Category : Front Page News
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Duke’s Aldridge Academy Head of English Dr. Emma Kell has taken to print herself with a guide on How to Survive in Teaching .. without imploding, exploding or walking away! The book, published by Bloomsbury Education draws on 20 years of research and first-hand experience to offers support, advice and practical suggestions to fellow teachers stay flourishing, positive and most importantly, stay teaching!
Recent statistics show that not enough teachers are entering the profession and that too many are leaving. Newspapers report regularly that teaching is facing a genuine crisis. But why is this? In this thought-provoking book Dr Kell examines workplace stress and anxiety, conflict and ‘toxic politics’, and the other factors which lead teachers to ultimately decide to walk away.
Dr Kell firmly believes there are ways to survive the increasing pressure teachers are under. Bloomsbury describes the book as offering “a realistic, unflinching and positive perspective on the challenges and rewards of teaching.” It includes successful models and strategies where a combination of support and challenge, accountability, and a sense of being valued have encouraged teachers to enter and remain in the profession.
The book, which was launched at a reception at Duke’s Aldridge Academy, has received strong endorsements already.
Sam Collins, Teacher and Founder of Schoolwell said: “The combination of informed analysis and practical advice, rooted in research and experience, make it invaluable.”
Loic Menzies, Director of Education and Youth ‘Think and Action-Tank LKM Co’ said: “Sprung from Emma’s love affair with teaching, How to Survive in Teaching is a compassionate plea for teachers to take care of themselves. Emma rightly reminds teachers that even if the profession is a vocation, teaching is also a job and must be treated as such.”
Speaking at the launch event Dr Kell focussed on the impact on students of the stress levels the profession faces, asserting that “children deserve better”. As one young interviewee put it: “Stressed teachers infect us with their stress”. She highlighted constant change with no opportunity for real consutation as a major contributor to stress felt by teachers. “It’s about giving teachers trusts integrity and a voice that’s listened to.”
Guest speakers at the event included Vic Goddard, Head of Passmores Academy (featured in the TV documentary Educating Essex) and Julian Stanley, CEO of Education Support.
Delma Fernandez, Duke’s Aldridge Academy’s Health and Well-being Coordinator concluded the event by outlining some of the staff welfare initiatives that have contributed to the academy having a very low staff turnover. Duke’s has Investors in People Gold Standard status.
How to Survive in Teaching .. without imploding, exploding or walking away! is available through Amazon . Dr Kell has given her five top tips for surviving in a video on our Blog.
This Thursday, Duke’s Aldridge Academy welcome the London Sinfonietta who will be performing a set list of contemporary works to Year 8 students in the school Theatre.
In the coming weeks there will be a series of classroom based workshops facilitated by the London Sinfonietta to compose a piece that will be performed at the Royal Festival Hall in March.
The participating students and the Music Department are extremely excited about the project/opporunity and are relishing the challenge ahead.
Exam Results 2017: Congratulations to Year 11!
Once again, many of our students have achieved outstanding results and made amazing progress. Some of them are shown in the photograph below.
Among the highest achievers this year are Joanna CHU (2 grade 8s in English & Maths and 8 more A/A* grades) and Nghiem KHUU (2 grade 9s in English & Maths, a further grade 7 in English, and 6 more A/A* grades).
Grade 8 or 7 in both English & Maths, and also a good clutch of other A/A*/B grades, was achieved by Stephen HEWLETT, Esther HARBOUR, Denis FERENC and Berrak COCELLI.
High-flying mathematician Janos FOLHOFFER, achieved a grade 9 in Maths and an A* in Further Maths. Just behind him was Abdullahi YUSUF with a grade 8 in Maths and an A* in Further Maths.
Particularly noteworthy was the results of Andrei LUPASC, Lyubomir BEBEROV, and Yoana IVANOVA. Each of them started at Northumberland Park within the last two years, having just arrived from abroad and with no experience of schooling in the UK. Despite this, Andrei achieved strong passes (Grade 5) in English & Maths, whilst Lyubomir & Yoana also achieved strong passes in Maths and good passes (grade 4) in English. Ryan MISCOVIKS also did very well across the board.
Making the most progress since primary school, based on DfE progress measures, were Emirdzhan SALI and Hasan TAS, whose outcomes were more than 2 grades higher than expected across each of their 8 subjects.
Despite the increased challenge which has been added to GCSE exams, the proportion of students attaining Grades 9-4 in English & Maths (the old A*-C benchmark) has increased to 48% from 44% in 2016. These figures reflect a significant improvement in the separate English & Maths results.
Our results in 2017 confirm that our students make excellent progress during their time here. Our more able students achieve the highest grades, placing them in a strong position to compete for places at the most prestigious UK universities and for the most competitive degree courses.
Year-on-year, a number of our students win scholarships to prestigious Independent Schools and 2017 is no different:
- Ali Sakalli – Wellington Academy
- Berrak Cocelli – City of London Freemen’s
- Claudine Uwimpaye – Wellington Academy
- Joanna Chu – St. Swithun’s Girls School
- Natalie Bankole – St. Theresa’s, Effingham, Girls School
- Tony Nguyen – Wymondham College
- Nghiem Khuu – Rugby School
Headteacher, Monica Duncan, commented:
“The year-on-year rise in our results is testimony to the commitment and hard work of students and staff who have worked tirelessly to achieve these results.
I also want to acknowledge the outstanding support received from parents.
We wish all the year 11 students of 2016/17 every success in their future studies.”