Teacher Learning Academy (TLA) – QA overview 2008 onwardsThe Teacher Learning Academy (TLA) was devised by the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) to recognise the professional achievements of teachers through the submission and assessment of their classroom research.In September 2008, Cambridge Education was contracted by the GTCE as the Logistics Partner for the TLA. This innovative approach to professional development provides a framework which enables teachers to undertake action research emanating from their every day practice in the classroom and enabling them to be awarded for the work that they do. Built upon research which illuminates what is most effective in professional development, the Teacher Learning Academy emerged from a successful pilot in June 2009. Cambridge Education’s role initially involved managing the operation of the TLA through the final year of the pilot to affect the effective transition to a paid scheme for enrolment and submission. In a time of budget constraints in schools, the management of this time of change took careful planning and flexible support for the client and school customers. Cambridge Education’s team of senior education professionals, experienced project management, IT consultants and operational support staff worked closely with the GTCE to develop the Teacher Learning Academy and to manage supportive communication with existing schools and the active recruitment of new participants. Throughout the contract, Cambridge Education has been responsible for the administration of submissions, quality assurance of verification, training for supporting roles within the TLA and the handling and distribution of payments for involvement in the scheme. We are also responsible for the creation and development of the TLA website and have designed and developed a robust IT infrastructure to provide full support for the operational management of the system. The performance of Cambridge Education is monitored against the contractual service requirements using agreed Key Performance Indicators. The TLA espouses the approach, ‘ with teachers for teachers and by teachers’ to enable schools to access the TLA’s resources. To be actively involved in the verification of research and to lead the development of TLA approaches within their own organisation requires robust and easily understood systems. Our expertise and experience with quality assurance systems and processes has ensured that rigor and consistency in the verification process, carried out at distance by trained teachers in TLA schools has been established, enabling the return of feedback and award to participants within published timescales. Training provided for support roles in schools has received consistently high feedback and ongoing support for school champions ensures a continuing and personal relationship with all involved schools. In summer 2010, Cambridge Education spearheaded plans for increased simplification in the processes required to engage with the TLA – new approaches well received by schools. This along with a developing relationship with an HEI accreditation partner sees Cambridge Education pushing ahead with the development and expansion of the TLA, using the breadth of our expertise and experience to benefit schools and the teaching profession alike. Cambridge Education Added Value: - High quality customer service
- Experienced professional team
- High quality, well-received training
- Consistently rigorous quality assurance.
TLA website: www.teacherlearningacademy.org.uk To find out more
To find out more about the TLA project, please call the TLA team on 0330 1239121 |