The Lion Alliance Teaching School
The Lion Alliance, based at Finham Park School, is a large Teaching School, partnered with twenty schools, 10 secondary and 10 primary, across Coventry and Warwickshire. We work closely with local universities and The Chartered College of Teaching to offer highly effective professional training to teachers at all stages of their career. Schools within our alliance cover a broad range of educational contexts and perspectives across all phases of education. We are passionate about improving the outcomes of all young people and believe that the best way to secure this is through enabling teachers to be the best possible practitioners.
Training to Teach with The Lion Alliance
Within our alliance, we offer developmental opportunities for teachers at different points in their journey as a teacher. We recruit and train a significant number of trainee teachers each year and work in partnership with Warwick University, Birmingham City University and Coventry University to support trainees and develop them in their classroom craft throughout their Initial Teacher Training year and to secure them positions for their NQT year. Last year, we were the largest provider of School Direct trainees to Warwick University and we continue to recruit a significant number of trainees ready for next academic year, across both primary and secondary. The training year is a rewarding year and we offer experienced colleagues the opportunity to become part of this experience, in mentoring trainees across our schools and in becoming involved in delivering training. We believe that teachers learn from teachers; our training is therefore practical but embedded in research and current trends in education.
Developing Teachers
A new and exciting area which we have recently developed is Meet the Expert CPD sessions where we invite nationally acknowledged experts who are research informed to deliver training to both schools in our partnership and schools beyond, locally, regionally and nationally. We believe that sharing expertise has a significant impact on learning and outcomes of young people in our schools. Recently, we welcomed Tom Bennett to our alliance, who advises the DfE on behaviour. This is an exciting area of our Teaching School which we continue to develop.
Leadership Development
Recently we have launched Lion Leadership programmes for teachers across the alliance who are considering leadership opportunities at different stages. Our programmes are suited to those colleagues who are considering their first leadership opportunity, Aspiring Leaders, to those colleagues who have gained some experience in leadership and are considering becoming Middle Leader and those colleagues who are moving to Senior Leadership. Our programmes are all delivered by colleagues with relevant and suitable experience as well as Head Teachers who contribute to each of the programmes. Whilst we are keen to recruit participants to attend these programmes, we also are passionate about enabling teachers and leaders within our schools to gain the experience of leading sessions and offering and sharing their expertise.
School to School Support Opportunities
Annually, we recruit Specialist Leaders in Education to meet the need of learning and teaching in our alliance and to support the work in School to School Support. These specialist leaders are key in sharing expertise and supporting school leaders to develop aspects of their own schools. We work closely with all of our partners and are careful to ensure that our training and School to School support is mapped against the need in schools within our alliance.
The Chartered Teacher Programme
The Lion Alliance is 1 of 11 providers who offers The Chartered Teacher Programme. This provides participants with an invaluable opportunity to develop their own classroom practices, to draw together research and skills which enable young people to be successful in their learning. Throughout the programme, participants will spend time reviewing their own practice and will investigate different pedagogical approaches through both research and practical application in the classroom. Alongside this, participants will complete a rigorous set of development and assessment processes and tasks. There is no doubt that it is a challenging programme, but that is an important part of its value and currency.
Completion of the programme demonstrates both excellent knowledge and practices as a teacher, and a commitment to professional growth, collaboration and development. Upon successful completion of this programme, participants are able to use the post nominal C-Teach and are registered centrally with The Chartered College, recognised as excellent classroom practitioners.
