John Chilton School aims to provide the very best education and support it can to our pupils and their families. To do this we are always looking at ways to improve and this is what we call “School Improvement”.
You don’t have to be poorly to get better!
School Improvement consists of a cycle of evaluation, research, planning and action.
Self-Evaluation and School Improvement
To work out how well we are doing and how we need to get better, we consult with all members of the school community, analyse data and review the new initiatives locally and from the DfE. We ask questions, get feedback and look for new opportunities. We take all this and judge ourselves against different criteria.
Then we identify next steps for further improvement- collating priorities and plan how we are going to achieve these. We constantly evaluate the plan to make sure the provision is the best it can be for our pupils and families. We discuss this regularly with the Governing Board, who have a strategic role in school improvement.
Research and Professional Development
The school is always looking for new and innovative ways of improving the provision for pupils. We carry out research in different ways to make sure that we are at the front of educational thinking. We take part in collaborative work with other institutions and organisations to improve areas of the school. Recent work has focussed on:
- Brunel University: Physiotherapy programmes and teenagers with cerebral palsy
- Institute of Education: Lesson Study as a professional development resource
- City University: Staff emotional well-being
- PhD research: Resilience for Newly Qualified Teachers
Also, we value professional development for all our staff very highly. Many of our staff are supported to undertake accreditation such as National Professional Qualification for Senior and Middle Leadership; Foundation Degree in Teaching and Learning. We also provide high-quality tailored training for staff at all levels and parents.
The school is also a training centre and provides placements, courses, outreach and support to various trainees and schools. This includes:
- Nursing students
- Trainee teachers
- Moving and handling advice and training
- Assistive technology
- Social, emotional and mental health
- Special educational needs and disabilities