Advanced Skills
Teachers
Suffolk is fortunate to have 45 Advanced Skills Teachers (ASTs),
deployed in primary, middle, upper and special schools across the
county.
What does an AST do?
An AST teaches 80% of the time in their own school, with the other
20% dedicated to outreach activities. Outreach involves an AST
working in other schools, using their skills, knowledge and
expertise by supporting teachers and pupils to raise pupil
outcomes.
How can a teacher become an AST?
Please refer to the guidance document
Promoting
Excellence, which is for aspirant and accredited ASTs and check
the AST section of the
Teachernet website.
- You can become an AST at any stage of your career, but as you
will need two years of evidence it is likely you will have been
teaching for 2-3 years at least
- You have to be supported by the school for a specific post –
you cannot go through assessment and then wait for a post to become
available
- The Professional Standards for Teachers has a section for ASTs
-the application form and in-school assessment are focused on those
standards
- On becoming an AST you must relinquish management/leadership
responsibilities and any TLR which comes with them
- Funding for ASTs can be supported from the County or a school
can fund an AST post from its own budget
The application
There are three versions of the
application form for teachers on the main scale, teachers who
have been through the threshold and teachers who have already
successfully been assessed against the Excellent Teacher
standards.
Throughout the assessment (on the application form, in the
portfolio of evidence and during the visit by an assessor to their
school) an applicant must provide examples of their:
• Professional Attributes
• Professional Knowledge and Understanding
• Professional Skills: Planning
• Professional Skills: Teaching
• Professional Skills: Assessing, monitoring and giving
feedback
• Professional Skills: Reviewing teaching and learning
• Professional Skills: Team Working and Collaboration
If you would like to know more about how to become an AST in
Suffolk then contact the local authority at the address
above.
ASTs in Suffolk
Suffolk’s ASTs are supported in their professional development by
the Local Authority and they are encouraged to participate in
regional and national events to develop their abilities
further.
Excellent
Teachers
The Excellent Teacher Scheme (ETS) was established in England &
Wales in 2004 and came into effect in September 2006.
The ETS offers the most experienced classroom teachers an
alternative to Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) posts,
the AST grade or a leadership post. Excellent Teachers (ETs) have
length, breadth and depth of experience, pedagogic excellence and
coaching and mentoring skills of a high order. Their high quality
teaching skills make them a role model for less experienced
classroom teachers.
What does an Excellent Teacher do?
In addition to their normal duties in the classroom, Excellent
Teachers have a distinctive role in helping other teachers improve
their effectiveness and have a major impact on improving pupil
attainment across the whole school. Such a role would be
particularly suitable for teachers who are motivated by supporting
and helping their colleagues to improve their effectiveness, and to
address their developmental needs and other issues arising out of
the performance management process.
From 1 September 2009 the Excellent Teachers’ pay range (for those
employed in Suffolk) must be no less than £38,804 and no more than
£50,918.
How can a teacher become an Excellent
Teacher?
You should read the guidance document and application form, both of
which are available on the
Teachernet website.
If you would like to know more about how to become an ET in Suffolk
then contact the local authority at the address
above.