Education Service launches new leadership for learning programme

Entitled ‘Leading Learning: Improving Pedagogy’ the programme began with masterclasses in Kilmarnock and Cumnock hosted by the globally respected Professor Dylan Wiliam a globally respected academic and an authority on the use of assessment to improve education.

Dylan Wiliam is Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment at University College London and has enjoyed a distinguished career in teaching and education, working with many groups of teachers, all over the world.

For the last 20 years, he has focused on the use of assessment to support learning (sometimes called formative assessment). He was the co-author, with Paul Black of a major review of the research evidence on formative assessment,  “Inside the black box”, published in 1998 and was also the presenter of the BBC2 series “The Classroom Experiment.”

Accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland, the training is delivered by the Tapestry Partnership, for whom Professor Wiliam is a Key Adviser and covers five essential messages in classroom practice to help raise achievement:

• Ensuring understanding of expected learning intentions and criteria for success
• Using classroom discussions, questions and tasks that motivate and elicit evidence of learning
• Providing feedback that moves learners forward
• Providing opportunities for learners to support each other’s learning
• Providing opportunities for learners to take responsibility for their own learning

A range of class teachers, promoted teachers and classroom assistants from across the Council took part in the masterclasses and will follow the subsequent programme of professional learning.

Linda McAulay-Griffiths East Ayrshire Council’s Head of Education said: “I am delighted to formally launch our Improving pedagogy programme which focuses on developing the skills of our teachers and classroom assistants to lead learning in their own schools.  

“This approach is in line with the Empowering Schools agenda and recognises the talented workforce we have in East Ayrshire and our commitment to ensuring that opportunities for leadership at all levels are maximised.

“We are honoured to be collaborating with Professor Wiliam and look forward to hearing the key messages from his research around focusing on those strategies that have the most impact on our learners.”