Where possible, Newcastle and Durham Universities try to use the same documentation, but (especially as this is our first year of running this coordinated programme!) some documents are currently easier to share as discrete Newcastle or Durham documents... You will typically find NU / DU specific content in the "Newcastle-Specific" and "Durham-Specific" areas of this website. Apologies for any inconvenience or confusion, but please just speak to your Teacher Learning Tutor / Lead Mentor if anything needs clarifying.
(Best printed to A4)
(We recommend printing this to A3)
(Best printed to A3 - This will give you a simple overview of the theme of each week)
(September to December)
(January to April)
(April - June)
(Trainees should complete this during the first 3 weeks of their placement and return it to their University Lead Mentor)
Our Rubric for evaluating your progrees throughout the programme
Some simple guidance to help you improve: Circulating With Purpose / Streamlining Instructions / Modelling Expectations / Live Marking / Arranging the Room / Questioning / Unwanted Behaviours / MWBs / Practical Lessons / Class Discussions /
This observation form should be used by trainees when instructed to capture elements of good practice in expert colleagues' lessons relating to our Intensive Training & Practice foci.
As part of considering your awareness and knowledge of ITAP4 (Effective Questioning) we will be asking you to complete this bespoke observation form when observing expert colleagues lessons after the ITAP4(b) Session on Effective Questioning.
When requested in the WTP, please use this form to capture observed practices when watching your expert colleagues' lessons this week.
Your mentor will be asked to use the same form to review your implementation of the principles and active ingredients of Effective Questioning during the same week.
(Best to use a digital copy, but this can also be printed out on A4 to allow handwritten lesson observation feedback)
We are not saying that this is the best example, but it exemplifies the type of lesson feedback, target setting and trainee evaluation that we would hope to see as a minimum for each of the Formally Observed lessons (1/week).
(Best to print to A4 for use during the post-lesson debrief)
You can download an annotated copy with explanations / rationale here.
Please use the following observation forms to capture evidence of the trainee's early efforts to develop consistent and effective classroom routines for: Pt.1 Entry, Exit and Gaining Pupils' attention; and Pt.2 Least Intrusive Interventions for Low Level Disruption.
Week 4 - ITAP 1a Observing Entry/Exit and Gaining Attention Routines
Week 6 - ITAP 1b Observing Least Intrusive Interventions for Low Level Disruption <<yellow>>
Please use the following discussion and observation forms to capture evidence of the trainee's early efforts to illustrate their knowledge of the cognitive challenges faced within the learning of their subject (ITAP 1a), and ITAP2b, their specific and targeted use of Subject Specific Pedagogies to support their pupils' learning
Week 5 - ITAP 2a Cognitive Challenges Discussion Form
Week 14 - ITAP 2b Signature Subject Pedagogies Lesson Observation Form
Please use the following guidance and observation form template to capture evidence of the trainee's early efforts to develop metacognition in their pupils through the PME cycle
Guidance for Mentors and Trainees
Week 16 - ITAP 3 Lesson Observation Form
In January, at the start of placement 2, we will be asking trainees to record positive features and characteristics of expert colleagues' teaching and classroom practices which relate to our first 4 ITAP themes:
Behaviour Routines & Managing Low Level Disruption (Behaviour Management)
Subject & Pedagogical Knowledge
Pupil Metacognition & Self-Regulation
Adaptive & Responsive Teaching
The observation form that we are asking trainees to complete can be seen here. Please note - this is not a form for you to use, but instead allows you to share with your colleagues the kind of positive features of teaching that we are hoping the trainees will get to see in their placement schools:
In January, at the start of Placement 2, trainees should start teaching 2 lessons per week in their 2nd and 3rd weeks with you. During this period, we ask mentors to undertake at least one observation per week to provide feedback on the behaviour management techniques developed during Placement 1 using the following form. focusing on managing entry and exit routines, gaining pupils' attention, and implementing Least Intrusive Interventions.
Week 22 and Week 23 - Behavioural Routines and Strategies - Lesson Observation Form
As part of tracking the impact of our ITT Curriculum, and particularly trainees' awareness and implementation ITAP4 pt.1 (Explanations) we will be asking mentors to complete this bespoke review form to capture their implementation of some of the active ingredients from our Intensive Training and Practice focus - the quality and clarity of explanations.
When requested in the WTP, please use this form to capture observed practices throughout the week (not just for one lesson). NB: You may need to ask colleagues whose lessons have also been taught by the trainee to contribute to this feedback.
Week 24 - ITAP 4a Explanations Lesson Observation Form
As part of tracking the impact of our ITT Curriculum, and particularly trainees' awareness and implementation ITAP4 pt.2 (Effective Questioning) we will be asking mentors to complete this bespoke review form to capture trainees' implementation of some of the active ingredients from our current Intensive Training and Practice focus - the effective use of questioning to inform teaching, intervention and planning.
When requested in the WTP, please use this form to capture observed practices just for one lesson. NB: You may need to ask a colleague whose lesson is taught by the trainee to complete this feedback.
Week 27 - ITAP 4b Questioning Lesson Observation Form
There's a big change to Lesson Planning this year. This Guide helps explain the rationale and the process to be followed. The aim is to reduce trainee workload while ensuring that planning is a thoughtful and purposeful process!
This PowerPoint Template for Lessons includes instructions for the expected Lesson Planning process.
Whether you are using exisiting departmental PPTs and resources, or planning from scratch, you will need to use these slides to ensure that you plan in a way that we can assess your competency and progress in Lesson Planning - one of the key components of the Teachers' Standards.
This Exemplar Plan helps illustrate the expectations for lesson planning for all trainees. It includes an example Class Profile, Lesson Planning Overview, (annotated) Lesson Slides, and a Seating Plan.
We hope that this approach reduces the level of duplication that occured through requesting a separate Lesson Plan document.
Use this guidance alongside the Lesson Planning Guide to understand the typical sequence of teaching and learning within a lesson. It can then serve as a quick reference for future planning and adaptation.
Trainee teachers should use the following template to indicate their timetabled lessons: