.

Staff in their first few years of teaching are supported through our ECF Programme. All of these are designed to focus on developing your practice and pedagogy. ECT1s are afforded the opportunity to work with a coach and develop the learning and teaching at a subject specific level, whilst ECT2s will look at learning and teaching across one whole school aspect, as well as a departmental project.

Further professional development opportunities are varied and include: Internally provided CPD training; best practice visits; Collaborative Learning Teams (CLTs); research projects; and external leadership programmes such as SSAT Leadership Legacy and NPQs. All staff are encouraged to choose a minimum of two CPD sessions to attend over the year (see CPD calendar).  The programme is run by staff at SJB and is created based on your feedback from last year. There are 5 CPD sessions that run in the Autumn Term that all new staff are expected to attend.

If there is a particular external CPD opportunity such as exam board training, subject-specific training etc. that you feel it would be beneficial for you to attend please see your line manager to discuss it before completing the Professional Development Application Form (available to download from the School Hub). This form must also be filled in by support staff.

LEARNING COACHES

Every member of staff has a Learning Coach to support their personal development. There will be one Learning Coach linked to each department and whilst working with you individually to coach you in relation to a personally identified aspect of pedagogy, they will also work with Curriculum Leaders to support the departmental learning and teaching aims.  Chris Wall oversees this team so please speak to him if you have any questions.  There is an online portal to record observations and reflections.

PART-TIME STAFF

We do have some part-time staff.   We try to be as flexible as possible given people’s personal circumstances.   For this to work best there needs to be give and take.  Part-time staff are expected to attend the proportion of INSET days that they work. If an INSET day falls on a day that you would normally work then you are expected to come in but should it fall on a day that would normally be your day off then you may come in and either take a day off in lieu, get paid for it or stay at home – your choice.   Certain dates are really important e.g. all part-time staff are asked to attend the INSET day on Monday 5th September 2022.

Part-timers are expected to attend all meetings on the days they are in school but obviously there is ‘give and take’ depending upon personal circumstances.   Part-time teaching staff are asked to go to check the cover board in the morning in case they are required to cover registration.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT            

Performance management at SJB uses a 360 process where self-evaluation, staff feedback and reflections on the year are all discussed and new targets are set. For teaching staff it happens in June/July each year. For support staff it is in Jan/Feb. There is an online portal to make it as simple as possible and reduce the amount of time required by both parties. All new staff will meet with their line manager in September to set targets for the year ahead.

The feedback meeting is a good opportunity to discuss how the year has gone for you with your line-manager and what further support or CPD/training you may need to continue to develop. For those staff on UPS or at the top of the main scale, the process is a good way of providing the necessary evidence of wider contribution to the school, required to be on (or move up through) UPS. It is also an opportunity to thank you formally for all you have done over the year, the many ways you have contributed to the SJB community and the support you have provided for students and other staff.

We categorise all teaching staff into one of seven types:

  • ECT 2: Staff who have followed the ECT2 programme over the last year.
  • Type 1: In your current role for a year or less, (the focus being how the first year in role has gone)
  • Type 2 (mini): In your current role for 2-4 years and received a full 360 last year (the focus being on progress in targets set last year)
  • Type 2 (full): In your current role for 2-4 years (the focus being on progress in targets set last year)
  • Type 3 (mini): In your current role for 5 years or more and received a full 360 last year (the focus being on progress in targets set last year and contribution to the wider school)
  • Type 3 (full): In your current role for 5 years or more and received a full 360 last year (the focus being on progress in targets set last year and contribution to the wider school)

We categorise all support staff into one of three types:

  • Type S1: In your current role for a year or less
  • Type S2: In your current role for 1-2 years
  • Type S3: In your current role for 3 years or more years

The aim is to provide a more personalised process and allow staff to focus more specifically on areas in the self-evaluation, gathering of feedback and 360 discussions that are more appropriate to the time spent in the role. For staff identified as ‘type 2’ or ‘type 3’ there is a two-year cycle. The ‘full’ 360 includes feedback from 3-5 people, the ‘mini’ does not (information for line managers about how to collect, record and use this is detailed below).

ECT1s are not part of the 360 process as they complete their review as part of the ECT programme.

STAFF PAY                                                                       

Staff will be paid on the 22nd day of each month or on the preceding Friday if the 22nd falls on a Saturday or Sunday.   If you have any problems with pay, please see Lucia Davis.

STAFF WITH CHILDREN

Please have alternative arrangements in place so that you don’t need to take time off if your child is ill.  Unpaid leave may be taken to look after children who are ill.  Please don’t bring children into school, even on INSET days.

STAFF INDUCTION

There is a full staff induction programme for all new staff and ECTs.  Anna Dwyer is responsible for new staff and their induction – all new staff will have been in contact with Anna already!  All new staff are allocated either a buddy, a mentor or a coach depending on their role to help them settle into life at SJB.  Faith Ruffle is in charge of ECTs. Becks Jeppeson is in charge of Trainee Teachers.

Below is a letter from our most recent ECT to all the new ECTs:

Dear SJB ECTs,

Welcome to SJB – we hope you enjoy your year ahead! Our top tips for surviving the ECT year are as follows:

  • Make as many friends as you can. People at SJB are so friendly! Use the other ECTs for both professional and personal support but also go to the staffroom at breaktime and lunchtime to talk to all sorts of people.
  • Trust in the people around you (mentor, professional tutor, HODs and HOYs) and lean on them for support. They will always have your best interests at heart!
  • Teach the way YOU want to teach. Take ownership for your classes and their learning and be confident sharing your ideas and resources with the department – remember that you are likely to have the most up-to-date training and the most frequent CPD! Don’t be afraid to share your amazing-ness.
  • Observe a range of people with different teaching styles. This will help you gather a range of ideas and work out who you want to be. 
  • Choose reflective journals that are useful rather than just to tick boxes. If you pick things you enjoy and genuinely want to improve on, you’ll actually find them enjoyable and therefore improve your teaching with ease.
  • Get involved with extra-curricular clubs and activities. It’s so great to see the students in different lights. Get to know as many students ASAP.
  • Eat properly! Make lunch or plan lunches and if you end up in the canteen – pay off your Scopay account!!
  • Learn to say no and don’t try and do too much too soon. Put time aside for yourself on evenings and weekends. Keep your own hobbies. Have a laugh!

We are always here if you need us – and are proof you WILL survive!

Love,

SJB ECTs xxx