National Institute of Teaching Teacher Educator Development Day

“I feel energised as a Teacher Educator at a time when I was beginning to feel demotivated. I now want to push beyond my current remit to action system level change within my organisation and feel that the work today has helped empower me with tools and starting points for those conversations.”

The National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) Teacher Educator Development Day took place at the end of last month at the Birmingham Campus originally conceptualised around the themes of the NIoT rubric, with an opportunity to network and share, and learn from the dedicated research team at the NIoT.
 
Led by Kyle Bailey, NPQ Lead for the South and West at NIoT since 2024, Kyle’s other day job is Birmingham South Teaching School Hub Lead. In his NIoT role, Kyle benefits from working with great people, including members of our SWIFT TSH Team, Jen Knowles and Fiona McNeile, and OneCornwall partners; as well as other Associate Colleges, with whom Kyle has been working closely to better understand the needs of their regions.

Kyle is privileged to visit Campus Facilitators, many of whom are serving school leaders, which prompted his thinking for the day in recognising the need for colleagues across to country to meet in-person. He also wanted to give back and to amplify the work of Facilitators and to enable them to bring and share concrete resources to their NPQ delivery sessions. ​

​The audience of 80 colleagues spun the spectrum of the Golden Thread, including those currently leading the Early Career Teacher Programme, Teaching School Hub Directors, Heads of Professional Development at Multi Academy Trusts – plus representation from the Local Authority, and colleagues who currently work / do not work with the NIoT. Kyle is keen that colleagues are aware that the NIoT is more than its programmes and offers huge research opportunities.

Keynotes included Dr Chris Baker, who leads professional development at the Cabot Learning Federation (partner with Ambition Institute), on Why Teacher Educators are Essential for Sector Improvement - focusing on the role and challenges as a Mentor, Facilitator, and Head of Professional Development in school. NIoT Executive Director for Programmes, Reuben Moore led on Horizon Scanning and Implications for the Sector and Input on the Curriculum Assessment Review changes. Too often, information can be provided piecemeal and Reuben gave an overview on what is currently in place and what colleagues might need to consider and change. Finally, Margaret Mulholland from ASCL led the keynote on Supporting Other Teachers in an Educational Landscape with Greater Need, building on Reuben’s overarching themes, as well as inclusion – always a relevant focus for Schools and Trusts and a current big priority for the Government following the recent White Paper.
 
Delegates could choose to attend a variety of workshops. All of which shared the purpose of thinking through how to design and conceptualise teacher education. 

Dr Rob Nash, Head of Psychological Research at the NIoT led on Feedback Literacy and How to Make Receiving Feedback Less Awful, which was well received (not surprising perhaps with its engaging title!). Aretha Banton from Mindful Equity led the session on recruiting career changers from more ethnically diverse backgrounds and cultural competence. Leyla Palmer and Hayley Bissell from NIoT Associate College, Windsor Academy Trust, led the session on Adaptive Facilitation in Practice: Balancing Structure, Responsiveness and Instruction Synopsis. Whilst Oasis Community Learning, the founding NIoT MAT here in the South West, and One World Education, led a session together on Leading Learning: Rigour and Joy in Every Classroom. NIoT Tutors, Balli Dalli, Pete Gandon and Faye Murphy invited delegates to a session on Squeezing the Sponge: how can we provoke hard thinking and make effective application more likely in teacher education to get the most out of your practice. Finally, Chris Baker led on Making Change Stick: the Systematic ‘transfer of training.’
 
The Teacher Educator Day was a momentous day: impactful conversations and uplifting feedback on all the sessions. Feedback from attendees about the day was very positive with strong engagement in the sessions and colleagues attending from the North West and London will be hosting Facilitators at their own sessions later in the year.
 
“The best, most thought-provoking day of professional learning I have had in many years. I have made many notes and been inspired to reflect on my practices and our organisation as a whole.”
 
Looking beyond the conference, the intention is for colleagues to reference what they have learned and heard in the sessions and to mention in their NPQ facilitation training and to adjust the way they give feedback.
Equally, it has been an invaluable outreach exercise to some of the colder spots around the country and those Schools and Trusts who have yet to work closely with the NIoT - several of whom have already been in contact to request speaker details to ask them to lead on training sessions for their Trust.
 
Commenting on the day Kyle Bailey said:
“Above all, the Teacher Educator Development Day was pivotal in supporting the work of the NIoT in bringing together, connecting people, and supporting Schools and Multi Academy Trusts.
The NIoT is making a big effort here in the South West to push outwards and for members of our NIOT Team to run sessions to help boost the system overall and we are delighted to be leading on this support work.”
 
The South West region is central to supporting future NPQs and the delivery of the NIoT role by bringing people together and connecting Facilitators with Schools and Trusts. NIoT’s strong focus is on serving school leaders and it is gratifying that this aligns well with our SWIFT ethos of working with Schools and Trusts.

Teaching School Hubs will continue to play a vital, place‑based role, recognising that schools’ needs vary by geography and system context. Local knowledge in linking Schools, MATs, Research Schools and Hubs will strengthen collaboration and working alongside, listening, learning and feeding back is essential, and here at SWIFT as Teaching School Hubs, we will always be proud to exemplify this schools‑led, collaborative approach.

We are proud to partner with the NIoT for the Early Career Teacher Programme (ECTP) and National Professional Qualifications (NPQs).

Report by Jude Baylis, SWIFT Executive Assistant

national institute of teaching (NIoT)

NioT/SWIFT Early Career Teacher Programme (ECTP)

NioT/swift National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)