Teaching Assistants Celebrate

Teaching assistants who took part in a unique pilot project to develop their skills in teaching secondary maths and science celebrated their success at Edge Hill University- one of the largest training providers in the country for secondary education.

Since October 2005 over 100 teaching assistants in the North West and the West Midlands have taken part in the Edge Hill University and Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) project, which led to gaining the status of Higher Level Teaching Assistant.

Project Manager Polly Winn is delighted in the success of the pilot:

"Feedback from the participants has been excellent. People feel that they have really benefited from this professional development opportunity. The project was closely monitored by Edge Hill University researchers and by external consultants. Their findings will be used to inform future developments in increasing the support in schools for pupils learning science and maths, and possibly for other subject areas too."

The project has enabled those interested in achieving the status of Higher Level Teaching Assistant to gain specialist knowledge in specific subjects ? a new initiative in the education sector.

"Edge Hill is one of only three training providers in the country to take part in the project," commented Polly. "What makes our provision unique is that in addition to this we are also running a professional course for those who have an interest in a career as a teaching assistant but have experience outside of the education sector."