In brief - April 2008

Shropshire Learning Gateway
Shropshire County Council has entered into an agreement with Core Education for the provision of a learning platform product and associated services to allow the local authority and its schools to further develop our learning platform capability. This exciting environment will be called the Shropshire Learning Gateway. Besides supporting the teaching and learning of children and young people, the gateway offers enormous potential to support the training and development of all staff and governors in schools, across all roles and levels of experience. Over the coming months the platform will be rolled out to schools, while at the same time content will be developed and uploaded to support staff development. Future issues of the CPD newsletter will keep schools informed of progress with this significant initiative.

NBA National Awards for School Support Staff 2008
Details on National Awards for School Support Staff have been released by the National Bursars Association (NBA). The initiative gives local authorities and schools the opportunity to recognise the efforts of outstanding support staff colleagues. There are a range of categories of award which allow for nominations across every support staff role in schools, including: administrator, catering worker, premises worker, pupil supervisor, leaning support assistant, technician and bursar. Details of the awards, including an application form, are attached (follow the links in the publications section of this page). Note that the closing date is Friday 9 May 2008.

National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Supporting Teaching and Learning
The national vocational qualification (NVQ) in supporting teaching and learning in schools replaces the NVQ for teaching assistants from March 2008. The new NVQ is being developed by awarding bodies and will be offered at Levels 2 and 3. A summary of the new NVQs can be downloaded by following the link in the publications section of this page. Further information can also be found on the Training and Development Agency for Schools website – follow the link in the useful websites section of this page. The Education Advisory Service will be providing support and free training for the new NVQs, hopefully from September 2008 once more information is available.

If you have any queries please contact Jayne Corns via email at jayne.corns@shropshire.gov.uk or on (01743) 254445.

A New University Challenge: Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills Consultation
On 3 March 2008, John Denham, Secretary of State for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) launched a paper, ‘A New University Challenge’ (accessible via the link in the publications section of this page). The paper provides information on a proposal to fund, in collaboration with partners, more university provision in towns and cities across England. A report is going to full council recommending the establishment of a working group to develop responses to the consultation documents that will be published over the next 8 months and to start the preparatory work on establishing a bid to enhance the higher education provision within Shropshire by establishing a base in Shrewsbury which supports county-wide access. The council report can also be accessed via a link in the publications section. Future issues of the CPD newsletter will keep schools informed of progress with the bid.

Edge Hill University Partnership Update
The partnership with Edge Hill University continues to go from strength to strength. The appointment of Karen Castle as the university's full-time Shropshire Manager, based at the Shrewsbury training & Development Centre in Monkmoor, demonstrates the commitment of the university to the partnership. In the summer term Karen will be looking to increase her profile with CPD leaders in schools and raise awareness of the wide range of accreditation opportunities available to all school staff, in particular the postgraduate development opportunities for teachers, particularly relevant in the context of the national move towards teaching becoming a Masters level profession (follow 'Edge Hill University Open Evening - 7 May 2008' in the links section of this page to view a related item from this issue).

Karen can be contacted at the Shrewsbury Training & Development Centre on (01743) 246489 or via email at castlek@edgehill.sc.uk. Next time you're at the centre, please take the opportunity to meet with Karen.

A copy of The Edge Hill University & Shropshire County Council Partnership leaflet can be accessed via the link in the publications section.

Skills4Schools Website
The public sector trade union – Unison - have established a training and development website for schools’ support staff (follow the link in the useful websites section of this page to access the site). Skills4schools is an online resource to help school staff access learning opportunities at work. By providing an online guide to training, development and career pathways, the site aims to help support staff develop in their current roles.