It’s been a really topsy-turvy half term. This week we have been hard at work putting together some of the detail for our Teaching School Alliance.

As you will recall, our Group was asked to become a Teaching School and National Support School by central government earlier in the year. On Monday, I met with colleagues representing some of the schools in Bolton, Rochdale, Manchester, Trafford and Oldham. We have agreed on many exciting proposals that will support and influence a number of key areas:

• Initial teacher training
• Research and development
• Continuing professional development
• Leadership and talent management
• School to School support
• Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs)

Although New Bridge is the lead organisation, we have designed the structure of the alliance so that all the partner schools can share their best practice within a collaborative framework. I believe that our Group will benefit massively from collaborating and working alongside others and we will be able to ensure that all our children encounter the most modern, up to date and innovative approaches.

On a separate note, one of the most wonderful things still about my job is the opportunity to observe outstanding teachers in action. I was lucky enough on Wednesday to witness one of the most amazing lessons – a Year 9 class happily studying Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It was wonderful to observe their learning as they discussed and debated the main characters, explored how the key themes within the play are still relevant today and revisited their previous learning by quoting elements of the text. To sit in our schools and listen to our children discussing ‘dramatic irony and soliloquy’ is inspiring!

I hope you are all able to spend quality time with your families over the long Bank Holiday weekend and I look forward to seeing you on Monday 6th June.

Graham