Kirsty Green
Kingsbridge Teacher Training partners with 19 schools across the borough of Wigan and beyond and, through the SCITT, offers an excellent route into the exciting and rewarding world of teaching at primary and secondary levels.
Kirsty Green, together with Fay Blackburn, have co-facilitated TEP delivery after becoming a NASBTT TEP licence holder for the SCITT in 2019..
This means Kingsbridge is able to offer NASBTT’s Level 1 and Level 2 programmes in Effective Mentoring and Coaching, Advanced Mentoring and Coaching, and Facilitating Inspiring CPD.
“I originally attended the two-day TEP Level 3 programme: Training Excellent Mentors, Coaches and Facilitators, which I thought was fantastic, and from there we decided to get the NASBTT TEP licence to ensure our mentors did the Level 1 training and professional mentors did Level 2,” explained Kirsty, who is Director of Curriculum at Shevington High School. “So far I have thoroughly enjoyed delivering the Level 1 programme and really value it as a course. All our mentors have completed this now. Delegates have given very positive feedback and found it extremely useful, not just for trainees but for coaching and mentoring teachers at different levels in school. It has also made teachers realise the pressure that the trainees feel as this is sometimes forgotten by some mentors.”
Kirsty said there had been several stand-out experiences from the Level 1 programme, but highlighted one particular aspect. “The part of the course I really feel is so valuable, and we have embedded in our training, is the initial meeting of the mentor and mentee where they agree on the roles each person plays and what each of them expects – so the initial mentor meeting/contract,” she revealed. “This is a great idea as this is sometimes where problems lie in what is expected, thus setting expectations on both sides. I also think the icebreakers in-between are really good and very thought-provoking.”
Whilst it is early days for Kingsbridge Teacher Training as a TEP licence holder, and the Level 2 training has yet to be delivered due to Covid-19, Kirsty can already point to significant benefits for the SCITT. “The TEPs bring a consistent and excellent approach to mentoring – we make sure all our second placement mentors have completed the Level 1 training, ensuring better mentoring once they have completed the course,” she said. “We have adopted the design of the mentor meeting and the coaching element is extremely valuable too. I would definitely recommend NASBTT’s TEPs to other SCITTs.”
Case study developed: April 2020
