IMPROVING SCHOOLS

Although our client base comprises a wide range of organisations, we have a particular interest and extensive experience in working with schools.

All or services are appropriate to schools: click on the links to find out more about:

  • Consultancy services
  • Investors in People
  • Conference management
  • Staff development
  • Individual project development & management

Additionally, as education specialists, we undertake:

  • Individual headteacher mentoring and advice
  • Circle time and peer mediation training for pupils and staff

Our most exciting and innovative work to date has been the development of our 'Developing Emotionally Literate Schools' programme.

HEADTEACHER MENTORING AND ADVICE
We recognise that being a headteacher can be an isolating and very challenging job. Pressures are put upon you from all quarters and many of these are conflicting. Through one to one mentoring sessions we provide a totally independent 'sounding board' and support mechanism. In some cases, one session is enough to refocus and in others a series of meetings over a longer period is more beneficial. Sessions can look at specific school related issues such as curriculum, staff management or school improvement or can be less focused, dealing with the issues of the day. The benefit of this individual approach is that the agenda belongs entirely to you and it will be approached with impartiality and complete confidentiality.

CIRCLE TIME AND PEER MEDIATION TRAINING
Circle time and peer mediation programmes are well proven approaches to behaviour management and self-esteem building. We have also recognised that they are important components of an emotionally literate school. As one facet of our 'Developing Emotionally Literate Schools' Programme, we can support schools in improving their use of circle time and its effectiveness and provide pupil and staff training to establish peer mediation programmes.

'DEVELOPING EMOTIONALLY LITERATE SCHOOLS' PROGRAMME
This work has involved over 300 practitioners in more than 60 schools. The programme has been devised support schools in providing an environment in which their youngsters can develop their own emotional intelligence and thus meet the challenges of life.

There are three main strands to the programme, all of which can be combined to suit individual schools:

  • 8-day open courses
  • Whole school INSET programmes
  • Distance learning programmes led by trained facilitators on the school staff

Through each of these strands, we aim to equip school staff, at all levels, with the skills, knowledge confidence and creativity to develop children's emotional literacy.

The programme focuses on the following aspects and enables delegates to share their existing knowledge and experience.

  • Emotional literacy: Underpinning
    philosophies and skills
  • Brain development and brain based approaches
  • How and why boys and girls learn differently
  • Transactional analysis theory for individual
    and organisational change
  • Developing self-esteem and improving behaviour
  • Building emotional literacy into the learning environment
  • Using play and circle time, effectively, as helping strategies
  • Solution focused approaches
  • Conflict resolution: the principles of mediation, including pupil mediation
  • Creative and practical helping strategies
  • Action planning to develop an emotionally literate school

8-DAY OPEN COURSES
Our open programmes provide excellent opportunities for networking between like minded schools and individuals. Delegates have included headteachers and other senior managers, teaching staff, integration and classroom support personnel, mentors and lunchtime supervisors. Positive feedback has been received from all.

The courses run one day a week for eight weeks and involve a balance of theory, practical experience, and sharing of ideas, making the course highly interactive and participative.

The following is a selection of feedback from our most recent course:

"This has been the most inspiring and professionally presented course I have attended. It's practical application to school has already been noticed."
Lesley Clougher, KSI Manager, Grestone Primary.

"A thoroughly enjoyable, active and practical course,
packed with inspiring initiatives."
Vicky Moore, Senior Manager, Lutley Primary.

"My practice has moved on 100% over the last 8 weeks"
Max Vlahakis, Deputy Headteacher, The Oval Primary

"I am really looking forward to trying out some of these things in my school."
Maggie Lynne Learning Mentor (Primary)

"I've learnt a lot about myself I didn't know, which can only help me do a better job"
Beccie Shields, Teacher Timberley Primary School.

"An excellent course that gives you insight and strategies on dealing with those children you know you can help if only you knew how."
Rachel Augustin, Senior Manager Lutley Primary.

"It's really useful to have the opportunity to shares ideas and experiences with people from different schools."
Marion Bar, Teacher, The Oval Primary School

"Individual needs of delegates very sensitively allowed for… the course affirmed me and boosted my confidence."
Karen Bradshaw, Teacher, Grove Primary

WHOLE SCHOOL INSET PROGRAMMES
Our whole school INSET programmes are new for the 2003/4 academic year. A programme of activities is devised in consultation with each school. This takes into account the current practice of the school and level of understanding among its staff. The learning is then delivered over a series of staff training days and staff meetings.

The emphasis is on helping the staff to identify the solutions that best fit their school and their children and, as with the open courses, we aim for a high level of interaction and participation.

"This has been ideal, the proposal has given me the outline of my SIP as well as the detail of the whole year's INSET."

 

DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMMES LED BY TRAINED FACILITATORS ON THE SCHOOL STAFF.
We recognise that it is not always practical to employ external providers for long-term training programmes and, as a result of a request from a foreign embassy school, we have developed a distance learning programme. This encompasses all the elements of the open courses and whole school INSET programme, but it limits the amount of CSD-led training sessions. The rest of the programme is delivered through our distance learning modules. Each module comprises a PowerPoint presentation and detailed facilitator guide as well as supporting materials for activities. Facilitators are given appropriate training, and the emphasis is very much on them being facilitators of knowledge exchange i.e. using the materials to build on the knowledge already held within the group.