Professional Tutor/ITT Co-ordinator. The professional tutor is responsible for the whole group of student teachers and for their overall experience in the school. S/he will ensure that the school element of the partnership calendar is followed and that student teachers are familiar with whole school issues. In addition, s/he will lead and support the subject mentor(s) in effective delivery and development of the school’s ITT programme. The professional tutor will also liaise with the university and, together with the University link tutors, deal with the philosophical, legal and organizational issues arising from school-based ITT work. S/he will keep themselves informed about the progress of individual student teachers through discussion of the student teachers’ Standards related documentation and via regular meetings with the student teacher, mentor, link tutor and subject tutor. Normally, the professional tutor should be willing to assist the University by facilitating occasional “re-sit” school experiences in their school, in negotiation with the Head of Partnership or Co- ordinator for School Partnership. Main responsibilities: have in place school policies or development plans that support ITT (including having, or be working towards having, a specific ITT policy for the school); attending training sessions and meetings (including the annual review meeting and pre- school experience cluster briefing) in preparation for the effective fulfilment of their role; overall management and co-ordination of the training within the school to ensure that all student teachers can meet the requirements of the school experience and receive support as outlined in the school experience handbook, including ensuring that the student teacher has an appropriate teaching and administrative load as specified in course documentation and workforce reform requirements; oversee the selection, preparation and support of mentors and class teachers working with student teachers, including the facilitation of regular meetings (i.e. on a weekly basis in a dedicated session during the school day, the timing of which is mutually agreed by all parties in order to ensure that entitlement requirements are being met). These meetings, between the mentor and student teacher, are for them to discuss practical and theoretical matters relating to the teaching of their subject (including target setting and the reviewing of student teacher progress against the Teachers’ Standards); be familiar with and ensure that mentors...
Professional Tutor/ITT Co-ordinator. The professional tutor is responsible for the candidate’s overall experience in the school. S/he will lead and support the subject mentor(s) in enabling the candidate to address and achieve the action points identified at the IAV stage. S/he will also liaise with the university regarding any significant issues which arise during the assessment phase. S/he will keep informed about the progress of the candidate through discussion with the candidate themselves, mentor and university AO Co-ordinator. S/he will undertake some formal lesson observations of the candidate and provide feedback (written and oral). The professional tutor will facilitate visits by the external examiner, Ofsted inspectors and University moderator to their school in order that moderation and/or assessment of the provision, management and quality assurance of/in the partnership as well as candidate progress and achievement may take place. Mentor Mentors are responsible for the subject application to support professional development within the candidate’s classroom practice. Mentors are normally members of staff who are recognised as being effective classroom practitioners. Mentors are teachers who have received specific training for the supporting role and will liaise with other colleagues where appropriate in order to address any action points raised at the start of the assessment phase. Mentors are expected to meet regularly i.e. on a weekly basis in a dedicated session during the school day, the timing of which is mutually agreed upon by all parties in order to ensure that entitlement requirements are being met) with their candidate in order to discuss matters relating to their teaching (including target setting and the reviewing of progress against the Teachers’ Standards). Mentors are required to carry out formal observations on a regular weekly basis using the university lesson observation sheet pro-forma along with the university criteria for grading lessons. During the assessment phase there will be two Joint Observations with the university AO designated tutor and the mentor must make themselves available for feedback and also at the final evidence check at the end of the assessment phase. S/he is required to complete an Interim Report at the midway stage and a Final Report at completion of the assessment phase.
