Staff from The Compton School, Whitefield School and Middlesex University met for the first Trust Inset Day at Hendon Campus on 2nd September.

Speeches by Headteacher Martin Lavelle and Teresa Tunnedine and Depty Vice- Chancellor Margearet House lunched the event and the Trust initiative outlining the mutual benefits for the schools and the University in the interstes of the pupils at the school.

There follwed an inspring key note address by leadership expert Humphrey Walters about the importance of a common mission, teamwork, and continuous review and improvement. This was follwed by a range of workshop acrtivities on assessmnet, the use of new technology, student leadership and learning.

Further activities are planned. For example, the school is developing a Trust based MA Education programme with Kevin Morris, which will involve a range of school improvement projects.

We are pleased to announce that we have formed a new collabortion with Real Training for the delivery of the National Award for SEN Coordination. The module is compulsory for new SENCO's for whom it is also free!


The programme is online and lasts a year. participants may gain 60 credits as part of the MA Inclusive Education.

Details can be found at Real Training's web site

An enlarged team of tutors have met to develop the school based programme for 2009-10. They will be developing school based deleivery of modules based upon developing professional practice and action research, or specialist areas such as leadership, across London and the "Home" counties.

Particpants plan and develop their own school based projects to meet school needs and supported by a member of the University team. Each year long project is 1/3rd of the MA award.

The team development activity, led by Kevin Morris was enthusiastic and energetic. Schools should contact Kevin Morris to discuss details.

Good Practice Listed!

External examiner Mr Pete Bradshaw from Nottingham Trent University has commended the programme in his annual report to the University. He lists as good practice

• Impact of study on professional contexts.
• Methodological discussions in dissertations.
• Processes for formative feedback (es in PDT4020) second marking and moderation.
• Use if peer review in some DPP cohorts.
• Increased consistency of feedback.
• Explicit use of MA criteria on some modules.
• Innovative learning journals and methods (PDT4051 Foundation Stage).
• Increased evidence of ethical considerations being explicitly reported.

The extensive list of "good practice" is a founded upon the focus on "Impact" of the professional development activities, and well selected practice based assignments supported by explicit use of MA criteria and good feedback.

Davenant Foundation School Foundation School working with a consortium of West Essex schools has become another outpost for a school led programme for teachers. The programme will be facilitated by Kate Mcdonogh and Richard Brock and involve teachers from West Essex and Harlow. Each will undertake a school based development project based upon school needs. They will investigate best practice in their area. Implement it in their school and research the impact.

The programme has been set up by Elaine Heaphy, Head of Staff Development at the school.

Ten teachers across the school, from NQTS to Senior Leaders have begun their first module, ‘Developing Professional Practice’ which started in January 2009 and will run for one year. The teachers will select their own focus for their MA work based upon their own role and the schools needs.

Deputy Director of Professional Development, Kevin Morris said. ‘ I am delighted to be working with Mill County High School and leading the programme in partnership with the schools Deputy Head, Paul Gray who has been instrumental in recruiting and promoting the Middlesex MA Education. ‘

Paul said


This is very good news for Middlesex and the Midwheb Partnership as we are gaining an outstanding reputation across our local schools and are very pleased that Barnet Schools are on board.

Headteacher Mark Morral introduced the Waltham Forest Northern Partnership MA Education Programme based at Chingford Foundation School and involving staff from Heathcote School. The project forms part of increasing collaboartion between secondary schools in the area and with Midwheb Partnership at Middlesex University.

Mr Morral outlined the needs analysis process using the school development plan and priorities to establsih the focus for each partcipants development work during the year. By the end of the year each particpant will create a portfolio of professional development which will show their acquisition of knowledge and skills, application to lessons, and evidence of impact.

Particpants will begin with the module "Developing Professisonal Practice". Projects will range from developing assessment for learning, to developing alternative learning styles, extension work for gifted and talented pupils, or using and evaluating the use of new technology and the new virtual learning environments.

About 40 educational practitioners and researchers drawn from schools, FE, HE and postgraduate programmes met at Trent Park to discuss the issue last Saturday.

Mick Waters, Director of Curriculum at QCA oulined the new secondary national curriculum in the UK, weaving strands, of subjects, skills, knowledge and personal development. Mick was keen to point out how schools have to work with a diverse range of pupis and communities.

In a challenging panel discussion also speaking were:-

• Dr Gary Day, Principal Lecturer, De Montfort University
• Professor Sally Power, Cardiff University
• Claire Fox, Director, Institute of Ideas
• Dr Dennis Hayes
• Head of Centre for Professional Education, Canterbury Christ Church University
• and Visiting Professor at Oxford Brookes University

Education for educations sake was challenged by education for social change, for the needs of the economy and for personal development.  The notion of critical engagment with ideas was exploired. "What is education for?" provides a perfect backdrop to all our research and development.