Professional Learning 2023
Last week, whilst our students were preparing for their upcoming KC1 assessments, our teachers had a very active two days of professional learning, which included:
Responsive Teaching – Student Perspectives on Feedback
We extended an invitation to our students to share their experiences of receiving feedback from teachers, both through one-on-one interviews and within focus groups. Teachers then convened to analyse the data from these interactions to gather insights and develop strategies for the most effective way to tailor our feedback to our students at DHSZ.
Sharing Best Practice
Teachers shared 'top tips' on EAL, responsive teaching, and EdTech. There is so much excellent teaching and learning already taking place in our school, and this session provided a foundation for teachers to share ideas and learn from each other.
Departmental Collaboration
Our department Heads spearheaded efforts on improvement plans and action strategies. While departments and course teams engage in collaboration on a weekly basis, this dedicated time facilitated a thorough analysis of student data and curriculum planning, yielding highly focused 'next steps' for implementation.
Pastoral Collaboration
The entire pastoral team convened to exchange best practices, discuss the challenges faced by different year groups, and promote strengthened collaboration to ensure wrap-around care and enriching experiences for all our students.
Student Wellbeing
Dr. Zhu, a psychiatrist specialising in Children and Adolescents from the Suzhou Mental Health Center, conducted a training course for our pastoral, boarding, and nursing teams. The focus was on common mental health issues in teenagers and effective strategies for support. Participants gained a deeper understanding of contemporary teenage challenges, enriching their skills and knowledge to enhance the support provided to our students.
Boarding
Our recent professional learning session for the boarding staff was a resounding success. It provided a valuable platform for the team to engage in thoughtful discourse, deepening their understanding of their roles both within the wider school and the boarding environment. The staff collaboratively explored ways to enhance communication, ensuring that every member is equipped to engage and follow up effectively with our students.
Global PL
1200 colleagues across the network collaborated on the D3 'dreams', redefining our pedagogical approach. This really is where we demonstrate the ‘Dulwich Difference’ through the power of the EiM network.
Crispian Farrow, Chief Innovation Officer at EIM, delivered a compelling keynote speech on the potential benefits and pitfalls of generative AI in education. His insightful address highlighted the transformative possibilities that AI offers for personalised learning and administrative efficiency.
All teachers have come away with a comprehensive list of strategies to implement in their classrooms in the coming weeks, and there is a palpable sense of anticipation regarding the positive effects these will have on student learning. Simultaneously, our professional support staff participated in a tailored programme designed to enhance their competencies in areas such as organisation and technology. This initiative also served to deepen their understanding and proficiency in safeguarding and providing robust support to our students.
Louise Martin -Deputy Head (Academics)
"Purposeful professional learning for teachers is one of the most effective ways to improve teaching practices and ultimately student outcomes. As Peter Cole – an Australian executive educator – writes, 'effective professional learning… is supported by sequential term-long individual learning growth plans that contain three or four specific teaching techniques that the whole school has identified as being highly effective for promoting improved learning.' As professionals at DHSZ, our teachers are committed to actively engaging in professional learning so our students secure their best possible outcomes during their time with us."
Nadir El-Edroos -Deputy Head (Pastoral & Boarding)
"To deliver on our Purpose, to Grow in Dulwich, Thrive in Life; colleagues in the pastoral and boarding teams valued the opportunity to spend time together to reflect on the various pillars of support, encouragement, and challenge that we offer as part of our efforts to develop the whole child. We were all engaged in upskilling ourselves and expanding our knowledge to further enhance our already excellent provision for our students."