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Advanced Skills Teachers

 

 

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 reference to the recently updated guidance document Promoting Excellence, which is for aspirant and accredited ASTs.

  • You can become an AST at any stage of your career.
  • 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.
  • There are new Professional Standards for Teachers, which 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 different versions of the application form for

(a) Teachers on the main scale

(b) Teachers who have been through the threshold

(c) 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 take part in a termly professional development conference within the county and they are encouraged to participate in regional and national events to develop their abilities further.

Suffolk has its own AST website which has information on their school phase, areas of experience & expertise and outreach work. That site is currently being updated, but if you would like more information please contact the local authority at the address above.

National information

For more detailed information, check the AST section of the Teachernet website

 

Teacher information