This page outlines the roles and responsibilities commited to in the Partnership Agreement by the University and its Link Tutors, and the Partner School, its PCM and Mentors (CBMs).
The University will:
- provide a Programme Director and M&QA Link Tutor to ensure the fulfilment of the responsibilities of the University, which are specified here;
- be responsible for all administrative matters related to course accreditation, inspection, assessment and examination procedures and quality assurance;
- work with all schools to manage and co‑ordinate the course;
- provide training opportunities for all staff involved in delivering the course;
- share the University-based programme content;
- audit each trainee's subject knowledge and make arrangements for trainees to be assessed against all the required Teachers’ Standards by the end of the course;
- collate information on trainees' academic background, initial audit and interim and final assessments, and facilitate discussion of these between Partner Schools and the University;
- provide personal guidance and support for trainees through academic staff tutorials and access to expert counselling, if required, through Student Services and/or the Students Union;
- provide trainees with training in awareness of their legal status in school and of e-safety procedures;
- ensure that trainees undertake DBS clearance and provide partners with confirmation that the DBS has been undertaken;
- ensure that trainees undertake a ‘Fitness to Teach’ assessment;
- aim to ensure that trainees are placed in diverse settings that include challenging socio-economic placements;
- ensure that all procedures are carried out for the final assessment of trainees for the award of the PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status, and for the completion of an ECT transition document;
- closely monitor trainees work life balance to protect the trainee’s well-being and challenge unnecessary workload demands.
The Partner School will:
- ensure that all trainees are provided with clear guidance in respect of the safeguarding of children with special reference to Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE, September 2019);
- provide a senior and experienced member of staff, taking leadership of ITT, to fulfil the role of the Professional Co-ordinating Mentor (PCM) and make appropriate provision for them to carry out these responsibilities;
- provide Class-Based Mentors (NOT an ECT) who have the appropriate knowledge and understanding, the pedagogical skills, and the interpersonal qualities, willingness and time to support trainees in developing the assessed standards;
- ensure that all CBMs receive appropriate training and support to fulfil their roles in ITT and to the trainee teacher;
- provide appropriate training and support for trainees including a guaranteed weekly training meeting between CBM and trainee, the outcome of which is recorded on the online assessment programme Abyasa;
- provide the trainee with an induction to the school and training in whole-school issues;
- provide access to information on the school’s use of a range of data to support pupil learning and progress;
- include trainees in parents' meetings, reporting to parents / carers and other meetings deemed to support a good training experience;
- include trainees in the school’s wider professional development programme;
- participate in the assessment of trainees and course evaluation and monitoring procedures;
- keep the Link Tutor informed of any developments in school that might affect adversely the quality of the trainee experience in school;
- closely monitor trainees work life balance and well-being and challenge unnecessary workload demands.
The Professional Co-ordinating Mentor (PCM) will:
- act as the first point of contact with the Partnership Office in co-ordinating all aspects of school placements;
- have responsibility for quality assuring all aspects of training and assessment within their own school e.g. by monitoring the provision of weekly training meetings and the observation of trainee teachers’ lessons via Abyasa;
- co-ordinate the on-going development and quality of all ITT mentoring within the school;
- encourage, support and manage training so that all Mentors obtain St Mary’s University certification of school-based mentoring at ‘Entry Level’;
- complete an evaluation of school-based training;
- manage the school-based aspects of any issues of concern for a trainee ensuring that all involved (trainee, CBM, university M&QA Link Tutor) are informed, in good time, of the concerns, targets, time-frame and outcomes agreed.
The CBM (Class-Based Mentor) will:
- work closely with the PCM and Link Tutor to ensure the quality, coherence, consistency and appropriateness of the school-based training provided;
- provide induction into classroom procedures, data (e.g. target grades for school pupils), resources and specifications as appropriate;
- plan a timetable that meets the training needs of the trainee as appropriate and as advised in the training plan;
- ensure that the timetable includes a designated time-slot for the Weekly Training Meeting where progress against the Teachers’ Standards is discussed and appropriate targets are set on Abyasa. The trainee will bring to these training meetings evidence against the Standards, and record the discussion for the Mentor to agree and confirm;
- receive and approve the trainee teacher’s lesson plans in good time and provide appropriate feed-back in time for the trainee to make agreed amendments;
- ensure that the trainee is formally observed once a week during School Experience and is provided with written feedback in relation to the Teachers’ Standards;
- jointly observe with the university M&QA Link Tutor and/or PCM as appropriate;
- complete the trainee Assessment Profile by the due date at the end of each block, with the trainee and possibly the university M&QA Link Tutor and/or PCM;
- identify in the trainee Assessment Profile areas for development for the next phase of training in relation to the Teachers’ Standards and work with the trainee to set SMART targets and agree a plan of action;
- complete a short evaluation of the placement to support ongoing improvements within the Partnership.
The University M&QA Link Tutor will:
- visit trainees during school placements to carry out an initial meeting and two QA checks of the placement, and to monitor trainee progress and well-being (one QA visit for BAITT Year 1);
- support the training and development needs of the trainee through joint observation with mentor where required;
- Quality Assure the training provision the trainee is receiving to ensure the Partnership Agreement is adhered to;
- complete an M&QA report on their visit and share via Abyasa.