Roles

Role of consultants

The allocation of consultants to schools is on an audit of needs basis through the primary strategy manager. Consultants will work alongside subject coordinators/subject leaders in school to develop their skills in self evaluation and their roles as:

change leaders
subject leaders

The team of consultants provide a range of specialist support to schools: literacy, numeracy, assessment, science, EAL, ICT and inclusion.

Their role is to provide challenge and support to subject leaders in identifying specific pupil groups falling below age-related expectations, issues for development to raise standards of teaching and learning and levels of achievement and to provide direct support to school leaders in realising the goals.

The work of consultants is prioritised from the planning meetings in the autumn term.

Consultants will be involved in a variety of activities, for example:

joint lesson observations to develop the capacity of subject leaders in class observations
joint Inset delivery with school staff
developing school policies in action eg marking for assessment, assessment for learning
joint work audits
data analysis and particularly to extract strengths and weaknesses in curriculum subjects and issues in teaching and learning from optional and end of key stage data
improving the environment and conditions for learning
broadening the curriculum
development of opportunities for cross-curricular work especially through ICT and foundation subjects
joint learning walks
giving and receiving feedback
coaching coordinators to improve confidence, data analysis skills etc
mentoring new coordinators

Please note:

time for consultants to provide schools with one-off staff meetings will be severely reduced
consultants will not be providing demonstration lessons as part of their normal round of activities. Please use leading teachers, good teachers within the school, various good practice dvds or videos
consultants will provide oral and written feedback to teachers (format of feedback available) where observations have taken place as a courtesy and for training and development. These will not be marked using Ofsted criteria. Copies may be left with senior management of the school. Schools must be aware that it is not appropriate to use them in capability or competence procedures

Consultants will deliver subject specific training, lead subject leader meetings and training on the New Frameworks and phonics.

Role of the SIP/advisor

The allocated sip will provide challenge and support to school leadership teams to evaluate the schools' successes and future needs.

The sip completes three monitoring reports throughout the year. These reports are agreed with the headteacher and returned to the LA (SIP manager). A copy is sent to the Chair of Governors. Information from this monitoring will contribute to any decisions regarding future support/interventions that the school may receive.