Professional Learning Communities

A key aspect of Huntington School's Development Plan is to implement a high quality training programme to develop expertise in learning and teaching through our Professional Learning Communities initiative. The key purpose of Professional Learning Communities is to allow fellow professionals to share their expertise and learn from each others' contributions as they address key issues about learning and teaching, with the ultimate aim to improve their day to day practice.

We will focus on 4 key aspects of student learning and teaching:
• Functional Skills
• Student Independent Learning Skills (SILS)
• Assessment Data for Raising Achievement (ADRA)
• Literacy

Each Professional Learning Community will focus on collaborative planning and will establish an understanding of the key focus. Each community will serve as a support base for staff to share their good practice and will allow staff to engage in action research within their own subject. We will have a 2 year programme, with 2 areas covered per year for every colleague. There will be 8 meetings over four half terms, from October to June, with each PLC lasting for 4 meetings.
The success of our professional development programme depends upon every single colleague's professional commitment to contribute to the PLC, and disaggregated Training Day time offers an opportunity to enable all staff to engage with this initiative.

This is a major part of the professional development of our staff over the next two years and will constitute directed time. However we do not want to take time away from departments. All Professional Learning Community meetings will be over at 4.45pm sharp.

1. Thursday 13th November 3.45pm-4.45pm (Disaggregated time)
2. Monday 1st December 3.45pm-4.45pm (Disaggregated time)
3. Wednesday 28th January (Training Day) 2.30pm-3.30pm (Non-disaggregated time)
4. Monday 9th February 3.45pm-4.45pm (Disaggregated time)
5. Tuesday 24th February 3.45pm-4.45pm (Disaggregated time)
6. Monday 9th March 3.45pm-4.45pm (Disaggregated time)
7. Thursday 23rd April (Training Day) 8.40am-9.40am (Non-disaggregated time): There will be no other meetings during the day so that departments can begin moderation promptly at 9.45am
8. Thursday 18th May 3.45pm-4.45pm (Disaggregated time)

What is a Professional Learning Community (PLC)?

• Shared Values and Vision
Focus on pupil learning
Values of the PLC are understood by all
High expectations of all pupils
Cultural improvement in the school

• Collective Responsibility for Pupils Learning
Staff take joint responsibility
Peer pressure on those who do not do their fair share

• Collaboration Focused on Learning
Team planning
Team teaching
Across roles (teachers with support staff) and schools

• Group / Individual Professional Learning
All staff involved
Range of CPD (peer coaching, demonstration lessons, whole staff days, learning forums, workshops and research)
Responsibility for promoting and supporting each others learning

• Reflective Professional Enquiry
Reflective practice is valued
Research and enquiry informs learning and teaching e.g. mutual observation, self evaluation and action research
Data is analysed and used for reflection and improvement
Input from pupils

• Openness, networks and partnerships
People are open to change
Engage in networks with other schools
Encourage risk taking

• Inclusive Membership
Support staff are valued in the PLC
Governors are involved in the PLC

• Mutual Trust, Respect and Support
Working Relationships are positive
Staff feel competent

Why are Professional Learning Communities Important?

• Life Long Learning
"An effective professional learning community has the capacity to promote and sustain the learning of all professionals in the school community with the collective purpose of enhancing pupil learning"

• CPD
Sending individuals on one shot workshops has little impact on their practice. A concentrated effort within school on promoting a range of CPD is much more likely to have an impact

• Links
Local, national and international; improvement must be seen to enhance the learning of all and not be seen as of narrow benefit

• Pupil Learning
Enhance pupil learning, and in the widest sense including pupil well being