RSA Team

Here’s another go at uploading this document of Sara’s. This version is in Word 2003. Hope it works! Let me know if it doesn’t.

Overview of PoS and framework strands

Liz

Dear all

I hope the first month of the new school year has gone well. I know that many of you have met (or are about to meet) in your regional teams to plan events for the coming two terms. Could I request those of you who have days to claim to send me your activity report for this period. Some of you have already done this, for which many thanks.

The CfBT database seems to be playing funny tricks at the moment. When I logged on this morning it wasn’t showing any of my events (or anyone else’s for that matter)! However, this is just a reminder that in this phase we should be logging events within 5 days of them happening. I’ll contact CfBT to find out what is happening with the database. Could you make sure that you use the Phase 3 evaluation forms (downloadable from the blog) and send them to me as and when: 4 Lancaster Road, St Albans, AL1 4ET

Do let me know if you are unable to access things that have been uploaded to the blog – I am aware of a problem with one of the documents that Sara did, which I uploaded last week, so I’ll have a go at uploading that again. If you have resources you would like to share, do either upload them yourself or send them to me to upload.

Liz
01727 842875 07814 658416

Many thanks to Sara Vaughan who has done some sterling work on how the PoS and the framework link in with each other. She has produced two documents which you can access here:

Visual overview of PoS and renewed framework

Overview of PoS and Framework strands

Dear all,

Alison Edwards has sent the following  information to clarify how to access the various resources relating to the KS3 Framework.

Best,

Kathy

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Quick guide to accessing the Modern foreign languages (MFL) e-learning modules

The modules are available from http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/mfl.

The box on the left hand side, ‘Sections in Modern foreign languages’ has a link to CPD (continuing professional development – http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/search/mfl/results/nav:49828)

Selecting this takes you to a page listing the modules.

To access the modules you have to join the course covering these modules. To do this:

1. select the top link – ‘Modern foreign languages (MFL) e-learning modules’ (http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/171044)

2. ensure you are logged-in (if you are not logged-in select ‘Log in’ at the top right of the page)

3. select Join (bottom right of page)

The modules will then be listed, along with a brief description of each, and you can select the one you want.

If you have already joined the course and you are returning to the site (make sure you are logged-in) you can go directly to the Modern foreign languages (MFL) e-learning modules page at: http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/171044 and select the desired module from there.

Quick guide to accessing the Key Stage 3 Framework for languages

• A PDF of the Learning objectives can be downloaded at http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/187051
• A PDF of the Exemplification can be downloaded at http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/189433 and the accompanying Glossary of terms at http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/189379.
• Guidance on the Framework is listed by chapter and sub-chapter at http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/search/mfl/results/nav:49830

Quick guide to accessing the Key Stage 3 Framework for languages

The components of the new Framework are available from http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/mfl.

The box on the right hand side, ‘Key Stage 3 Framework for languages’ has links to:

• the Learning objectives (http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/169162)
• the Exemplification (http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/189541)
• and the Guidance (http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/search/mfl/results/nav:49830).

On the Learning objectives page:

1. select the year required

2. select individual substrands or all of the strands and substrands

3. go to the bottom of the page and select ‘Go’

This takes you to the chosen substrands.

Alternatively, to view an individual substrand, select it directly from the links listed on the left hand side of the page.

You can also download a PDF that lists all the objectives by selecting the link (http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/187051) in the introductory text.

PDFs of the Exemplification and glossary can also be accessed from here.

On the Exemplification page

The panel on the right hand side contains links to PDFs of the Exemplification (http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/189433) and the Glossary (http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/189379).

On the Guidance page

The chapters of the Guidance, with introductory text, are listed in order. Some chapters contain several parts, which are listed as indented text underneath the chapter introduction.

Sorry – missed a crucial stage in uploading file – should be here now:

OFSTED Planning for change – Key Stage 3 curriculum

Liz

Dear all

Ofsted has recently published a report on progress made so far in implementing the new curriculum which makes for interesting reading, especially with regard to the cross-curricular elements. It is particularly relevant for any of us involved in the cross-curricular events being held with the other subject associations over the next two terms but I think we can all make us of the findings. You can read it here:

OFSTED Planning for change – Key Stage 3 curriculum

Liz

Dear RSAs

Thank you to all those of you who have let me know which of the two days in March you would be available for a final RSA meeting.
If you have not yet responded I would be grateful if you could let me know as soon as possible. The options are:

Wednesday 10th March
Thursday 11th March

You will have seen from Kathy’s post that evaluation forms should now be sent to me – my address is:

4 Lancaster Road
St Albans
AL1 4ET

Many thanks
Liz

Dear RSAs,

Hope things are getting off to a good start at school. Here is an update on RSA arrangements for this year, which I will also post on the blog for reference.

Number of days
The programme for the next couple of terms will be less intensive than the previous phases, and we have set a target that all regions will hold 12 workshops between now and March. On average this will mean around 6 days of work for each of you, although there may be some exceptions. To keep things simple, we would like to arrange that all your contracts refer to 6 days of work (apart from coordinators). However, the contracts will make it clear that you may work either more or less days, subject to agreement with ALL. If there are fewer RSAs in the region (eg. in the South East), then you will almost certainly be working for more days.

Breakdown of days
There will be one planning meeting with the other RSAs in your region each term, as well as the RSA meeting in March. The 6 days overall are likely to work out as follows:
1 day RSA meeting in London
2 x half-day regional RSA planning meetings
4 days for an average of 4 events per person, either in your own region or elsewhere

Workshop focuses
The regional meetings will be ideal for reviewing the Phase 2 workshops and planning how you can make them even better and bring in new elements, including the renewed KS3 Framework and other possible new approaches. Sara Vaughan, Sarah Brooks and Rachel have all developed some useful documentation which I hope they will post on the blog for sharing. Please keep sharing your work – and PLEASE post things on to the blog so that they are there for others to benefit from.

What to do if you are asked to run a KS3 Framework session!
I would recommend that you say YES if approached about this, because the LA concerned may not want to run more sessions that are ONLY about the new curriculum, so we need to take the opportunities that arise. But you will need to explain that the session will explore how the Framework helps with planning the new curriculum, with practical examples and some suggestions for how the new Framework objectives could be used in SoW (Sarah Brooks is working on an exemplar SoW for this). Of course, the Framework is aligned with the new curriculum so the two are really inseparable. But, as discussed at the London meeting, what we can’t do is spend an hour familiarising people with the content, ie. ‘On this page it tells you…, this part is about…’ type input. You can of course show them how to access the objectives online.

What to do if you are asked to run a Links event
It is fine to run an event for your regional Links centre and count it as an RSA day. Make sure that it is co-badged in some way, eg. a line that says ‘in collaboration with the Association for Language Learning’, and, as with local authority events, don’t forget to ask for a copy of the delegate list so you can log them! However, if the Links centre asks you to deliver some of their ‘core’ CPD programme, that would be separate as it involves delivering a specific Toolkit that has been prepared.

Cross-regional working
As usual, your regional coordinator will be responsible for managing the programme of events in the region. We would like to encourage some ‘cross-regional’ work as well, so that delegates have a chance to see some new faces. Please arrange this through the coordinators to avoid muddles. It is worth discussing with your coordinator what focus you would like to offer for an event in another region. The coordinators can then confer and send invitations to RSAs in other regions, which of course you can accept or refuse. There may also be cases where an LA makes a specific request for a topic for which there is an obvious choice of RSA in another region.

Submitting invoices
As usual, you are asked to submit a report of your activities to the ALL office along with the invoice for the actual days worked. ALL can’t pay the school unless they have a copy of the report. From now on, please send a copy to Liz Fotheringham rather than to me, as she will be keeping track of the events.

Logging events
We are now required to log all delegates within 5 days of the date of the event. It is also essential to enter each event on the CfBT database as soon as it is arranged. You can make changes if necessary later on, including cancelling it. We will still be trying to involve schools that are facing relatively more challenges – this could involve a personal phone call to see if someone would like to come along, or discussion with an LA contact to see if they could get in touch with the school to encourage them. Not forgetting Liz’s masterful solution, which is to send at least 3 emails to each school to advertise the event!

Evaluation forms
Some of you have been using out of date versions of the evaluation form, sometimes without making it clear which event they relate to and without the summary sheet (which is very useful from an admin point of view). There is now a new, simpler form and an accompanying summary sheet which we would like everybody to use. They are on the RSA team blog, in a recent post on the home page and also on the admin documents page. Please send the forms to Liz Fotheringham from now on. Thanks! I will still make sure I get a chance to see them when Liz and I meet once a month.

I am sure I have forgotten to mention something – just drop me or Liz a line if you have any questions.

Very best wishes,

Kathy

Dear RSAs,

Lovely to see you on Tuesday – here is some follow-up from the day which I hope will also be useful to those of you who were unable to attend.

Just received – a list of schools that have attended languages events, divided into regions and local authorities.  Please note that the totals are well below our actual delegate numbers. They only include delegates from middle and secondary schools, and only count each school once however many teachers attend. The total is over 1,500 schools supported since last April – what a fantastic achievement!

A list of RSA blogs is now on this site and I will put it on the all-nsc.org.uk site shortly.

Kathy’s update slides

Alison’s slides about the revised KS3 Framework

Framework objectives (pdf)

Link to the QCA leaflet about compelling learning

Links into Languages website.  Please send in information about events as they are planned.

Available information so far about the Linked Up award scheme

Consultation on the primary curriculum (the questionnaire is on the right hand side of the page)

Consultation on the revisions to languages Attainment Targets (the questionnaire is on the right hand side of the page)

The suggested new level descriptions

New documents to use from next term

The following documents are also on the admin documents page:

Updated expenses claim form

New evaluation form

Summary evaluation form

There is lots of information about dealing with finance and other admin aspects on the RSA guide page.  There is also the Admin checklist for admin tasks associated with each event. This is still up to date apart from the fact that you don’t need to write objectives on the new evaluation form.

I hope you all have a lovely summer break. Please don’t forget to send in invoices, expenses claims, report forms and evaluation sheets and ensure all events are logged on the database. We will be starting with a brand new empty database from September!

Kathy

A way of remembering PLTS:

S.E.C.R.E.T

Self manager

Effective participator

Creative Thinker

Reflective learner

Independent Enquirer

Team worker

With thanks to Nick. Any other tips?  Please share them!

Kathy