Eastern Leadership Centre

The Keynote Speaker is Jo Salter (pictured), the first woman RAF Fighter Pilot and `combat-ready’ member of the famous 617 Squadron, The Dambusters. Jo’s A-levels are in Maths, Physics, and Electronic Systems and she has an Engineering degree.

She is a keen advocate of improved Maths and Science teaching standards in British schools and an active supporter of the TDA Programmes to recruit and train specialist Teaching Assistants. Her mission on 25th June will be to `fire up’ Conference Delegates with her own unique brand of can-do leadership energy.
Many Higher Level Teaching Assistants, known in schools as HLTAs, are working under the TDA Programme in the Maths and Science Departments of secondary schools, providing experienced and qualified teachers with support and the opportunity to develop their own skills through CPD, by taking some of their classes.

Some HLTAs also perform a vital role by providing tuition for C-borderline GCSE students, as well as coaching gifted and talented pupils. HLTAs are fully-integrated as `co-educators’ in the various classes. As part of the `wider workforce’ team, HLTAs often perform a variety of leadership roles, including managing other Teaching Assistants and providing mentoring to new TAs. The HLTA role can lead to qualifications as a teacher and universities accept HLTA status towards a teaching degree.

HLTAs with the Maths and Science specialism are seen as an important element of the national workforce remodelling strategy that aims to provide high-quality teaching and learning continuity.

Two speakers at the Conference are `HLTA Champions’ selected from the Region’s schools, namely: Sarah Robinson of Challney High School for Boys and Community College, Luton, Bedfordshire, and Jane Hammond, Saint Peters High School, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex.

HLTA Champion, Beverley Jones, an Education Consultant and former Principal at Chesterton Community College, commented: “Children and young people learn best in an environment where the adults they meet are inspirational and informed. Science and Mathematics education is active, engaging and provides opportunities in school to excite pupils about the world around them. Specialist HLTAs provide the crucial, additional human resource required to research and develop the local organisations that can support schools and give support in the classrooms to enable the lessons to be active, inspirational, and accessible. They are excellent role models who have a genuine interest in the subjects that are so important to our future.”

For the Eastern Leadership Centre, Penny Todman and Nigel English, HLTA Maths and Science Leads, commented: “The Eastern Leadership Centre is delighted to be hosting a conference to celebrate the contribution made by teaching and higher level teaching assistants across the East of England. Their work in schools in raising the achievements, and so often the self esteem of the children they work with, often goes unnoticed, but is nevertheless enormously valuable. We would like to say thank you to them all and not just those attending the event.”

For the Science Learning Centre East of England, Alison McCree, University of Hertfordshire, commented: “With the Government requirement to increase the numbers of young people opting for Science and Mathematics related careers, it is essential to ensure that the highest standards in Maths and Science are enforced in schools. This can only be achieved if the teaching and the support of Maths and Science teaching is first rate. The increasingly valuable role of Teaching Assistants and more specifically Maths and Science Higher Level Teaching Assistants is a vital component in guaranteeing our schools meet this objective.”

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For further information and comment about the HLTA Programme and leadership training for teachers/headteachers in schools within the Eastern Region, please call Michael Shuff, Head of Marketing and PR, The Eastern Leadership Centre, on 01223 499203 or 07710 452969.

www.elc-cambridge.org

Background


What are `HLTA Status’ Teaching Assistants?

Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs) work alongside teachers providing excellence in teaching support. HLTAs work in schools, classrooms and beyond, supporting pupils of different ages and abilities with curriculum and pastoral matters.

Learning, achieving, inspiring!
There are over 21,000 teaching assistants in the UK who have already gained HLTA status. In the Eastern region, schools, teachers, and young people are currently benefiting from the expertise of 2,000 HLTAs, who are being rewarded in return with a host of opportunities and challenges.

How will I and my school benefit?
Becoming a HLTA could help you to develop your skills as well as your knowledge and understanding of how young people learn. HLTAs are deployed throughout the range of educational settings to help raise standards.

Who delivers the course and where?
A bank of highly experienced facilitators deliver training and assessment preparation throughout the Eastern Region, under the general direction of the Training and Development Agency (TDA).

What is the content of the HLTA Programme?
The HLTA status rests upon 33 professional standards, which identify what candidates must demonstrate to be awarded HLTA status. The standards comprise: Professional Values and Practice; Knowledge and Understanding; and Teaching and Learning Abilities. For further details of the 33 standards, and information about training courses available, please visit the HLTA East website at: http://www.hltaeast.org.uk

What is the cost?
It is FREE to candidates approved by local authorities. For non-local authority candidates, please contact ELC for a price list by telephoning 01223 499227.

How do prospective candidates book onto a HLTA course?
Places on the HLTA programme are allocated by local authorities and by the Eastern Leadership Centre. For more information on the Higher Level Teaching Assistant programme, please visit www.hltaeast.org.uk or telephone 01223 499227. You can also email your enquiry to: hltaeast@elc-cambridge.org


Keynote Speaker: Jo Salter, Biography

Imagine being in control of 25 million pounds of screaming metal flying just above the ground - decisions have to be immediate, reflexes lightning fast. For Jo Salter, this was just the day job when she became Britain's first female fast jet pilot flying the Tornado GR1, then one of 5 women fighter pilots in the world.

Her military experience is multifaceted: technical; professional; managerial; political. Add 7 years of e-commerce experience and management consultancy in both the public and private sector, an MBA, Associate Lectureship with the Open University Business School and flying air cadets as a volunteer pilot for the RAF at weekends - and no wonder Jo is so successful in combining management and leadership theory with her unique practical experiences to present a humorous, inspiring and moving range of speeches.

As a combat ready pilot with 617 Squadron, the Dambusters, Jo experienced operational tours of duty and took part in large international NATO exercises around the world. She worked in intelligence. She became a fast jet instructor. Her tales from such an elite world offer alternative insights into personal development, meeting challenges and succeeding in the face of adversity.

Jo has extensive experience of working with the media, from featuring on the front page of The Times to international radio and television coverage. Her television appearances include Record Breakers as well as various documentaries.

Jo uses her boundless energy, never-failing humour, compassion and understanding, as well as her advanced skills, to facilitate workshops, carry out life changing seminars, conduct high performance coaching sessions, and enable individuals and organisations to solve problems.

Achievement is a way of life for Jo - and, yes, achievement while living in the real world as a daughter, sister, parent, friend Jo is a determined and visionary realist. Be prepared to be challenged.