This framework links to the Aquila values in the following ways:
Connect – by linking you to new ideas, the latest research and cutting edge approaches
Nurture – by caring for your professional development we believe you will grow as a person
Aspire – we want you to improve your practice for the benefit of all, including yourself
Learn – all members of the Aquila must regard themselves as life-long learners. The learning process is never complete and we must see ourselves as always ready for new and exciting challenges
Excel – we have high ambitions for all our schools, we want them to be the best they can be. This must start with the people who work inside them
Hope – we want to create a better world and one approach to achieving this is by caring for everyone and supporting them in improving themselves in their professional lives
NPQSL: Programme overview
NPQSL is designed to help those aspiring to, or currently performing within, senior leadership, with an aim to enhance their performance and leadership skills. The programme equips participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve the NPQSL qualification.
The core components programme consists of:
Nine face-to-face twilight sessions, - You will deliver nine face-to-face half-day sessions (3 hours). Sessions should be spaced over at least two terms so that participants can undertake their impact projects alongside the learning from their sessions. They should be spaced no longer than eighteen months as the DfE require participants to have submitted their assessment for marking no later than eighteen months from the date of their first session.
The 360 self-evaluation - You will register your participants to provide access to the Ambition School Leadership 360 tool. Participants will nominate peers to feedback on their unique strengths and development areas to complete a comprehensive report exploring a number of leadership characteristics.
Assessment: School improvement project - Your participants will lead an improvement project across their school, lasting at least 2 terms, to reduce variation in pupil progress and improve teaching. They will submit a written account of the project design, implementation and evaluation to Ambition School Leadership for formal assessment.
Dates of the next NPQSL sessions are:
- Self Development - stepping up - 4th December 2018
- Leading a team - 25th January 2019
- Analysing data / Using data as a senior leader - 13th February 2019
- Using data strategically to allocate resources - 1st March 2019
- Teaching & Learning - 21st March 2019
- Delivering through others - 25th April 2019
- Staff Development - 23rd May 2019
- Educational environment - 20th June 2019
- Finale - 4th July 2019
NPQML: Programme overview
NPQML is designed to help those aspiring to, or currently performing within middle leadership, with an aim to enhance their performance and leadership skills. The programme equips participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve the NPQML qualification.
The core components programme consists of:
Six face-to-face twilight sessions, - You will deliver six face-to-face half-day sessions (3 hours). Sessions should be spaced over at least two terms so that participants can undertake their impact projects alongside the learning from their sessions. They should be spaced no longer than eighteen months as the DfE require participants to have submitted their assessment for marking no later than eighteen months from the date of their first session.
The 360 self-evaluation - You will register your participants to provide access to the Ambition School Leadership 360 tool. Participants will nominate peers to feedback on their unique strengths and development areas to complete a comprehensive report exploring a number of leadership characteristics.
Assessment: School improvement project - Your participants will lead an improvement project across their school, lasting at least 2 terms, to reduce variation in pupil progress and improve teaching. They will submit a written account of the project design, implementation and evaluation to Ambition School Leadership for formal assessment.
Dates of the next NPQML sessions are:
- Your vision and leadership - 1st February 2019
- Leading a team as a middle leader - 8th March 2019
- Analysing data - 29th March 2019
- Leading in Teaching and Learning curriculum as a middle leader - 20th May 2019
- Experimental based learning / scenario - 10th June 2019
- Delivering on impact - 5th July 2019
NQT Training:
NQT HUB
This year we are continuing to offer a number of workshops over the coming year for all the NQTs in the Aquila Academy alongside the RE training run by the Diocese. These workshops will aim to develop elements of the Teaching Standards and will also give NQTs an opportunity to work in collaboration with each other. We are also happy to welcome any School Direct Students, if you think the training would be useful for them.
Whilst we have thought about the main focus of each workshop, we are happy to take feedback from both the NQTs themselves and also the schools on any additional areas they would like covered.
All days will be held at St Mary of Charity Primary School, the morning will be training run by the school and the afternoon will be RE training run by the Diocese.
| Date | Main Focus (AM Session) | Main Focus (PM Session) |
| Friday 19th October 2018 | Evaluation of Term 1- What is going well? Any common elements to work on? Effective Questioning (Lead by Hannah Tudor- Headteacher) Marking and Assessment (Lead by Claire Beyzade) | Teaching in a Church of England school – what to expect! Church Distinctiveness – how are we as church schools distinctive? Worship – prayer, reflection areas Worship in the classroom. How is worship different to RE? School vision/values – why do we have them? What is expected of me as a member of staff? What is a section 48 (SIAMS) inspection – what is my role in preparing for it? Gap task: How do you know your school is distinctively Christian? Find evidence. Take photos. Find and read RE and collective worship policies. Observe an RE lesson and an act of Collective Worship. |
| Friday 30th November 2018 | Differentiation Working with children with SEN – Provision maps/ terminology etc. (This sessions was suggested in Feedback by last year | Teaching and planning Great RE lessons in a church School What is RE? What do we need to teach it? National Statement of Entitlement – the law and right for parents to remove children. Yearly overview – look at the different religions. Discuss subject knowledge. Where would you go to find out? Introduce Understanding Christianity – as you will see this in your school. Lesson structure – how to plan an RE lesson. Practical teaching ideas Using artefacts effectively Sign posting to resources and websites. Assessing children in RE. |
| Friday 7th December 2018 | Maths- use of manipulatives English-teaching Reading effectively | Planning and leading Collective Worship in a church school. How worship is structured. What needs to be included? Look at Children’s spirituality and spiritual styles – what impact does this have on planning and leading collective worship? How to organise a reflection area – how are they used? Why? Sign posting to resources and ideas for worship. Plan a generic worship session together in preparation for leading Collective worship |
Aquila Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust Inset Conference Day "GREAT LEARNERS"
2nd September 2019
KEY AIMS OF THE DAY:
Understand how metacognition & mindfulness can help your pupils enjoy and improve their learning
Take practical strategies for immediate use in the classroom
Challenge ideas, try activities, and enjoy the day!
Course Programme:
08.30: Prompt Arrival & Breakfast
09:15: Welcome from Aquila
09.30: Great Learners & Metacognition.
10.45: Refreshments
11:15: Metacognition & memory.
12.30: Lunch
13.30: Introduction to Mindfulness.
14:45: Mindfulness techniques.
15.30: Close of Conference
Further information is available from Will Ord’s website: www.thinkingeducation.co.uk
Will Ord has been practising meditation for thirty years, and has learned from world class teachers from the UK, India and Tibet. By understanding more about our minds through Mindfulness and Metacognition, learners of all ages can discover ways to make learning more effective and enjoyable. These skills are essential to meet the challenges of 21st century.