Are you looking to work together with fellow schools to evaluate your practice in a mutually-beneficial partnership? CUREE's programme for Peer Review training draws on successes in conducting over 60 school reviews, all scaffolded by research-based tools and expertise in helping leaders use them, to support colleagues in conducting impactful Peer Reviews.
Unlike competing Peer Review training, CUREE's programme is rooted in the evidence behind effective school improvement and professional development to investigate in depth colleagues' individual contexts. Much more than a simple peer-evaluation against predetermined benchmarks; the carefully scaffolded, iterative training process builds trust between participants to ensure a rich and rewarding review process.
Faciliated by a team who are experienced in evaluation as well as leadership development, the training provides colleagues with the tools and confidence to conduct their own Peer Reviews. Our facilitators are skilled practitioners, researchers and leaders who have broad experience of translating CUREE's extensive command of international research about effective leadership and the practice of teaching and learning into sustained programmes of school-wide, enquiry-based CPD.
The programme will help you to develop exceptional schools via Peer Review, embedded in collaborative, reciprocal enquiry. We will also take care to establish your confidence in Peer Review by;
- working in groups of your choice, either existing or new for this project. The evidence shows that working in trios leads to a greater depth of analysis and calibration of data through triangulation. However, we can accommodate the grouping that best facilitates the Peer Review process for you and your colleagues;
- scaffolded 'doing' which allows for immediate application to real situations in your school; and
- providing practical tools to support evidence collection, analysis and report writing.
We'll help you to understand and review how five key building blocks of school improvement operate and are aligned:
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Leadership of teaching, learning and the curriculum
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The setting of aspirational goals and expectations for all pupils and educators
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Creation of a safe and orderly community for learning
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The selection and use of resources
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Promotion and modelling of CPD
Delivered across four engaging sessions, the training will serve as protected quality time for supported planning and analysis spaced over the period your reviews will take place. Across all four of the sessions you will;
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carry out a small enquiry to demonstrate the power of the tools, the evidence and to foster an enquiry-focused mindset;
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debrief colleagues and facilitators about your findings and learn to triangulate and sample so that the review processes are efficient;
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conduct peer reviews within your trio - supported by a webinar from CUREE colleagues; and
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explore links between monitoring arrangements and CPD so that you can further develop the quality of teaching, learning curriculum context and expertise.
To find out how Peer Review could inform your school improvement plans read the Lincolnshire Schools Peer Review Report - which details the key findings from over 40 Peer Reviews.
This programme can be either be delivered from the CUREE offices or within one of the participating schools. To find out more about CUREE Peer Review, or for information about costs, contact niamh.mcmahon@curee.co.uk or call Niamh on 024 7652 4036.