The emphasis is on offering consistent and coherent professional development, broadening and enriching NQTs’ professional knowledge and their understanding of how children learn. Participants will have the support of both a fellow teacher acting as an in-school coach who is responsible to ensure the participant’s MTL work is having a positive impact on their teaching and their pupils’ learning and a university based tutor who is responsible for making sure that their learning is at a Masters level. They will work together – with each other and with the teacher undertaking the MTL -- to challenge and develop the way teachers work and think.
In-school coaches are a key differentiator of MTL and are integral to the future success of the programme. Coaches will provide day-to-day support for NQTs by offering continual encouragement and facilitating new and relevant learning opportunities and steering the participant to examine and challenge their learning. Many teachers already have experience and expertise in supporting their colleagues’ learning and are therefore aware that through acting as a coach in itself provides an opportunity to improve their practice, and their learning and communication skills. MTL coaches will receive tailored training that will build on their existing experience and if they so wish, they will also have opportunity to gain a masters level accreditation for their work as coaches.
Initially, during this introductory year, the MTL is only available to NQTs taking up post in schools in the North West, National Challenge Schools and other priority schools in challenging circumstances. This foundation will serve as the building blocks for rolling MTL out across the entire country with a broader, long-term vision to make teaching a masters level qualification.
By developing an ethos of shared and reflective learning, the impact of MTL will be felt way beyond the classroom -- rippling outwards and benefiting the school community as a whole. MTL schools will find themselves better placed to meet individual pupils’ learning needs, and teachers will be able to take a practice-based qualification that is tailored to their personal aspirations, their role in the school and individual circumstances. These unique ingredients, building on the most successful aspects of existing programmes of sustained, in-depth enquiry-based learning for teachers, will embed a culture of lifelong learning and peer support in schools, maximising the potential of both the teacher and pupil.
Eligible NQTs can now enrol directly with the North West MTL provider at: www.nwmtl.org.uk
