Teaching schools are strong schools led by strong leaders that work with others to provide high-quality training, development and support to new and experienced school staff.
Teaching schools have an important role to play in a school-led system and school improvement, and are centres of excellence, taking a more focused role that prioritises:
- co-ordinating and providing high-quality school-led initial teacher training (ITT)
- providing high-quality school-to-school support to spread excellent practice, particularly to schools that need it most
- providing evidence-based professional and leadership development for teachers and leaders across their network
In order to ensure a self-improving, school-led system, teaching schools are required to operate by the following principles:
Effective Delivery
Each teaching school alliance effectively delivers across all three areas of core activity: ITT; continuing professional development (CPD) and leadership development; school-to-school support.
Accountability
In order to ensure credibility and high impact of all teaching schools, they must adhere to requirements set by the Department of Education and co-operate with necessary reporting processes.
System Leadership and Engagement
Teaching schools build an effective alliance of schools, and work strategically with other schools and providers within their regional and sub-regional networks to ensure every school can engage in school-led improvement.
Continuous Improvement
Each teaching school is required to pursue continuous improvement supported by the peer review process in order to develop and achieve/sustain maturity of provision.