My name is Louise Gale, I am a teacher and Art & Design subject lead at Downsway Primary School. I am currently running the Art Network meetings while Claire Thomas (teacher & Art & Design subject lead from Westwood Farm) is on maternity leave. This year, was the first year we have had Art & Design subject leader meetings, and they have been extremely popular. Art & Design in schools has never felt so important in the post-Covid world we find ourselves in. Art as we know gives pupils the freedom to express themselves and explore their emotions.
In our Art Network meetings, we have the opportunity to share best practice, the challenges we come up against and magpie lots of ideas together. This academic year we have focused on assessment in art, use of sketchbooks, diversity of artists, and short-term and long-term art planning to name a few. These sessions aim to allow us to be the best possible art leads, energising and enthusing others and sparking young imaginations in our schools. We are looking forward to continuing to have our Art and Design subject leader meetings next academic year which will allow us to continue highlighting the importance of this creative subject.
Design & Technology and Outdoor Education, Laragh Nagle at Mrs Bland’s Infant and Nursery School
My name is Laragh Nagle. I've been teaching for 20 years, 17 of them here in the UK, and I qualified as a Forest School Leader 7 years ago. Since then I have taught the whole spectrum of outdoor learning, from pure 'Forest School' to curriculum based outdoor learning, mostly with children in Early Years and Key Stage 1. I prefer to be outside myself and want the children I teach to love being outside too. Outdoor learning as a subject has become increasingly popular and the benefits of learning and spending time outdoors are well-documented. We can use the outdoors to develop specific skills or we can take curriculum objectives and teach them outside.
English, Rianna Dobashi at Theale Primary School
I am very excited to be taking on the role of network lead for English this year. I currently lead on English and PPG at Theale Primary school, and have experience teaching all year groups at primary level. At the moment, I'm doing a master's with UCL in Education specialising in English provision. Literacy is a fundemental part of life, regardless of age or stage, but the difference we make in primary school can set our pupils up for the best possible start. Not only do we have the duty to support them in their learning of key literacy skills, we are also in a unique position to inspire them to be lifelong readers and, in turn, lifelong learners. Our meetings will be a great place to voice challenges, share ideas and hone our collective practice as English curriculum leads. I look forward to getting started!
Geography, Daisy Tordoff at Birch Copse Primary School
My name is Daisy and I am really excited to take over the role of Geography lead this year, to be able to work alongside a group of fantastic leads, and to share all of your ideas and expertise. I have been the Geography subject lead at Birch Copse School for three years and I am currently teaching in Year 4. I have always had a passion for Geography and it was always a subject I loved when at school. For some children, Geography would not be deemed as one of their ‘favourite lessons’ but my goal is to help the children we teach to see what an exciting subject Geography can be, and to realise how much there is to learn about the world we live in.
We live in an age where we have access to so much of our world with just a click of a button, and I feel it is so important that we utilise this and expose the children we teach to the many amazing resources we have available. We will be able to share ideas on assessment in the subject, as well as how we can ensure progression of geographical skills and knowledge. I am hoping our meetings can be a place where everyone feels they can ask questions, share their thoughts and support one another in becoming the best Geography leaders we can be.
History, Daisy Eva at Theale PrimarySchool
History is a true passion of mine, having studied Ancient History for my Undergraduate Degree, and Egyptian and Near Eastern Archaeology, for my Masters Degree. The study of History encourages pupils to think. From there, pupils can begin to think critically and gain an understanding of cultures past and present, as well national and international traditions. History widens children’s experiences and enhances their perception and judgement of the world. The study of the past provides pupils with a platform to gain not only substantial knowledge about significant lives and events in history, it also provides an opportunity to contemplate complex and moral questions and to explore what it means to be human. Perhaps most importantly, History as a discipline promotes the value of scholarship and the power of knowledge.
The History Network Meetings provide the opportunity for teachers to share good practice, curriculum coverage, modules, planning and ideas of how to ensure the skills progression in history is explicitly taught alongside the essential historical knowledge. This academic year, meetings have focused on identifying and challenging the gifted and talented pupils in history, effective planning and progression in history, and inspiring and encouraging a personal interest in history. Next year, the Network will focus on a number of topics, including: Ofsted, producing intent, implementation and impact documents, effective assessment across KS1 and KS2, and effective curriculum coverage. The meetings are a wonderful opportunity for teachers to share resources and ideas, and it is lovely to hear about children’s growing love of history across West Berkshire Schools.
Languages, Alice Bastable, at Theale Primary School
Hi, my name is Alice. Many moons ago, I completed a BA in French and Music at the University of Sheffield, which included a year studying French at the Université Laval in Québec, Canada, before taking my PGCE in MFL at the University of Bristol. I taught French for 10 years at Kennet School in Thatcham before spending 4 years as a mostly A-Level specialist teacher at Theale Green School. During the lockdown year of 2020, I decided it was time for a change; I was delighted to be offered the role of specialist French teacher at Theale C of E Primary where I have been ever since! I teach all the children in the school, from FS2 up to Year 6, meaning I also work alongside every teacher and TA and have taught in every classroom. It has been a real privilege to have taught children from age 4 up to age 18 and I am still really enjoying it! Languages, particularly French, have always been my passion; I love to travel and go to France as often as I can. I believe it is now more important than ever to instil a lifelong love of language learning in our young people, as too many are growing up as monolingual (something which would put you in the minority in most other countries). Take up of languages at GCSE and A-Level is worryingly low, with learners perceiving it as a difficult subject, so I believe that it is vital that we get it right at primary level. Our children need to enjoy our lessons, make good progress, to feel confident as language learners and perhaps most of all, to have enthusiasm for languages as they approach Year 7. I believe that including 'cultural capital' in our language lessons is as important as teaching the three main 'pillars of progression' - phonics, grammar and vocab - as it is this which makes the language relevant to our children.
Music, Natalie Irons at Garland Junior School
My name is Natalie and I am the music lead at Garland Junior School, part of the Burghfield Common Federation. Garland Junior School is one of the Berkshire Music Trust lead schools which will mean a strong connection between BMT and BLDP. I have 27 years of experience as a primary class teacher in Hampshire & Berkshire and have taught the music curriculum from EYFS to year 6 for the last 10 years. My particular interests are in music for all, especially giving opportunities to pupils in receipt of Pupil Premium, and other vulnerable areas. I have put in place a number of interventions and enrichment projects over the years for behaviour, ASD, transition from nursery to year R and from year 2 to 3. I have also developed school ensembles and instrumental provisional across the schools I have worked in. I am keen to support other teachers through networks and cluster groups, and have a particular interest in supporting those new to the music co-ordinator role, or who are unsure how to champion music in their schools.
PE, Jake Haynes at Falkland Primary School
My name is Amy and I have been the PE lead at Birch Copse Primary School for the last three years and I am now also Key Stage One team leader. I have always been very passionate about PE as a subject and am looking forward to working alongside many other fantastic PE leads. During my time as PE lead I found the network meetings very helpful and always looked forward to hearing about other people’s good practice and expertise in the subject. PE should inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities. It should also provide opportunities to compete in sport and other activities which will build character and help to embed values such as respect. I am hopeful that the PE network will be able to provide more opportunities for a wider range of children to compete in sports and to lead a more active lifestyle in the future as a result. I am looking forward to having a space to share new and exciting ideas and learn from other experienced colleagues.
Pupil Premium, Karen Osmond at Speenhamland Primary School
My name is Karen and I have been Deputy Head at Speenhamland School for the last 5 years. I took on the role of PP lead 2 years ago and joined the network to enhance my understanding and our provision for our disadvantaged pupils. I have had the privilege of working with Tina over the last year where the network meetings have given us opportunities to share best practices, discuss common issues and make a difference for our disadvantaged pupils. I am really excited to now be facilitating the PP network and can't wait to share best practises for this group of pupils through quality first teaching and high impact intervention and resources. I hope that these meetings will be a great opportunity for colleagues to be fully involved in creating a network where we can learn together, support each other and develop strong practise within all our schools. There will also be time to update colleagues on the latest information regarding PP and hopefully some colleague driven CPD.
PSHE, Maggie Dutton at Westwood Farm Schools
My name is Maggie Dutton and I am the subject lead for PSHE at Westwood Farm Federated Schools. The importance of PSHE/PSED is vital for all children and is particularly key in the Early Years as it is one of the prime areas in the EYFS. I have worked in a variety of schools leading a range of subjects, including PSHE for over 20 years. I am also the Teacher in Charge of the Hearing Resource Provision at Westwood Farm. The BLDP PSHE Network meetings started in autumn 2020. We have used the meetings to hear from Nikki Davies, who is the Health and Wellbeing in Schools Coordinator for West Berkshire. We’ve also used them to keep up to date with PSHE and RSE, following the publishing of statutory guidance on RSE. Following a discussion at our most recent meeting, we are hoping to focus on LGBTQ+ this coming year, using our meetings as a way to share resources, experiences and expertise.
RE, Amanda Bedding at Calcot Infant School
My name is Amanda Bedding, and I am a teacher and RE subject lead at Calcot Schools. I am an RE specialist with a degree in Religious Studies and Theology. I am passionate about teaching RE and helping primary teachers to feel empowered and knowledgeable in this subject. At our RE Network meetings, we have the opportunity to share ideas and practice, discuss any challenges we face and consider how to shape RE for the future. RE is unique in that we don't have a curriculum that we must follow, we have a locally agreed syllabus instead. This means that there are many exciting opportunities to really shape RE to suit each of our settings and communities.
Science, Fran Jones, Theale Primary School
I am the science lead at Theale Primary School and am just taking on the role of coordinator of the science subject leaders’ network. Many moons ago (in a previous life, before I had children of my own) I worked as a research scientist and was privileged to observe phenomena that no one had ever seen before. As science lead, I am keen to instil a sense of awe and wonder in the children similar to that which I felt and to help them to develop a deep curiosity about the world around them and how it works. At the same time, I am keen to make the most of opportunities to share experience and explore new ways of delivering the primary science curriculum. I see subject networks as a hugely valuable resource for bringing people together and sharing expertise; I have always found the science network to be friendly and welcoming (thank you so much, Mel Pettifer) and hope to maintain an open and supportive forum where science leaders can voice ideas, ask questions and share best practice.