Case studies

Training your department

Getting started

David Eccles, Head of English in an inner city Leicester school

IT'S ENGLISH TEACHING JIM, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT!

Are you ready for Winter 2001 and the Key Stage 3 National Strategy? Chances are, unless you were a pilot school, all you know is what you were overwhelmed by on the National Launch Training Days! For the past year my department has been working with the new framework, with none of the benefits the pilot schools have had this year - no support, no money, no resources, no materials, no INSET.

This term you will be where we were a year ago, and although there are lots of materials and advice (and lesson plans) now out there, getting started and introducing a major new strategy that fundamentally changes the way we operate in classrooms is the hardest step. What follows I hope will help you get into and develop the process...

Firstly get to know it yourself. Whether you are the HOD or the person with designated responsibility, you need to immerse yourself in the strategy's background and thinking as well as the practicalities. The Training Manual from the DfES is excellent. Do not try and overwhelm your team with everything - they will be demoralised and find reasons to resist. Keep what they need to know and do as simple as possible! Take very small steps!