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Enterprising Times Page 12 Success for MA Education students at Staffordshire University Academies Trust – Russell Spink Three members of the Staffordshire University Academies Trust (SUAT) are delighted to have successfully completed their MA Education studies in 2015. All three are senior leaders at Staffordshire University Academy which, together with John Wheeldon Primary Academy and Moorgate Academy, form part of a trust which is sponsored by Staffordshire University. SUAT is committed to provide extended CPD opportunities to staff across the three academies and fully sponsors individuals in order to enable them to participate on the MA Education programme. Russell Spink, the Course Leader for MA Education, commented, ‘All of the 14 colleagues who are currently on the programme show a high level of commitment, seeking to develop and enhance their own professional practice through engagement with level 7 study. The programme aims to develop participants’ educational research skills so that empirical enquiry can inform pedagogical practice to further strengthen teaching and learning. For those colleagues who are new to level 7 study, it can feel a little daunting at the start but individuals are rapidly gaining confidence and are taking positive advantage of the support that is offered by module tutors. I am looking forward to seeing all participants progress over the coming months.’ In summing up his experience, Sean Andrews (Assistant Principal at Staffordshire University Academy) said, ‘Studying the MA Education with Staffordshire University has enabled me to gain a more in depth and detailed view of many of the skills and attributes needed to support my leadership role within the academy. The findings of my dissertation were invaluable in providing an understanding of key motivational factors that affect pupils in key stage 3. I would fully encourage fellow teachers to consider studying an MA because it challenges the way that you think about education and provides a link between theory and every day challenges within the school environment.’ Contact Russell at R.Spink@staffs.ac.uk or on +44 (0)1782 294199. Faculty of Business, Education and Law, Staffordshire University www.staffs.ac.uk/fbel +44 (0)1782 294060
Enterprising Times Page 13 Working in partnerships with schools – Vivian Lloyd As part of the team working with Staffordshire University Academies Trust, my initial brief was to visit each of the primary academies (Moorgate and John Wheeldon) and carry out a review of the learning and teaching. I looked at lessons, examples of work and planning with the subject leaders and SMT to identify where the strengths in practice were and where key developments could be made over the next academic year. One of the attributes the university team offers is that in keeping up to date with developments in learning and teaching practice and research we are able to support practitioners with adopting research based practice in order to support them with enhancing the learning. In the area of mathematics this has meant reviewing the principles and practices behind a mastery approach and redesigning the curriculum to support our youngest learners with developing firm mathematical building blocks to ensure their initial understanding is secure. This has been done through: • a redesign of the curriculum to enable practitioners to focus on key concepts and go into these in depth rather than accelerate through objectives • taking more ownership of the learning through designing pre and post learning challenges to ensure that progress is focused and easily identified • utilising a greater range of structured mathematical apparatus to ensure that mathematical learning is rooted in the concrete • developing the use of recognised structured intervention programmes that build upon the children’s gaps in mathematical understanding. Practitioners have been supported through these developments in a range of ways. These have included whole staff training sessions, smaller group training sessions, individual discussions/reviews of practice and classroom based support. The support will carry on into the next year and continue to work with the schools to ensure that the provision matches the vision of the subject leaders and that staff are supported in the process. A Maths Subject Leader at the trust said, ‘So far the feedback from using [the structured apparatus] is very positive – thank you!! Staff can see the benefits of using it. I would just like to say thank you for all your support. I really appreciate it all!’ From my point of view it is an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to continue to work with practitioners, to share expertise and to focus in on making a difference to learners. Contact Vivian at V.Lloyd@staffs.ac.uk or on +44 (0)1782 294203. New book: Encyclopedia of Human Resource Management Edited by Adrian Wilkinson, Griffith University, Australia and Stewart Johnstone, Newcastle University Business School, UK; Edward Elgar Publishing. Both Dr Peter Beszter and Anni Hollings are contributors to this encyclopaedia. http://www.e-elgar.com/shop/encyclopedia-of-human-resource-management Faculty of Business, Education and Law, Staffordshire University www.staffs.ac.uk/fbel +44 (0)1782 294060
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