Case Study:
Deal Parochial Church Of England Primary School

Located in Kent, Deal Parochial Church Of England Primary School provides education for primary-aged pupils. 

After initially making individual purchases through The National College, Head Teacher, Justine Brown felt the next logical step was opt for our School Membership package, so that all staff could have access to an award-winning video update service. 

She kindly took the time to speak to us and reveal just how The National College has improved the school’s CPD capabilities. 

Could you tell me about the background of your school and your position within the school? 

I’ve been the Head Teacher around seven years now and we’re part of a local trust which we formed ourselves. 

There are seven schools in Deal, and I’m part of Deal Education Alliance for Learning Trust. 

I have 12 teachers including me and around 34 members of staff. 

Why did you choose The National College? 

To me it felt like all staff could have the same training and that we’d have consistency across the whole school. 

I thought it was a great opportunity to enable staff who are interested in things, to get them onto training. It was just a really good open book for all people to have equal access and to have good quality training. 

We purchased a couple of webinars before opting for the package and I thought they were on the page, relevant and up to date. 

How beneficial has our 100% remote learning platform been during the COVID-19 pandemic? 

It’s been brilliant. 

Things such as safeguarding and health & safety training, as well as the curriculum training, the staff wouldn’t have had access to. 

I’ve had lots of staff do what I’d call as essential training that they wouldn’t have been able to do if we hadn’t have been part of that package. 

If you could draw one positive from The National College’s resources, what would it be? 

It’s quality and you know you can trust it for what you’re delivering – it’s the accessibility of it also. 

How much of a benefit has the ability to undertake courses and training on an online platform, in your own time been? 

It’s great that all of the webinars are saved and on-demand, so I can go back and watch those whenever I wish. 

There’s a lot where I’ve thought “I’d love to do that” but the last three weeks just haven’t afforded me the time. 

A School Leader’s’ time is precious so, with this in mind, how much of a positive has it been to have all of the latest statutory guidance and policy changes updated by ourselves? 

It’s totally tuned into the DfE and the guidance from that, and in that sense it’s very reliable. 

What has been your staff’s reaction and feedback to using our platform and enhancing their own personal development? 

The staff’s reaction has been totally positive and some of them have absolutely loved it! 

I have an NQT who has really taken it on board and had an opportunity to look at things that she would not have been able to had we not bought the package. 

Furthermore, how much of a benefit has it been to not have to arrange supply cover, which you would have had to in the event of a staff member(s) being away on a training course? 

Especially now, I don’t want staff going off, well there isn’t the training! 

Because it’s consistent and we’re all watching it as a team across the school, I’ve not had one person go off and do one thing and another go off and do something else. 

Is there anything else you’d like to add? 

We’re all using The National College, which is an important part of the consistency of approach across the school as well.