The College of Teaching, the new independent chartered professional body for the teaching profession, is calling on teachers throughout the country to put aside just half an hour to take part in The Big Staff Meeting.
The Big Staff Meeting explores teachers’ views on the scope of membership of the College and the related benefits. All teachers across every phase and stage are being invited to take part in this national consultation and have their views counted.
The Big Staff Meeting was originally developed by the SSAT as part of our support of the Claim Your College coalition – a movement of over 450 organisations and individuals that have united in support of the College of Teaching.
Many schools are using half an hour on their inset day on January 6th to run their Big Staff Meeting. Whenever teachers decide to join in, responses to the key membership questions should be made online by February 26th.
Claire Dockar, Teacher at Lipson Co-operative Academy in Plymouth and Founding Trustee of the College of Teaching, says: “I urge all teachers to get involved and have their say at The Big Staff Meeting. Good teachers know good teaching and the College gives us an opportunity for the profession to come together to set its own standards.”
Why take part?
The College will be owned by its future members to ensure it is truly independent and contributes significantly to the professional autonomy of teachers. The voice of the classroom teacher must be paramount.
The Big Staff Meeting information pack and accompanying PowerPoint slides explain the College’s place in the professional landscape of teaching in the UK. The College is a national initiative and every teacher deserves the opportunity to make an informed choice about membership.
By taking just half an hour to meet with colleagues through The Big Staff Meeting, teachers can play a key role in shaping the College, empowering it to change the future direction of the profession.
Research carried out earlier this year indicated that 80% of respondents – mainly classroom teachers or subject leaders – viewed the benefits of membership of the College of Teaching as valuable. Over 60% said they would consider paying an annual membership fee.
The development of the College has to date been carefully designed to support the profession as a whole. Now all teachers across the country can have their views counted and help the Trustee board to shape the College of Teaching.
Download The Big Staff Meeting booklet, presentation and poster.
The membership consultation will close at the end of February 2016 and the results will be made available from mid 2016. Responses should be registered here.
The Big Staff Meeting is the first initiative developed by the Founding Trustees of the College since their appointment in September. Find out more about the Founding Trustees.
Find out more about Claim Your College and the College of Teaching.
Follow Claim Your College on Twitter: @CollOfTeaching and join the conversation: #CollegeOfTeaching #ClaimYourCollege.
Like Claim Your College on Facebook.
Pledge to support the College of Teaching.
