Yn disgwyl cael ei gyfieithu

30 October 2007

Fourteen teachers from across Wales gathered at the North Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI) to be the first participants in the much anticipated Chartered Teacher pilot being run by the General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW).

The pilot scheme, which will run over two school years, will test each of the proposed taught modules that will form the basis of the prestigious Chartered Teacher benchmark. As part of the wider professional development framework, the Chartered Teacher milestone aims to give teachers a more structured and coherent route to professional development throughout their careers. Teachers will also have the option of a portfolio route to demonstrate that they meet the exacting criteria expected of a Chartered Teacher.

This first taught module pilot, entitled ‘Talk for Thought’, has received huge interest from teachers, indicating the popularity of the proposed Chartered Teacher Status amongst the profession.

Provided by the North Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI), Swansea Institute of Higher Education (SIHE), the Basic Skills Agency and the local LEAs, the ‘Talk for Thought’ module comprises 150 hours of learning and is open to middle leaders and/or classroom teachers. It will explore issues relating to speaking and listening in primary and secondary schools and will focus on the link between the development of oracy skills and pupil understanding. The module uses a blended learning approach that includes lectures, practical workshops and tutorial support, together with enquiry based action in the teachers’ own schools.

Karen Morris of the North Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI), commented: “The Talk for Thought module explores the range of strategies available for increasing the status and the impact of speaking, listening and thinking in whole school approaches and in teaching across the curriculum. It also identifies the difficulties some pupils face in this situation and examines recent academic research on the subject. The aim is for those following this course to be better equipped to support under attaining pupils in their own classrooms, and contribute to ways of refining and improving the strategies used by the school for promoting thinking and understanding through oracy.”

Hayden Llewellyn, deputy chief executive of GTCW, commented: “We have been delighted with the interest generated in the Chartered Teacher Status pilot, leading to an oversubscribed first module. The Talk for Thought module aims to give those participating the opportunity for further professional development in an area of interest to them, whilst they will be instrumental in shaping the development of the Chartered Teacher Status programme.”

Lesley Morris, a Year 1 teacher at Ysgol Heulfan, Gwersyllt in Wrexham, who is one of the fourteen teachers taking part in the pilot, commented: “I expressed an interest in the Chartered Teacher programme as I want to better myself and further my career. I enjoy taking part in new initiatives where I can try out new things and evaluate them with my colleagues and pupils in mind.

“In school I am a senior manager responsible for behaviour, attendance and the personal and social development of my pupils. Speaking and listening plays a huge part in the language development of the pupils in my care, which is part of the school development plan. This module will help my practice as an identified area for development and I hope to gain from others’ experiences and to share good practice.”

Gethin Davies, head of music at Ysgol y Creuddyn, Llandudno, who has been teaching for six years added: “The talk for thought module offers an opportunity for me to take part in a new project which will help me improve and reflect on my classroom practice and lesson planning in Key Stage 3. It will give me the skills to improve the way children think and improve standards in listening and speaking.”

‘Talk for Thought’ is the first of many modules offered through the pilot which will test different approaches to the Chartered Teacher programme, namely two main routes – a ‘taught’ route and an accreditation route through which teachers can receive credit for their professional development and practice. ‘Talk for Thought’ will be part of the taught route.

For further information on the Chartered Teacher Status pilot, or GTCW’s Professional Development Framework, please contact Hayden Llewellyn on 029 2055 0350.