AHI Teachers’ Standards
*adapted from DfE
Preamble
Teachers make the education of their pupils their first concern, and are accountable for achieving the highest possible standards in work and conduct. Teachers act with honesty and integrity; have strong subject knowledge, keep their knowledge and skills as teachers up-to-date and are self-critical; forge positive professional relationships; and work with parents in the best interests of their pupils.
Part One: TEACHING
- Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils
- establish a safe and stimulating environment for pupils
- establish good relationships with students, rooted in mutual respect
- demonstrate consistently positive attitudes to learning & challenge.
- Promote good progress and outcomes by pupils
- be accountable for pupils’ attainment, progress and outcomes
- be aware of pupils’ capabilities and their prior knowledge, and plan teaching to build on these
- guide pupils to share their learning, reflect on their progress and identify their next steps
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how pupils learn and how this impacts on teaching
- encourage pupils to take a responsible and conscientious attitude to their own work and study.
- Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge
- have a secure knowledge of the relevant subject(s) and curriculum areas, foster and maintain pupils’ interest in the subject, and address misunderstandings
- demonstrate a critical understanding of developments in the subject and curriculum areas, and promote the value of scholarship
- demonstrate an understanding of and take responsibility for promoting high standards of literacy, articulacy and the correct use of standard English, whatever the teacher’s specialist subject.
- Plan, prepare and teach engaging lessons
- plan lessons which are well structured within a single lesson and over a series of lessons
- make effective use of lesson time
- promote a love of learning and children’s intellectual curiosity
- set home learning and plan other out-of-class activities to consolidate and extend the knowledge and understanding pupils have acquired
- reflect systematically on the effectiveness of lessons and approaches to teaching
- contribute to the design and provision of an engaging curriculum within the relevant subject area(s).
- Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils
- know when and how to differentiate appropriately, using approaches which enable pupils to be taught effectively
- have a secure understanding of how a range of factors can inhibit pupils’ ability to learn, and how best to overcome these
- demonstrate an awareness of the physical, social and intellectual development of children, and know how to adapt teaching to support pupils’ education at different stages of development
- have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs; those of high ability; those with English as an additional language; those with disabilities; and be able to use and evaluate distinctive teaching approaches to engage and support them.
- Make accurate and productive use of assessment
- make use of formative and summative assessment to secure pupils’ progress
- use relevant data to monitor progress, set targets, and plan subsequent lessons
- give pupils regular high-quality feedback.
- Manage behaviour effectively
- establish clear rules and routines for behaviour in classrooms, and take responsibility for promoting good and courteous behaviour both in classrooms and around the school
- ensure the school’s behaviour policy is implemented consistently and fairly
- maintain good relationships with pupils, exercise appropriate authority, and act decisively when necessary.
- Fulfil wider professional responsibilities
- make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the school
- develop effective professional relationships with colleagues, knowing how and when to draw on advice and specialist support
- deploy support staff effectively
- take responsibility for improving teaching through appropriate professional development, responding to advice and feedback from colleagues
- communicate effectively with parents with regard to pupils’ achievements and well-being.
Part Two: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
- Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by:
- treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position
- having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions
- showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others
- ensuring that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law.
- Teachers have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school
- Teachers maintain high standards in their punctuality, attendance and appearance
N.B. LTAs should be helped to use the Professional Standards for Teaching Assistants but should not be held accountable to them due to the differences in training that they receive.
Similarly, Headteachers should use the Professional Standards for Headteachers as a self-reflection tool but they “should not be used as a checklist or as a baseline, and any shortcoming with respect to the standards is not, in and of itself, the basis for questioning competence or initiating capability.” (DfE, 2015, p. 8)