Синдикат "Образование" към КТ "Подкрепа"

A visit to England

Between 2-6 July 2013 Trade Union “Education” arranged an educational visit to Great Britain, Darlington where visited two schools - „Teesdale School“ and „Barnard Castle“.
We noticed that teachers tend to improve their way ot teaching and qualification every year, and thus reflect onto their payment. Although they are a subject ot constant observation, this don't seem to constrain them, probably because the aim of this activity isn't direct criticism but a chance for sharing experience among them, exhange of good practice and variety in teaching methods.
Teachers receive payments in accordance of their knowledge and teaching ability, of course the better teachers get higher payment. The process of assessment is complex, including criterias like observation of teachers'whole work, relationship with the others at school and etc.
This is obviously a working mechanism for them, bearing in mind that since the introducing of this system for assessment and self-estimamation of teachers in Teesdale, the students achievements have grown significantly, quite good for all.
A “national inspectorate”, inspects teachers and schools every year to improve the school's and to offer an option for career development of the teachers.
Payments are defined on the basis of government educational standards /41/, and work is evaluated in three stages. The first one has 6 levels – each year. The second has 3 levels – every two years. The third one is for extra qualities – with 3 levels. The school board takes the decision for the salaries.
Young teachers are eager to practise, the educational process is transparent and students are being stimulated to study and practise more by obtaining VIVA points /bonus/.
The discipline and educational measures are obligations are not only for the teachers, but for everyone, taking part in the educational process.
We had a talk, devoted to something completed new for us – the pastoral system. Children in the school are divided in three houses according to their interests. They are at different age and get together in a big hall once a week to share problems and find solutions for them. The elder students gave us a walk through the school and its school base, which is really impressive. But more interesting for us was to undrestand from the students, that during their last 2 years of education, they choose 4 subjects to study, having in mind the discipline they want to continue after school. No obligatiory matriculation exams and sometimes a class of only 2 students in it, but working with great interest.
This was what we saw, entering in different classes to observe. Children receive enoughinformation to learn and remember in class. Teachers give practical tasks so the classes are interesting and useful.There were no text books and the material, given in 60-minutes class was less than the one given in our schools for 40minutes. The main purpose was learning in class, and this realy worked. They have a special program for better work and behaviour in classes , which functions very well at all ages.