As part of our role as a Training School we work with several local universities to provide placements for their trainee teachers. This takes place in two sections, firstly in the Autumn term and the longer second placement which stretches across the Spring and Summer terms. There are many benefits to the school as a result of this status. Firstly, as a staff we are continuously looking at the teaching and learning in the classrooms and secondly is the opportunity to access new staff into the profession when we have teacher vacancies.
A particular strength of the school is the research based CPD programme that we carry out. All teachers last year participated in evidence based research which focussed on classroom practice. As a result of this teachers are able to achieve professional accreditation from the Teaching and Learning Academy which is training body of the General Teaching Council. This continual process of reflection on classroom practice allows us to be sure that students receive high quality teaching that enables high quality learning to take place.
During 2007-2008 we were able to offer placements for a range of training purposes these included;
Student Associate Scheme
Pre Post Graduate Certificate of Education
Post Graduate Certificate of Education
Graduate Teacher Programme
Masters in Education (International Programme)
Teacher Exchange Programme
All requests for placements are coordinated through the Training School office and not directly with subject staff. This allows us to provide a specific training programme for your needs.
We work in partnership with a number of ITT providers including the University of Warwick, University of Coventry, University of Birmingham, and Ninestiles Consortium. All of our mentors receive regular training and work closely with Training School staff and ITT providers.
Those wishing to undertake placements with us will be required to undergo Police clearance.
For those who are interested in an initial experience in teaching, we would encourage you to explore the website www.tda.gov.uk first.
Within the Training School we have a large classroom with interactive whiteboard and ICT provision. This is accessible for all trainee teachers and teaching staff to use. The classroom also has an observatory which allows for the room to be observed without disruption. We also have the facility to film and record lessons that take place in the classroom.
This has proved a very valuable tool for teacher training. We have used the facilities in a number of ways. These include;
Observation by groups of trainees of particular classroom based activities eg. Q and A or group work
Observation of mentors by trainees
Observation of trainees by mentors to evidence standards
Coaching by peers
Filming lessons to share ideas and good practice with other staff
Monitoring impact of classroom based research
Producing materials for CPD focused on classroom activity
Parental permission is gained each year and the recordings are used only for Training purposes.
We would like to invite other school to use the Training facilities and we have worked successfully with the University of Warwick, Westwood School and Kingshurst CTC in the past.
Finham Park takes an active role in the West Midlands Training School Network. This network allows us to work with other Training Schools in the region and develop training not just for ITT but also for own teaching staff.
In 2008-9 we are also developing our links within Coventry working alongside the the local authority to provide support for GTP trainees and NQTs/RQTs.
We continue to be a hub school for Electronics offering training in electronics in the Design and Technology classroom. http://www.paulgardiner.co.uk/EiSS/EiSS.html
In 2007-8 we supported training for three Coventry schools in launching Building Learning Power and also provided training for developing examination techniques in Geography.
Director of Training School:
Mrs V Maginnis
Director of CPD:
Dr L Pyne
Training School Manager (Professional Tutor):
Mrs J Brake
Leaders of e-Learning and e-Teaching:
Miss L Page and Mr A Tighe
Training School Administrator:
Mrs D Reader
Finham Park achieved Training School status in 2004 and was recently awarded an extension to this contract until 2010. This process of re-designation was highly demanding and involved satisfying key criteria for the Department for Education and Science. These criteria ensure that the school offers high quality training not only to all staff within the school but also to trainee teachers who have placements at the school.
