The weekend is planned, run and attended by senior mentors; working with the local authority, they use the Surrey School Support Service to help organise and facilitate the event. The weekend costs less than two day courses with supply cover.
The conference aimed to give NQTs:
- a greater awareness of teacher behaviours and communication
- the opportunity to explore issues related to managing pupil behaviour, and
- the opportunity to extend their repertoire of strategies for effective classroom management.
These aims were achieved using keynote speeches, core presentations and small group seminars on topical issues run by senior mentors and visiting speakers. Time was set aside for NQTs to meet in their school groups with their senior mentor to contextualise what they have learnt to their own school.
Networking was encouraged by putting NQTs into mixed-school groups for the team challenge. Groups planned a five minute presentation on the theme of creating an effective learning environment. This exercise enabled NQTs to think through, and model, some of the strategies and skills learnt over the weekend.
Free time was built into the programme to allow NQTs to network and get to know others facing similar challenges. This beneficial aspect of the residential is not easily achieved on day courses.
For further information, contact Keith Field, Associate Consultant for NQT Induction.
The full version of the April Update for LA Induction Coordinators for NQTs can be accessed online.
