A critical friend

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Description

Dormers Wells High School in Southall is a successful, if challenging, school. Nine hundred pupils speak over 30 languages and more than half of them have special educational needs. The school recognises that building the confidence and skills of its NQTs is vital to its continuing achievement. The NQTs are provided with mentors and are offered open access to advice and sustaining support. At the heart of this widely-praised support work lies classroom observation. Each NQT is observed at least six times, supported by feedback and target-setting sessions.Mentoring is a delicate balance. NQTs must be exposed to the reality of the classroom whilst knowing that support is always at hand. The mentors are keen to see teachers develop their own style and classroom vocabulary.The programme offers NQTs and mentors an insight into a constructive and supportive approach to the first year in a classroom.