Thornton Professional Development Guarantee

 
Thornton Primary School recognises the school is a 'learning community' where everyone is involved in a process of continuous improvement and enrichment.  The school is committed to fostering a positive climate for learning and development, ensuring that all feel valued and have a clear career path in teaching.
 
As a result, a comprehensive professional development structure is in place for all teachers to participate in.
 
  • Early Career Teachers (ECTs) are assigned a dedicated mentor, who is an experienced teacher, to fully support them during their first two years.  They receive weekly non-contact time, a tailored training programme run in-house by Senior Leaders and gain official accreditation from an Appropriate Body for completing the statutory induction process.
 

  • Recently Qualified Teachers (RQTs) are also assigned a dedicated mentor who is there to support them during the second year of teaching and provide professional guidance.
  • Following their RQT year, teachers are encouraged to take responsibility for an area or subject to lead across the school.  Training to support this role is provided by Birmingham Education Partnership, DRB Ignite and in-house.
 
  • Teachers then have the opportunity to participate in the nationally recognised National Professional Qualification for Middle Leaders (NPQML), National Professional Qualification for Senior Leaders (NPQSL) and National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)courses which allow project focused work to support whole school improvement.  These courses are fully supported by the Senior Leadership Team who act as mentors.
 
  • Non-Teaching staff are also encouraged to consider further education courses to further develop their role, with the school supporting a system of applying to be considered for a negotiated regular and reasonable amount of study time to be supported by the school.