Building onyour strengthsA guide for Teachers

Ad

vanc

ed S

kills

Tea

cher

s

The Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) grade provides a wonderful opportunity to recognise and reward those excellent teachers who want to continue teaching but also wish to spend some time

helping to develop the skills of teachers in their own and neighbouring schools. I believe it is right that our best teachers should be able to develop their careers while continuing to do what they love

best - teaching our children and young people.

Our vision is to have a teaching workforce that is properly trained and supported with access to good information technology together with other adults in the school providing effective support. ASTs are central to our vision and have a crucial role to play in meeting the demand for effective professional

development to improve teaching and learning. Increasingly teachers want to work with and draw on the skills and expertise of their fellow professionals and ASTs are particularly well placed to bring their practical classroom perspective to bear because they remain as classroom practitioners. And in

becoming an AST your own horizons will be broadened and your work with other teachers will enhance your own practice helping to keep you at the cutting edge of pedagogy.

In becoming an Advanced Skills Teacher you will not only receive recognition and reward for continuing your excellent practice in the classroom but you will also add a new dimension to your career through

locally driven professional to professional approaches to improving teaching and learning.

Foreword by Stephen Twigg - Minister of State for Schools

Recognising the needs of professionals

Teaching is often regarded as a “calling” -a role that people undertake because of itsunique ability to shape the lives of others.As a result, it can sometimes be overlookedthat teachers, just like other professionals,have their own career and personaladvancement goals - and challenges. How can you progress if you want to continue to teach? How do you ensure that you are rewarded for sharing your skillsand expertise? What steps can you take tokeep yourself challenged and motivated?How can you broaden your experienceand knowledge? And how do you getthe recognition you deserve?

The Advanced Skills Teacher (AST)programme is designed to address justsuch issues, and much more. It is a keypart of the Government’s plans to strengthenthe teaching profession by promotingbetter leadership, better rewards, bettertraining and better support.

It offers an alternative career path throughwhich excellent classroom practitioners cancontinue to teach without having to take onmanagement responsibilities. In return theyare rewarded for providing other teacherswith the opportunity to learn from their bestpractices, build on their strengths andaddress any development needs.

The role of AST’s

Like any teacher, the main role of an AST is to provide excellent classroom teachingand most of their time is spent workingwith their own classes. But they will also undertake a range of additional duties

helping to raise teaching and learningstandards in their own and other schools.ASTs normally spend 20% of their timeworking on these additional duties (listed below) in other schools.This is known as outreach.

• leading professional learning groups• advising on classroom organisation and

teaching methods• providing model lessons• spreading good practice based on

educational research• producing high quality teaching materials• advising on professional development• establishing professional learning teams

in schools• helping to support performance

management• supporting teachers experiencing

difficulties• helping with the induction and mentoring

of newly qualified teachers• participating in initial teacher training.

Making the right choice

By definition an AST is an excellent teacherwho achieves the very best standards ofclassroom practice and who is paid toshare their experience with other teachers.

Anyone in a maintained school who wants to stay as a classroom practitionerand who has the professional and inter-personal skills needed to satisfy the AST assessment standards, can applyfor an AST post. This includes part-timeand peripatetic staff and those currentlyholding management responsibilities whowish to concentrate on teaching.

“There is no doubt that ASTs can help to improve teaching practice and raise standards.Not because we know it all, but because sometimes all a teacher needs is someone togive them that little bit of extra confidence to do what they know is right.”Judy Gurney | Advanced Skills Teacher | Bedgrove Infant School

Unlocking classroom experience

Your Career

“If I want a new career challenge whynot just become a Department Head?”

Because you may want to be a teacher,rather than a manager. The AST role isabout recognising and rewardingexcellent classroom practitioners. It allows you to do what you do best -in the classroom - while also offering you the opportunity to raise standards of teaching and learning by assisting other teachers and honing your own ‘best practice’ ideas and approaches.

“All of my colleagues are ‘excellent’.Why should I say that I'm better thanthem?”

There are many excellent classroompractitioners and everyone is welcome toapply for an AST post. But suitable

candidates will almost certainly already berecognised by colleagues as having theparticular professional and inter-personalskills needed to be successful in the role.

“How do I know that this isn’t justanother passing fad?”

ASTs were first introduced in 1998 and have expanded significantly since then. The Government’s aim is that, over time,ASTs will represent 3-5% of the teachingpopulation. In addition, there is no fixed time limit for AST posts; decisions about the length of posts will depend upon the priorities of schools and LEAs.

“What support would I get as an AST?”

A complete infrastructure is in place to supportand promote the work of ASTs. Nationally,the DfES offers a range of advice andguidance services, while your LEA will alsohave a dedicated AST Co-ordinator toarrange outreach work and facilitate thesharing of ideas and experience. In addition,ASTs will inevitably liaise closely with theirown Headteachers.

Addressing your concerns

Your Questions

“Aren’t ASTs just ‘hired guns’ used toprovide extra resources?”

ASTs do not take over classrooms or provide supply cover. But ASTs do bring a new perspective to help reach solutionscollaboratively by ensuring that dedicatedtime is available to support the developmentof best practice teaching and learning.

“Why would I want to criticise mycolleagues?”

The AST role is more akin to that of a critical and/or supportive friend. Under thedirection of the Headteacher, their role is to work as an integral part of the school’steam providing unbiased advice and practical guidance whenever and whereverit is needed to improve overall teachingstandards.

“Wouldn’t I just be at the beck and callof the LEA and/or other schools?”

No. The role of the LEA or other schools isto match both the skills and the availabilityof their ASTs with the requirements ofschools. Furthermore, only 20% of anAST’s time is spent working on outreach,and this can be scheduled to suit the particular needs of each person.

“I can’t just leave my classroom towork on outreach. Who would providethe teaching cover?”Without doubt effective pre-planning isessential. Schools that already employ

ASTs have developed a number ofinnovative approaches to provide consistent teaching cover and ensure that the education of their children doesnot suffer. These include the re-deploymentof existing resources, the use of part-timestaff, such as recently retired colleagues,and the scheduling of lessons to incorporate time for outreach. The AST scheme gives you the flexibility todetermine the most effective approach for you and your school.

“Our school is already performing well.What’s the point of becoming an AST?”

Congratulations! In that case, you could be an ideal AST, helping to share the good practices that you have developed,honing the teaching methods that you use, building closer relationships with other schools and generally raising the profile of your school. As well as this, your school gains from the experiences of other schools.

“Would I be paid more as an AST?”

Yes. Although how much will depend onwhere you were to start with. ASTs attracta salary beyond the classroom teacher pay scale in return for taking on additionalduties. ASTs will normally be expected todrop their management role freeing theirtime for AST duties.

“At the end of the day it’s also great to get feedback and know that you have helped toimprove results, boost the confidence of other teachers and generally enhance the self-esteemof the school. That’s the beauty of being an AST - you’ve got something tangible to show foryour work. From a career point of view it has given me a new lease of life.”Ann Holland | Advanced Skills Teacher | Temple School

“While I became an AST in order to share best practice and help others it has also enhancedmy own skills, because you learn new ways of approaching different schools and teachers.This broadening of horizons is one of the key benefits of being an AST - you get to meetnew people, work with senior managers and experience different procedures and policies.”Arti Malik | Advanced Skills Teacher | Raynham Primary School

1. Career advancementThe Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) schemeis a career path that enables teachers tocontinue spending the majority of their time working in the classroom.

2. Financial rewardsA separate pay spine has been created for ASTs in recognition of their key skillsand good practices.

3. Personal motivationASTs have the opportunity to becomeinvolved in areas that transcend thetraditional bounds of teachers, providing awhole new set of personal and professionalchallenges that build on and exploit yourexisting strengths.

4. Professional developmentThe AST role is a unique opportunity forteachers to enhance the depth and rangeof their skills through their work with otherteachers and AST colleagues. There is alsoscope for participation in local and nationalprofessional development initiatives.

5. Enhanced profileGiven its high priority within government,the AST programme has attractedconsiderable attention from the teachingprofession, school governing bodies andparents. Your appointment as an AST canpositively enhance your personal profile, as well as that of your school, by demonstrating your commitment to improving teaching and learning standards.

6. New school opportunitiesThrough outreach work ASTs can fosterclose working relationships with othereducational establishments, includingfeeder schools, providing the foundation for new initiatives such as resource sharingand collaborative learning projects.

7. Career satisfactionAn AST can help an individual teacherovercome a particular issue. But the effectsof that work do not end there. With everyproblem solved or best practice sharedthere is a cumulative or “snowball” effectthat will benefit the school and its pupils for many years to come.

The AST scheme offers a range of personal and career benefits to teachers:

How you will benefit

“The AST role is an exceptional motivational device. I’ve gained so much enjoyment andsatisfaction from it. Not only does it afford you time to communicate with people, so that you can really support others, but you can also pursue your own personal development and training. Overall, the AST scheme is a real success - it has taken me to another level of professional development and given me a new set of challenges. It is the best careeropportunity I’ve had.”Victoria Rossington | Advanced Skills Teacher | Walton Girls’ High School

Your Opportunity

To decide if the AST role is the right career choice for you here are afew simple steps you can take:

1. Are you a suitable candidate?Are you looking for a new career challenge? Do you already support yourcolleagues in your own time? Do you havethe professional and inter-personal skillsneeded to guide/coach other teachers? If so, why not discuss your suitability for the role of AST with your Headteacher.

Alternatively, you may want to considertaking a post as an AST in another school. Details of such posts are normally advertised in the EducationalSupplements of the National Press.

2. Talk to your LEA AST Co-ordinatorIf you think you’ve got what it takes tobecome an AST then you and your Headshould talk to your LEA’s AST Co-ordinatorwho can explain more about the Authority’sstrategy and the funding arrangements inplace for the appointment of ASTs.

3. Contact other ASTsTo find out more about the practicalities of working as an AST you can discuss thescheme with other ASTs. For details pleasecontact your LEA’s AST Co-ordinator.

4. Read more onlineThe DfES AST web site contains everythingyou need to know about the programmeaims, selection requirements and application process as well as details of AST-related events. You can access the site at:

www.teachernet.gov.uk/ast

5. Obtain the AST information packThis information pack describes in detailwhat an AST is, what being an ASTinvolves and what benefits the post offers. It also explains the purpose of the programme and includes brief details of the assessment process and fundingarrangements. To obtain a free copyplease contact DfES Publications on:

0845 60 222 60

and quote DfES/0755/2001

It's your career and your decision - but working together we cancreate our future.

Taking the next step

Your Decision

Copies of this publication can be obtained from:

DfES Publications

PO Box 5050

Sherwood Park

Annesley

Nottinghamshire

NG15 0DJ

Tel: 0845 60 222 60

Fax: 0845 60 333 60

e-mail: dfes@prolog.uk.com

Please quote reference number: 1467-2005DOC-ENPublished: April 2005

©Crown copyright 2005. Produced by the Department for Education and Skills

Extracts from this document may be reproduced for non commercial or training purposes on the condition that the source is acknowledged.

www.teachernet.gov.uk/ast