Teachers TV Document
Title
Expert Trail
Author
Martine Sinker
Associated Teachers TV programmes
Innovation: CPD – The REAL Deal
Note to teachers
This document was not created by Teachers TV but the author has allowed us to publish it here to be used for educational purposes
The Expert Trail (XT) in Rochdale 2002-7/ Performance Management and the XT
The REAL Trust first began working with the Wallis Partnership@ on the Expert Trail in 2002. After input by Dame Sheila Wallis, 8 primary schools and the Rochdale Pupil Referral Service formed a network to develop a primary pilot Expert Trail facilitated by the REAL Trust.Funding is mainly via the REAL Trust, with some funding from the National College of School Leadership (NCSL).
The success of this pilot led to a second networked learning community of 10 schools and Sure Start Services (450 staff) including secondary schools which launched in September 2006. A third wave of 10 schools is planned for 2007. Schools choose to be involved in the Expert Trail through a close relationship with the REAL Trust which enables us to understand schools’ CPD needs, priorities and capacity for implementing the Expert Trail.
This year we have launched the Senior Leadership Expert Trail (SLXT) which provides individual coaching and mentoring for the leaders of the future identified by each school. The NCSL is particularly interested in this aspect and is helping to fund a pilot here in Rochdale and learn lessons from this very successful programme. Currently there are 29 senior leaders on the SLXT from 19 schools. REAL Trust is working in partnership with NCSL, School Improvement Service and the Centre of Educational Leadership (CEL) to ensure Rochdale is at the forefront of the national debate on succession planning. Rochdale is one of 10 pilot authorities in the country who are examining this very real issue.
The Expert Trail is a framework for professional development for every person in school and empowers individuals to identify and build on their strengths. It gives them a clear structure based on teacher standards and non-teacher standards to enable them to develop these strengths for their own benefit and the benefit of the school.
The Trail sets out what is expected of all members of staff at every stage of their development and provides unprecedented and clearly identified learning opportunities.
The process underpins Performance Management and successionplanning and enables schools both to provide leadership opportunities and for individuals to collect clear and robust evidence, linked to criteria which identifies readiness for middle and senior leadership.
The Expert Trail enables the ‘new’ performance management to be forward looking. It encourages and rewards those skills and behaviours which enable teachers and schools to be successful. Schools become not only places of learning but learning organisations whose personal development and improvement are embedded in the culture.” OFSTED report.
The Expert Trail is a personalised learning programme 5 Stage skills / competency based process.
Advantages
•A framework to support equal opportunities for ALL staff
•A self-directed process emphasising the development of individual interest and expertise through focused training
•An initiative to extend the scope, improve the quality and accelerate the rate of progress of the school improvement plan
•A policy to improve recruitment and retention through increased job satisfaction
The Expert Trail enables the school’s induction and training arrangements for teaching and non-teaching staff to be of outstanding quality and ensure that teachers have exceptional opportunities to develop their skills…The performance management requirements for the appraisal of teaching and non-teaching staff become of similar quality.The Expert Trail creates a culture of high staff expectation and reflection”.
Benefits for participating schools
Standards for teachers and vocational standards match the Expert Trail
Threshold standards require evidence which is supported through the Expert Trail
Performance management is facilitated by Expert Trail
Planning meeting replicates performance management
Focuses on and celebrates strengths and recognises achievements
Goes at speed of each individualappropriate to their circumstances
Requirement for “new professionalism” (DfES) is done through Expert Trail
Give structure and form to CPD - Proven to develop staff beyond expectations as it give them direction which they steer - Not HT driven
OFSTED approves and endorses
Requires minimal identification of evidence
Supports DfES 5 year strategy. Supported by DfES and TDA.
We have strong links with authorities in Sussex who are also working with the Expert Trail. We are thrilled and delighted that the Expert Trail has been identified nationally as the most robust and structured way of identifying and building middle to senior leaders. Leading Aspect Award endorsed the XT in Rochdale in March 2007.The stories of individual success and empowerment make this a most powerful vehicle for school improvement.
Please contact Martine Sinker, 01706 925092 for more details.
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