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Growing Together NPQ Spotlight - Jodeth Parkinson

 

In this blog series, we shine a spotlight on the NPQ courses we have on offer in partnership with Teach First, including showcasing some of our fantastic programme members.

 

 

Today’s post is a spotlight on… Jodeth Parkinson who teaches Maths at Duke’s Aldridge Academy. She also works for the Growing Together team as Trust Lead Facilitator one day a week and is also the Assistant Maths Hub Lead for the Haringey NCETM.

 

Why did you want to complete an NPQ? 
I saw this as a great opportunity to engage with current research and align my teaching and coaching practices with emerging trends in pedagogy. It had been quite a while since I did my teacher training and master’s degree, and the profession has grown so much in the last few years; I did not want to be left behind.   The NPQ uses evidence-based strategies and after years of experience, I chose to pursue this qualification to strengthen my skills and make a more significant impact in teacher development.As an assistant Maths Hub Lead for the NCETM, I lead work groups and support schools in my hub.  Completing the NPQLTD has better equipped me to lead teacher development as a subject specialist, promoting Maths Mastery and other emerging trends in my subject.
 
How has your NPQ impacted on your work in school?
First, I has forced me to reflect on my years of experience, putting the theory into context and thinking about groups of teachers that I have worked with in the past.  What went well and why, but more importantly, it has made me consider what I could have done differently to make an even greater impact on teacher and consequently, on pupils. I am better able to put the course content into practice, while recognising that this will be an ongoing learning process for me.  I have had the opportunity to work with the Growing Together team over the last few years and this has given me the opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced and skilled facilitators of Professional Development.  With their mentorship, coupled with the theory and course content from the NPQ, I am better able to support SCITT trainees, ECT's subject specialists, and other leaders of PD.

What are you hoping to do next with what you have learnt from the course?
I am hoping to have a bigger impact with the Growing Together team by working with other schools, and teams of teachers across the country.  As a subject specialist, I would like to work with other schools as they begin their Teaching for Mastery journey.  This will mean collaboration with senior leaders, designing a programme of my own and seeing it through the implementation process. Having completed my PD Lead accreditation with the NCETM, I am now working towards my School Development Lead accreditation. This means I can now have a wider impact with the work I do as a Mastery Specialist, working with schools in Central and North West London.

What are the main reasons someone should consider completing a Teach First/ Aldridge Education NPQ?
The course is designed with our busy schedules in mind.  The modules and seminars are thoughtfully organised so that it does not feel like a heavy burden, and can fit around any schedule, regardless of your responsibilities. The course content is easy to go through and is broken down in manageable chunks. The videos, research articles and reference guides, all provide high quality learning material in an easy-to-follow sequence.  All seminars are planned for the year and so there is no uncertainty around time commitment to prepare for and fully engage with the seminars. As a working mom and classroom teacher with additional responsibilities this was a very important factor me.  The support from the Aldridge Team was invaluable. From communication of time-lines and frequent reminders, I felt very supported.  When things go wrong, as they sometimes do in this profession, the administration team is always quick to answer questions and provide additional support.  The facilitators are knowledgeable, experienced and their high levels of professionalism is paired with genuine care and concern for everyone’s success.

Jodeth completed her NPQLTD in the Autumn and is waiting for her assessment results. Best of luck to her! We know she will have smashed it.

Does this sound like the next step in your career? Or could there be a different leadership course for you? Find out more information about our courses and how to apply here: https://aldridgeeducation.org/myNPQ/ or get in touch with a member of the Growing Together team at GrowingTogether@aldridgeeducation.org.

By joining one of our NPQ courses, educators can unlock their leadership potential and make a significant impact on education, empowering students and shaping the future of learning. We offer a range of NPQ courses, including NPQLT (Leading Teaching), NPQLL (Leading Literacy), NPQLTD (Leading Teacher Development), NPQLBC (Leading Behaviour and Culture), NPQ for SENCOs (NPQSEN), NPQSL (Senior Leadership), and NPQH (Headship).

No matter where you are in your career, we have a course that's right for you. 

 

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