Duncan Baines

ITT (Secondary) Case Studies 2015–16

Photo: We are very proud of the teachers training at St. Mary's Teaching School. Commemorative photo taken near St. Mary's Menston Memorial Garden, 25 February 2016

Photo: We are very proud of the teachers training at St. Mary's Teaching School. Commemorative photo taken near St. Mary's Menston Memorial Garden, 25 February 2016


“Incredibly supportive and welcoming environment, has undoubtedly modelled excellent teaching practices that I will take on in my career.

St. Mary’s supports a metacognitive approach to pedagogical learning...5 stars”
— David Urwin, February 2016

“My time at St. Mary’s has been fantastic. I really enjoyed being part of the school and feeling really welcome from day one. The teachers are encouraging and supportive, they are happy to trust our judgement and allow us to take full responsibility from the outset - this has been a massive benefit in becoming settled and confident teaching. The expertise shared by all staff members is priceless and everyone is keen to help and support our training.”
— Elle Sture, February 2016

“I decided to go into teaching as after I had finished my degree I wasn’t ready to stop learning. It was the best decision I have ever made. My experience of training at St. Mary’s has been fantastic; a great school, supportive staff and amazing mentors. I have learnt so much during my time here, gained new skills and developed my teaching in an encouraging and supportive atmosphere.”
— Vicky Edwards, February 2016

St. Mary’s Menston chosen to help train the next generation of teachers

St. Mary’s Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy has been selected to become a National Teaching School.

Photo: Trainee teachers T Alcock, J Southern, H Goulty, S Munda, C Fordham, J Jones, M Chauvet, T Dickinson, with Mrs F Towers, Ms B Pettifer, Mr D Beardsley and Mrs L Griffiths

Photo: Trainee teachers T Alcock, J Southern, H Goulty, S Munda, C Fordham, J Jones, M Chauvet, T Dickinson, with Mrs F Towers, Ms B Pettifer, Mr D Beardsley and Mrs L Griffiths


Teaching Schools take a leading role in recruiting and training new entrants to the profession, identifying leadership potential and providing support for other schools, not least by exemplifying excellent standards of teaching.  

St. Mary’s Menston is one of 52 schools in England to be granted teaching school status in the latest round. 

Introduced in 2011, Teaching Schools are all rated as “outstanding". They work with partner schools in an alliance to ensure high quality school-led initial teacher training and professional development opportunities for teachers at all stages of their career. 

They raise standards through supporting other schools, engage in research and development, and ensure that the most talented school leaders are spotted and supported to become successful headteachers.


“Becoming a Teaching School again demonstrates the consistently high standards that we have at St. Mary’s and is also recognition for the work that we already undertake in training teachers and in supporting other schools. This will allow us to fulfil our mission of serving the local community, enabling St. Mary’s to develop and strengthen further, as well as providing us with the opportunity to increase our contribution to the development of the wider school system.”
— Mr Darren Beardsley, Headteacher, St. Mary's Menston
 
 

The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) has responsibility, in partnership with headteachers from the Teaching Schools Council, for the designation and quality of the teaching schools programme. 


“St. Mary’s, Menston should be very proud of this achievement. The school has been recognised as a centre of excellence in its area, with an outstanding performance and a track record of raising standards through supporting other schools.

There are now almost 700 Teaching Schools around the country. They are at the heart of an increasingly school-led system, leading the way in improving the quality of our teachers and helping the schools in their partnership to become even better. Like Teaching Hospitals, they have become centres of excellence across the country, conducting research and training teachers.”
— Charlie Taylor, Chief Executive of NCTL

The successful schools will be invited to attend a national Teaching School induction event in October 2015. 


Menston school to lead the way in training teachers [ILKLEY GAZETTE]