Working with Advanced Skills Teachers

Rochdale Local Authority has eight advanced skills teachers (ASTs) with experience across the primary age range, and in key areas, such as literacy, numeracy and assessment for learning.

ASTs complement the work of others involved in raising the standards of teaching and learning, such as Teaching and Learning Consultants, Strategy Consultants, and Leading Teachers for Literacy, Numeracy and ICT.

The main duty of an AST is to provide excellent classroom teaching.  They will normally work for 80% of their time as classroom teachers in their own schools and spend 20% of their time on outreach activities.  This will usually involve sharing their skills and expertise with teachers from other schools.

An AST can reasonably be expected to undertake any of the following activities:

• Producing high quality teaching materials
• Disseminating materials relating to best practice and educational research
• Providing 'model' lessons to a whole class or a target group of pupils eg G & T, SEN, EAL etc., with staff observing
• Supporting a subject leader with regard to schemes of work, policies or management skills
• Observing lessons and advising other teachers on classroom organisation, lesson planning and teaching methods
• Helping teachers who are experiencing difficulties
• Participating in the induction and mentoring of newly qualified teachers
• Leading professional learning groups
• Supporting professional development

If you would like to involve an AST in supporting your school improvement activities, please consult the AST directory to view their areas of expertise and complete the AST request form. Alternatively you may contact David Sleightholme (Primary AST Co-ordinator) directly:

Tel: 01706-652920
Email: david.sleightholme@rochdale.gov.uk