An All-through Teaching School Alliance
connectED – is an All-through Teaching School , jointly led by Barrow CEVC Primary school and County Upper School in the county of Suffolk bordering with Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. These are both high achieving schools within Bury St Edmunds. The Alliance is proud to be able to support teaching, learning and leadership across all age ranges in Suffolk and beyond. We aim to bring together the broad range of expertise, experience, talent and capacity from all our partnership schools and strategic partners to provide excellent services in the region. Through support and collaboration our aim is to make a significant contribution to raising standards in schools; leading to excellent outcomes for all our children in the region.
Please have look around this website to see what our Teaching School can offer you and your school.
New Teaching School Director Appointed
The ConnectED Teaching School Alliance, based at Barrow Primary School in Bury St. Edmunds, has this week appointed a new Director. Jacqui Watkins will be succeeding Mandy Sands in what will be the beginning a new era for ConnectED after four years of Mandy’s leadership.
Teaching schools such as ConnecTED play a key role in the training and professional development of teachers as well as contributing to the raising of standards through school to school support. Teaching schools are part of the governments drive to enable schools to take increasing responsibility for managing the education system, using the best teachers and leaders to provide support and training.
Mandy, who will be retiring to Scotland after a long and successful career in education, spoke fondly of her time spent establishing and developing ConnectED. “It’s been a hugely satisfying four years and I feel very proud of our achievements, which have had a positive impact on outcomes for a significant number children and young people across the county.”
Dr Viv Hughes, Chair of Governors at Barrow which is the TSA’s lead primary school, was keen to thank and acknowledge Mandy for her huge contribution. “Due to Mandy’s hard work over the last four years, she leaves us with a strong organisation, which is ready for its next stage of growth and development.”
ConnectED’s successes have reached as far across the county as Lowestoft. More locally, their effective school to school support was evident through the recent ‘good’ Ofsted outcome for Tollgate Primary School in Bury St. Edmunds. Over the last 18 months, ConnectED secured £12,000 worth of DfE school improvement funding for Tollgate through a national bidding process. This funding enabled the teaching school to work alongside Tollgate staff to drive improvements by deploying outstanding leaders and teachers from Barrow Primary School.
Helen Ashe, Headteacher at Barrow and the ConnectED TSA’s Lead Headteacher reflected, “I’m enormously proud of the TSA’s impact locally. This has been made possible by Mandy’s tireless efforts in developing ConnectED’s strong reputation. Moving forward, I’m excited at the prospect of working with Jacqui, who joins us with impressive credentials and a clear vision for the future.”
ENDORSEMENTS
“A beacon of good practice in East Anglia” (Charlie Taylor. March 2015)
“The process has been hugely beneficial and has supported the College, the department and the teacher in raising standards and ensuring our students get the best possible opportunity to succeed.”
“Lovely style of presentation”
“Best course I’ve been on.”
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Specialist Leader of Education.
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SLE Application Form,
SLE Application guidance,
SLE Application Process
2nd Referee Form.
Support for Culture and the Arts in Suffolk!
ConnectED TSA is pleased to have gained CALSA Lead School status.
This means that we work with Festival Bridge http://www.nnfestival.org.uk/festival-bridge to support schools and academies to strengthen and sustain Culture and Arts Provision. The development and embedding of a rich Culture and Arts provision has been shown to have a powerful impact on outcomes for students over the short and longer term.
ConnectED TSA has a number of Culture and Arts Leaders who can be deployed to support Culture and Arts projects in your school – no matter how big or small and for all phases.
To find out how we can support your school, see information leaflet and contact Ellie at admin@connectedtsa.org
Professional Learning Opportunities
Essential Skills for Early Years Teaching Assistants