TS 8: Fulfil wider professional responsibilities
– Develop effective professional relationships with colleagues, knowing how and when to draw on advice and specialist support
– Communicate effectively with parents with regard to pupils’ achievements and well-being.
As an active part of my block placement school, the Humanities Department and team teaching with my mentor, I attended parents evenings and spoke confidently with regards to students progress both academically and their effort in class. This was not a skill I had immediately, however, and through observing my mentor during one of the first parents evenings of the year, I was able to then grow my own confidence and style in delivering sometimes tricky reports to parents based on their child poor behaviour. I found ways of framing feedback, giving students, and parents, achievable targets.
During the most recent Year 9 parents evening, a teacher I share a class with was not able to attend, so I spoke to those parents independently as their class teacher. The outcome for the students who came with their parents was really positive. They made an improved effort in class, showed more respect for me as their class teacher and were willing to take instructions and aim for the challenge questions.