Professional Development in Social Studies at St Ignatius Primary School (2013)

Published 01/01/2017.  Last updated 11/04/2023
sourcePractice exemplars schoolSocial Studies groupsPrimary categorySchool Improvement

How to use this exemplar to improve practice:

This video along with reflective questions invite you to consider the impact of your own approach to planning learning. You are invited to watch the video and consider, individually or as a team, the following improvement questions:

  • What level of importance would you attach to the role of teacher networking in supporting school improvement?
  • How important in your school is an approach to improvement that supports teachers in sharing their teaching strategies?
  • To what extent does your school have formal structures in place that support the sharing of practice between all staff?
  • How would you evaluate the impact of partnership work with external groups such as your local authority or community organisations?
  • What professional networks could you use to support networking and sharing in your own school?

Explore this exemplar:

What was done? 

St Ignatius school employed a range of approaches to support teacher networking. These included social studies working parties; leadership development opportunities; access to local authority in-service training and independent advisers; team and shadow teaching.

What brought about the change?

There was a desire in the school to ensure that all teaching staff were equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to teach social studies across the curriculum. A range of support strategies were put in place to ensure that this happened in a systematic way.

What was the impact?

The sharing of good practice has improved across the school, along with partnership work with external agencies. Staff confidence in the teaching of social studies has improved. Teaching staff have created resources that are being shared with and used in other schools to support improved learner outcomes.

Professional Development in Social Studies at St Ignatius Primary School (2013)

Published 01/01/2017.  Last updated 11/04/2023
sourcePractice exemplars schoolSocial Studies groupsPrimary categorySchool Improvement

How to use this exemplar to improve practice:

This video along with reflective questions invite you to consider the impact of your own approach to planning learning. You are invited to watch the video and consider, individually or as a team, the following improvement questions:

  • What level of importance would you attach to the role of teacher networking in supporting school improvement?
  • How important in your school is an approach to improvement that supports teachers in sharing their teaching strategies?
  • To what extent does your school have formal structures in place that support the sharing of practice between all staff?
  • How would you evaluate the impact of partnership work with external groups such as your local authority or community organisations?
  • What professional networks could you use to support networking and sharing in your own school?

Explore this exemplar:

What was done? 

St Ignatius school employed a range of approaches to support teacher networking. These included social studies working parties; leadership development opportunities; access to local authority in-service training and independent advisers; team and shadow teaching.

What brought about the change?

There was a desire in the school to ensure that all teaching staff were equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to teach social studies across the curriculum. A range of support strategies were put in place to ensure that this happened in a systematic way.

What was the impact?

The sharing of good practice has improved across the school, along with partnership work with external agencies. Staff confidence in the teaching of social studies has improved. Teaching staff have created resources that are being shared with and used in other schools to support improved learner outcomes.