Profile
I am a senior leader and Year 5/6 class teacher in a small, rural school in the Stroud area. Prior to this, I worked in a much larger school in Gloucester for 18 years. Through these schools, and working with a number of other schools, I have a wide understanding of the nature of school context and its influence on educational provision.
I use a variety of methods of AfL to maximise learning time and to ensure that my teaching meets the needs of the pupils I teach. By involving pupils heavily in the process of AfL, they take control of their learning far more.
I have been involved in the introduction and development of a number of mental maths and rapid recall strategies, specifically, but not exclusively, involving times table facts. These have had a clear impact both in my current and previous setting, and have both cemented rapid recall skills and raised the profile of mathematics school-wide.
Within the schools I have taught, mathematics is given a high profile in terms of CPD. Staff are supported to explore new ideas, and I aim to keep them central to bringing about change.
The ethos of mathematics within schools I have taught is one of high profile and positivity through providing a range of practical, competitive, motivational and meaningful contexts. Some of the key features of this in recent times have been the successful introduction of the '99 club’ rapid recall programme and the implementation of the GECKO problem solving idea.
I ensure that staff I work with have a clear idea of what is expected of them, for example through agreed calculation progression, planning expectations and an involvement in monitoring activities such as ‘book looks’.
In 2016, I implemented a change in the way we approach mathematics planning, looking at a ‘Practice-Apply-Deepen’ approach. In establishing this, I worked with a cluster of schools, both at a senior leader level and at a whole school teaching staff level. I ensure that teaching assistants, as well as class teachers, take part in regular continuous professional development, ensuring a holistic school approach to the subject.
I have supported a wide range of schools in and outside Gloucester since 2005. I have hosted lessons for teachers to observe my practice and carried out debriefing sessions after this. I have led staff meetings and INSET days. I have presented at county-wide subject leaders events, NQT events and Schools Direct training, and I have run my own courses within the authority. I have worked with subject leaders, headteachers and senior leaders, as well as coaching and working alongside class teachers, providing specific support to meet agreed targets. In my experience, combining class visits in my setting with staff training is an effective way to illustrate any aspect of teaching and learning ‘in action’.
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