12:19pm Tuesday 9th March 2010
TEACHERS at a Bolton primary school are not only ensuring their pupils receive an outstanding education — but that children across Greater Manchester do so as well.
For St Paul’s CE Primary School in Astley Bridge — judged “outstanding” by inspectors — is leading by example.
It does things so well that education chiefs want staff from the school to pass on their tips and skills to other schools across the region.
So St Paul’s has become the first school in Bolton to be selected to run the National College for School Leaders and Directors of Children’s Services’ teaching and learning programmes.
The school in Newham Street is known as a “facilitator school”, which means that three of its staff are training teachers from across the 10 Greater Manchester authorities — including Bolton — to raise the quality of teaching in schools across the region.
Ladywood Special School in Little Lever and Rumworth Special School in Deane both have the same status in leading the way in developing outstanding teaching in special schools throughout Greater Manchester.
Headteacher of St Paul’s CE, Karen Bramwell, said: “This is a great honour for our school and Bolton. It represents a reward for all the hard work put in by staff. As a head it is a privilege to lead such high quality professionals.
“The delegate teachers get to see good and outstanding teaching in St Paul's classrooms and are able to model their practice accordingly.”
She added: “Our pupils also gain from the process. Not only are they proud to show off their skills to visitors, but it also keeps all their teachers on top form.”
The school successfully applied to become a “facilitator” after receiving an outstanding Ofsted report. It is now moving towards gaining National Teaching School status.
As part of their learning, enrolled teachers have a chance to observe lessons at St Paul’s CE and talk to specialist teachers on how to improve teaching in the classroom.
They are also introduced to new teaching techniques.
They then return to their school to put what they have learned into practice — and Mrs Bramwell says that the courses which can last from five to eight weeks yield results in terms of improved examination performance and more enthusiasm in class which leads to a “stronger school”.
St Paul’s CE School also benefits. Its new status means it has access to more staff as some are released to help other teachers.
One of the three training teachers, Paul Morgan, said: “It is incredibly rewarding knowing that this school is having an impact on children’s education not just here but throughout the region.
“The role I play is actually the easy part, it is the teachers whose lessons are observed who really do all the work.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/trade_directory/