Training and Development

The National Curriculum for History requires pupils to gain understanding about abstract concepts of substantive knowledge across periods while the OFSTED framework expects to see teaching in greater depth than before. This practical series of webinars will show how pupils can be introduced to these concepts, which can then be systematically revisited wherever they occur in content, ensuring that pupils accumulate powerful knowledge around it for retrieval as they progress through medium term plans.  

Workshop  -             War  Wednesday 16th November 2022

Workshop  -             Empire  Thursday 1st December

Workshop  -             Monarchy  Wednesday 11th January 2023

Workshop  -             Government  Thursday 26th January

Workshop  -             Trade  Monday 6th February 

Workshop  -             Civilisation  Tuesday 28th February

Workshop  -             Religion  Thursday 9th March

Click on the titles above for further information on each workshop.

The training will be led by Andrew Wrenn, a knowledgeable history specialist and an honorary fellow of the Historical Association. He is an experienced teacher, trainer and writer, former LA adviser and co-author of the HA`s report on Teaching Emotive and Controversial History 3-19. Andrew recently led highly evaluated training on the impact of the new OFSTED framework on Primary History .

Further details can be found on the flyer here.

This programme of five sessions across the year focuses on improving and evaluating pupil outcomes by providing opportunities for subject specialist history teachers, and others, to focus on improving subject knowledge, as well as considering their curriculum design.  This in turn ensures teachers are able to impart rich subject knowledge required for GCSE / A Level specifications, as well as providing teachers with the opportunity to develop their curriculum to meet the aims of the National Curriculum - “to inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past.”

Each workshop is led by an acknowledged expert in the field of history teaching and provides a distinct focus. In the past these workshops have included topics such as embedding local history, making best use of retrieval practice, ensuring accessibility for lower prior attaining GCSE students, developing a diverse and representative history curriculum, and developing a curriculum with historians at its heart. 

There are also opportunities for colleagues to share ideas, resources, ask questions and seek guidance from experts in the field of history education.

Dates and details for the 2022-23 academic year meetings can be found here.

Teaching about Significant Explorers in KS1

National Curriculum rubric for History at KS1 expects content to cover historically significant individuals and suggests the pairing of Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong  as past explorers.

This practical webinar will give examples of a diverse range of explorers who might be studied at KS1, from different backgrounds and periods, with suggested activities that focus on historical enquiry questions linked to different disciplinary concepts.

It is based on recent materials commissioned by the Royal Geographical Society to coincide with a major expedition to discover the wreck of the ship Endurance, used  by the Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton.

For further details click here or visit our online booking system. 

The “Quality of Education” component of the new OFSTED framework gives unprecedented attention to the role of foundation subjects and subject leaders in the delivery of an ambitious primary curriculum.

“Deep Dives” during an OFSTED visit examine in close detail how subject leaders are meeting the requirements for intent, implementation  and impact.

These practical workshops will use Primary History as an example, to show how foundation subject leaders can overhaul planning effectively to develop knowledge-rich content but which retains a creative and inspirational impact on children.

Workshop 1  -  Deciding on your Intent  -  Wednesday 26th April 2023

This webinar looks at how the OFSTED framework defines intent, what it looks for in a knowledge-rich primary history curriculum as a whole and how a curriculum can be shaped to take in to account the particular needs of local pupils and the communities they come from.

Workshop 2   -  Implementation  -  Planning for success  -  Thursday 11th May 2023

This webinar focuses on how schools can plan effectively for pupils to acquire content knowledge and revisit major subject concepts over time on the basis of a spiral curriculum. It will also show how to use pupil voice to inform planning and demonstrate how well-structured medium term plans reinforce prior knowledge and act as a spring board for future learning.

Workshop 3 - Balancing Rigor & Creativity in Impact - Thursday 25th May  2023 

(Deep Dive case study)

This webinar looks in detail at a recent Deep Dive in Primary History where a primary school came well out of the process, winning praise for how pupils acquired knowledge while retaining an enquiry-based approach to teaching and a strong enrichment programme . It will consider what can be learned from this example and applied to other schools. 

For further details click here or visit our online booking system. 

Whether you are a geography subject lead or an ECT teaching KS1/KS2 for the first time, do you have the deep subject knowledge required by the new OFSTED framework? Are you looking for guidance on shaping and sequencing content into coherent medium-term plans?

These content-based workshops will deepen your knowledge of places studied at KS1 and KS2 and help you construct rigorous medium-term plans based on accessible enquiry questions which link to key knowledge and skills in the National Curriculum.

These workshops are led by Ben Ballin, a knowledgeable geography specialist and a member of the Primary Geography editorial board.  Ben is an experienced teacher and trainer who leads primary geography networks in the West Midlands and London.  He has written teaching materials for the Geographical Association, the RGS (with IBG) and the online primary geography website Oddizzi.  In 2019, he created a primary teaching atlas for the publisher TTS.

Dates will be available soon for the 2022-23 academic year.

This programme consists of 3 sessions which will introduce teachers to research-informed and evidence-proven strategies to effectively promote recall, retention and memorisation in the classroom. 

What will delegates achieve?

• Increased knowledge of cognitive science and how it impacts on student learning
• An understanding of the potential impact of interleaving and spaced practice on children’s learning
• Strategies to effectively implement the use of Knowledge Organisers to aid retention
• Practical, easily transferable examples of strategies to develop retrieval practice in your students

The programme is suitable for ECTs, teachers and leaders from primary, secondary and special school settings.

Facilitated by Ashley Bartlett, an experienced teacher, SLE and trainer, these sessions aim to share with delegates practical and easily-implemented strategies, based on the latest pedagogical thinking.  The programme also incorporates a number of inter-sessional challenges which provide delegates with the opportunity to reflect on their current practice and work with their teams to develop their pedagogy.

Dates will be available soon for the 2022-23 academic year.

The Secondary EAL Network is attended by co-ordinators and leads with responsibility for EAL and ethnic minority achievement

It provides a forum to share and develop good practice for working with EAL / Minority Ethnic learners at secondary level, disseminates strategies and raises awareness of useful resources. It also provides an opportunity to network and to share information with colleagues.

There are 3 sessions across the academic year (one per term) and the network is facilitated by Sharon Mitchell-Halliday, who is an Independent Education Consultant, specialising in English as an additional language (EAL), literacy, language and communication and Closing the Gap. Sharon has over 20 years teaching experience as a secondary French and English teacher in Leicestershire and Hertfordshire, and was the British Council EAL Nexus CPD Specialist for the East of England in 2014-15. She is also a licensed LiLAC tutor (Language in Learning across the curriculum, a professional development course to support the teaching of EAL learners and to develop literacy in mainstream classrooms) and a licensed Elklan tutor (Speech, Language and Communication Course).

Dates for the 2022-23 academic year can be found here and places can be booked here.

The National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO) is a mandatory requirement for all SENCOs appointed new to the role and is an excellent opportunity for professional development for aspiring SENCOs.

The programme provides the opportunity for participants to reflect upon and improve their practice whilst learning more about the coordination of special educational needs, policy and supporting the individual needs of children and young people.  It is delivered by Best Practice Network and is accredited by Bath Spa University (BSU), this programme is worth the first 60 credits towards a Master’s (MA) degree.

The 6 day programme currently costs *£2,250 (+VAT) and participants need to register with Best Practice Network - https://www.bestpracticenet.co.uk/nasenco

Applicants are asked to state whether they have been recommended to the programme and should select ‘Leicester and Leicestershire Teaching School Hub’ from the drop-down list as well as inputting the partner code ‘LLTSH’ (in order to gain a place on the Leicester cohort). 

Please click HERE to see the details for the 2022-23 Leicester cohort, starting in Autumn 2022.

*Applicants using the 'LLTSH' code will receive a £50 discount.

Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) status is a recognised progression route for school support staff that can make a real difference to schools and pupils.

It provides confidence, capability, and credibility to carry out advanced roles in teaching and learning.

What’s included?

• 2 days of live group facilitation with tutor and peers
• Independent online course study
• Independent writing of tasks and creation of e-portfolio
• 1.5 hour assessment (interviews with candidate, teacher and Headteacher)

The cost of the programme is *£290 (+VAT) for preparation, plus £450 for assessment, and participants need to register with Best Practice Network - https://www.bestpracticenet.co.uk/hlta

Applicants are asked to state whether they have been recommended to the programme and should select ‘Leicester and Leicestershire Teaching School Hub’ from the drop-down list as well as inputting the partner code ‘LLTSH’ (in order to gain a place on the Leicester cohort).

*Applicants using the 'LLTSH' code will receive a £50 discount.

Various HR workshops are available for senior leaders, looking at specific aspects of knowledge that may be required.

Please click on each of the workshop titles below for further information:

• HR Management for Senior Leaders

          Find out what you need to know about HR, as a Senior Leader

• Restructuring Tips and Know-how

          Restructuring to balance the books or make fit for purpose

• Line management for Middle and Senior Leaders

          Avoiding pitfalls, minimising risk, motivating staff and handling difficult conversations

• Disciplinary Investigations

          How to investigate allegations of misconduct fairly

For further details and queries about HR Workshops for Senior Leaders, please email [email protected]

To book places, please visit our online booking system.