The following courses have been designed with the busy senior manager in mind.                                           

Features :
 

Learning, behaviour and policy                                                                    Ref: MC100

This course was designed to bring to SMT level, the reasons for the need for Positive Behaviour Management strategies in school and how best they might be employed.  Issues of ‘fairness’ and ‘consistency’ will be addressed, as will the methods employed to ensure positive home-school collaboration.  The role of the ‘learning mentor’ will be explored in some depth, and a range of support agencies and their services identified.  Low level disruption will be discussed in depth and strategies proposed for effective management.

Preparing for inspection (Scotland only)                                                       Ref: MC101

The new model for school inspections has now been adopted and a new inspection cycle has already begun.  This course is delivered by experienced Head Teachers who have successfully negotiated not only full academic inspections, but integrated (HMI(e) and Care Commission) and unannounced inspections.  The course will draw upon the practical strategies used in school planning, and on how the inspection itself can be managed to reduce disruption for pupils, and stress for staff.  A number of detailed case studies will be used.

Turning around the failing school                                                                 Ref: MC102

The greatest challenge of all is to take on a school that is either beset with a range of problems, or which has to recover from a major crisis and loss of confidence amongst teachers, managers and parents.  Positive development requires clear strategic thinking and the ability to prioritise a very distinct agenda.  Course leaders explain how such schools can be turned around and explore not just the planning mechanisms need for this to be achieved, but the support necessary for staff, parents and for the Head teacher, him or herself.   Case studies will be used as exemplars, and one session will be dedicated to 'crisis management'. 

Formulating Accessibility strategies                                                             Ref: MC102

Recent changes in legislation now mean that school must demonstrate a high level of strategic planning in the way that they intend to increase access to pupils who have disabilities.  This means that changes to the physical environment are necessary, but also modifications to the curriculum to allow children with additional needs to access what others can.  Strategic planning requires prioritisation, phased development, but most of all, the need to explain why certain decisions have been made.  Experienced practitioners guide SMT teams thought the process and help to produce crisp strategies that save time, money and effort.