Gillingham School NQT Induction Pack Welcome to Gillingham School. We hope you will have a happy and successful time here. This induction pack is intended to give you some of the basic information you will need whilst you are here so you can settle in confidently. However, it doesn t cover everything and is no substitute for talking to people! You will find the school has a genuinely friendly atmosphere and everyone will be only too happy to answer your questions and help you to settle in. Some of the people who will be important to you this year are: Your Head of Department/Induction Tutor Your HoD or a senior member of your department will be supporting you closely throughout this year. You will have regular meetings with them and they will observe lessons, work with you on targets, arrange observations of other teachers, listen to you and generally help to ensure you have a good first year. Although they are also responsible for formal assessments, the role of the induction tutor is a supportive one and you should feel free to ask for their help at any time. Your Year Head As well as being a teacher, you will be performing a very important role as a tutor. Your Year Head and two Assistant Year Heads will help you with pastoral issues, the tutorial programme and working with your tutor group. Other tutors in your team will be willing to give you advice or to help out with any problems. Be aware that tutor groups are different from teaching groups bear this in mind when giving out timetables. You will also be issued with a tutor's Handy Guide which is full of useful information. Rachel Day and Greg Wright Teacher Mentors Rachel and Greg are very experienced teachers and mentors whose role is to work with other members of staff to help them get the best out of their teaching. They will come and observe classes and are always available to discuss any issues you may have. Sarah Turnbull I am the deputy head i/c ITT and I also run our induction programme for new staff. I will call regular meetings so you can get to know other new staff and will also arrange a pupil trail and observation in the first term. I will come round to see you in your departmental area to check you re okay.
Karen Seldon and Becky Smith SENCO/Inclusion Manager If you have concerns that a student may have special needs, Karen and Becky are your first port of call after you ve talked to your Head of Department and checked the SEND register. Alex Stickland Head s PA As well as Paul s PA, Alex runs the HR for Gillingham School so please call in and see her if you have any queries re your contract, pay etc. Helen Dixie Bursar Finance offices are opposite the meetings room. Reception staff - Roxy, Sue and Helen As well all reception duties, they also run the medical room so if a student is feeling unwell in your lesson and you think they need more help, send them with a friend to reception. slip. Rachael Wright Faculty Technician Your Head of Department will give you a photocopying number and Rachael will induct you into the mysteries of the photocopying machines. You can then do your own copying or ask one of the faculty technicians (Rachael, Debbie and Lisa) to do it for you by completing a request Librarian Emma Vallendar As well as running the library, Emma will help with research projects, put together boxes of books and give support on the library computers. If you are intending to get students to use the library, talk to Emma first so she let you know what support she can give. You can also book a computer room through Emma. Paul Nicholson Paul Nicholson is the Head Teacher. Keith Barker, Mark Lavis are also deputy heads. Keith will organize your timetable. Mark is the Deputy Head in charge of cover: if you need to take time off, whether it s for medical reasons or a course, you need to let Mark know using a staff absence form (from the office). Ideally, you should give two weeks notice for absences other than illness. Julian Calloway- Assistant Head Julian is the designated senior lead (DSL) for safeguarding issues in school. Becky Smith and Heidi Pulleyblank are deputy DSL. If you have got any problems or need any help or just want a chat, just let me know or ask any of the above. We are nearly always available and around the school. You don t need an appointment.
Tom Richardson IT manager Tom soffice is in the library. He and the IT technicians will help out with IT both in the IT rooms and in your departmental area. Admin The school day Registration: 9.00 to9.20 Period 4 12.10 to 1.00 Period 1 9.20 to 10.10 Lunch 1.00 to 2.00 Period 2 10.10 to 11.00 Period 5 2.00 to 2.45 Break 11.00 to 11.20 Period 6 2.45 to 3.30 Period 3 11.20 to 12.10 Afternoon registration 3.30 to 3.40 There is a two minute warning bell before the end of break and another five minutes before the end of lunch. The school runs a two week timetable with a tutor period, period one Monday, in the second week. Briefings These take place at 8.50 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the staffroom. Minutes are pinned to staff room noticeboards straight after briefing. If you are on duty or a part-time member of staff, these minutes will be e-mailed to you. Duties Once a week, you will have to do your turn on duty. Your duty team leader will tell you where you have to be at 8.40 9.00 (you miss briefing on these days), break and for bus duty from 3.40 to 4.00pm. The staff handbook outlines your responsibilities clearly. Please ensure you are familiar with these as they form part of our statutory duties and it is very important that we all work together to provide a safe environment for our pupils. Meetings There are regular meetings for departments and tutor teams. These take place on Tuesdays after school the school calendar gives details of dates. There are also meetings of various working parties such as the School Development Group or twilight CPD sessions which usually take place on Mondays and Thursdays. You may be asked to represent your department at one of these meetings or you might choose to go to meetings of a group such as Creative Arts because you are interested in that area. These meetings provide some good staff development and give you a chance to have your say in how the school works: we want everyone to be able to comment on what happens in the school. Coffee is provided free in the staff room at break on Friday it s a good opportunity to meet people and socialise.
Registration Registration takes place from 9.00 to 9.20 every morning and 3.30 3.40 every afternoon. This is an important time for you to get to know your tutor group and as well as taking the register, there will be a programme of activities and assemblies (two per year group a week) for every morning. Registration is also a time for checking uniform and homework diaries, dealing with any students who are using log books and issuing notices. Pigeon Holes All teachers and many of the support staff have pigeon holes. Most paperwork goes through pigeon holes so get into the habit of checking yours first and last thing every day. Some people use their pigeon holes as an extension of their filing system or their only filing system! Not a great idea as you always have a daunting mass of paper to wade through and it s easy to miss the urgent message. Staff absence If you are feeling unwell, you need to phone the school by 0800 (01747 833845) and let Sue Jesson, Reception know. Please inform your head of department (by e- mail) who will need to oversee the work sent by you for your classes. See staff handbook (on the T Drive common ) for more details. If you have a planned absence, fill in a staff absence form (available from reception) and leave it with Sue, Roxy or Helen in the school office. Ideally this should be done two weeks before the absence. If you need to leave school during non-contact time, don t forget to sign out and in at reception. Staff Development Days Dates are in the calendar. The days cover a variety of issues more information closer to the time. The important things to know are that dress is informal, lunch is generally provided and we go home at 3.30. TEACHING Planning and recording This is obviously a key area which you will want to discuss with your Head of Department or induction tutor early on. The school provides planners for everyone which contain pages for lesson plans and recording marks. It goes without saying that you will need to plan your lessons carefully even if your department provides lesson-by-lesson schemes of work. Knowing what you are going to do will add confidence to your delivery. It is also useful to evaluate briefly at the end of the day and make notes to inform yourself on what needs to be done next time. Mark work regularly and promptly and record grades in your planner in accordance with your department s marking policy. Please note, we also use a code for marking books as part of an cross-curricular literacy policy. See your department for more details.
Homework Set homework regularly in accordance with the homework timetable and keep records of what work has been set and any pupils failing to complete it. You will find a copy of the homework policy in the Staff Handbook. Behaviour Management We are fortunate in teaching students who, on the whole, are friendly and well behaved. However, everyone has to manage behaviour, no matter how experienced they are. If you are experiencing difficulties: First, try to deal with the situation yourself is this to do with planning? Is the work too hard? Too easy? Should you move students round? Write in the student s diary if they misbehave. They respond to it and parents and tutors are quickly aware of the problem. Talk to your Head of Department or Induction Tutor or other experienced colleagues and get their advice. See Rachel, Greg or Sarah, who will be able to give you advice on how to proceed. It is also worth talking to the student s tutor they can often give insights into the child s behaviour and they will be aware if the child is experiencing difficulties across the curriculum. If detentions are given, make sure they are justifiable. Whole class detentions are rarely justifiable and are not legal. They don t tend to work as well-behaved students become resentful. After-school detentions are rarely used here because of the issues of getting students home. Before you start, Gillingham School s Guide to Behaviour Management (part of the school handbook) is essential reading it gives you a lot of tips on how we deal with issues at this school. CPD on Behaviour Management is also part of the NQT training. Don t forget to reward too. Give credits for good pieces of work in Years 7 & 8 and then in Years 9, 10 and 11, Bronze awards are given for outstanding pieces of coursework, a major improvement in achievement over half a term, and so on. Sixth formers love to receive commendations for good work! Staff Handbook Useful reading a copy is on the T drive. Go to: My computer, Common, staff handbook The staff handbook is invaluable for finding out the school s policies on subjects as diverse as key skills and using the minibus. Nobody expects you to have read, inwardly digested and memorised the handbook by the time you start but it might be worth reading sections on: Behaviour management Development plan Emergency procedures Equal opportunities policy Excluded pupils Homework policy Staff illness procedure Staff list Staff duties Teaching and learning styles Tutor groups names of all tutors and Year Heads
The school provides a full induction programme for NQTs in partnership with Dorset LEA. The aims of the programme are to assist you in adapting successfully to a new school; to help you to consolidate and develop the skills you have acquired during Initial Teacher Training so you achieve the Induction Standards and, most importantly, to try to ensure you enjoy your teaching at Gillingham School. We work closely with county and you will have one observations from county advisors during the first term. Although all NQTs follow the school s induction programme, you will negotiate an individual training programme with your Induction Tutor matched to your personal training needs. As an NQT you have 10% reduction from the ordinary mainscale teacher s timetable. In practice, this means you teach fewer lessons than the mainscale teacher and the rest of your allowed time is used to deliver the NQT programme. You are also exempt from covering other people s lessons until April 1 st. Gillingham School NQT Induction Programme Briefly the programme includes: Regular timetabled meetings with your Head of Department/Induction Tutor to work on your individualised training programme, on targets from the Career Entry Development Profile, for half-termly reviews and to provide time for feedback on lesson observations and just to talk A programme of timetabled inset sessions which take place during lesson times in school Informal lunchtime meetings with Sarah Turnbull, Rachel Day and Greg Wright Observations by a range of people including your Head of Department, Sarah Turnbull, Rachel Day and Greg Wright (the teacher mentors) your mentor and senior staff Opportunities to observe other teachers in your own department, in other departments and at other schools Informal lunches with last year s NQTs, student teachers and the deputy heads. Please turn the page to view the NQT Programme timetable.
The NQT Programme Term by Term Term One Further details programme Observation of teacher Head of Department or mentor once in each half term, JH, GW or RD Teacher observations NQTs to observe within department and elsewhere within the school. Paired observations with JH/RD/GW invited and encouraged Complete pupil trail Staff development CPD sessions (approximately one each half term) covering (for example): role of the tutor; parents evenings; behaviour management; time management Informal lunch time meetings Meetings with Induction tutor Other Recordkeeping With ST, RD, GW and other NQTs to get together, keep in touch and discuss how things are going. 3-4 meetings Once every two weeks time should be protected for this First day meeting with Head, Deputies, Assistant Heads Rachel Day and Greg Wright in the Meetings Room as before welcome and introductions Induction tutor to keep record of meetings NQT to maintain CEPD NQT assessment form to be filled in at end of each term
Term 2 Programme Observation of teacher Teacher observations Further details Head of Department or mentor once in each half term, County Subject advisor, RD/PGW(optional), Deputies/Assistant Head. NQTs to observe within department and elsewhere within the school. Up to one day off timetable is available but you can also use free periods Observations of other NQTs invited and encouraged Staff development Inset sessions (approximately one each half term) covering (for example): report writing, bullying, homework policy and strategies, differentiation, teaching and learning strategies Informal lunch time meetings Meetings with Induction Record keeping With ST, RD and other NQTs to get together, keep in touch and discuss how things are going. Once every two weeks time protected for this. Discussion of progress of CEPD, observation feedback, ongoing issues Induction tutor to keep record of meetings NQT to maintain CEDP Form NQT2 to be filled in at end of term
Term 3 Programme Observation of teacher Teacher observations Staff development Informal lunch time meetings Meetings with Induction tutor Other Record keeping Further details Head of Department or mentor once every half term NQTs to observe within department and elsewhere within the school. NQTs encouraged to visit another school one day off timetable is allowed for this One half day session probably SEN and literacy and one afternoon session on protecting your back and your voice. With ST, RD and other NQTs to get together, keep in touch and discuss how things are going. Once every two weeks time protected for this. Discussion of progress of CEDP, observation feedback, ongoing issues Lunch with Deputies to review and celebrate the year Induction tutor to keep record of meetings NQT to maintain CEDP NQT induction Form 3 to be filled in at end of term Assessment for completing the Induction Year Each term, you will be observed by your Head of Department and others. You will have an opportunity to discuss your progress each half term and review the targets you have set on your Career Entry Profile. At the end of the first and second terms, your Head of Department or Induction Tutor will complete a written summative assessment form commenting on your progress and development and indicating that you have met some key standards for the first and second terms and are working towards the rest. In the third term, there is a final form which is has the summative evidence to say you have met the Standards which build on those set for QTS. Across the country, most NQTs pass their Induction Year and at Gillingham, all our NQTS have passed in the past. Good luck. Above all, stay happy and healthy and never be reluctant to ask for help. Sarah Turnbull (Deputy Head i/c ITT)