Case Study:
Highgate Primary Academy
Highgate Primary Academy's aim is to provide a
stimulating learning environment which will give each child an opportunity to
develop her or his potential to the full.
In September, Highgate Primary Academy made the decision
to join The National College and take advantage of our One Platform membership.
Devinder Riat, Principal, joined us to discuss how the academy has benefitted
from our award-winning professional development so far.
Joining The National College
Reflecting on his career to date, Devinder said: “I'm the
principal at Highgate Primary Academy. My career started back in 1991 and since
then I've worked as a senior leader in several schools.”
“I've worked with school inspection the UK and
internationally, and I'm a school improvement adviser and consultant. My work
has taken me across the UK and abroad, which has meant working with numerous
schools and school leaders,” he continued.
Highgate Primary Academy recognises the importance of
high-quality professional development to ensure the whole school workforce is always
one step ahead in complying with the latest DfE guidance and best practice.
“We place a lot of emphasis on training and development,”
Devinder said.
He continued: “We joined The National College in September
and I think the interface is very user-friendly.”
“It was recommended on several occasions and was best
aligned to the school’s needs.”
Professional development for all roles and responsibilities
Our One Platform membership provides all staff with instant
and unlimited access to high-quality, up-to-date CPD they can trust, helping
education settings drive up standards.
Devinder said: “We have asked staff to complete different
aspects of the training, aligned to their roles and responsibilities.”
“The courses sit very well with our school’s ethos and what
we are trying to achieve on a daily basis,” he added.
“It all starts with our staff and creating a learning
culture. The National College gives us a wide range of topics which can be used
in whole-school meetings or assigned to individuals.”
The National College closely follows the latest guidance,
policy and best practice, delivering a market-leading programme of webinars and
courses to help education settings meet statutory requirements and enhance
outcomes in key areas, such as teaching and
learning, online safety and mental health.
Devinder continued: I find that the professional development
is incredibly timely and in line with the latest trends and requirements in
education.”
“New courses are being added all the time,” he commented.
“I can certainly see an uplift in understanding and how the
information is being used within the school. I find it a truly immense,
valuable resource bank for our school.”
Devinder continued: “It’s extremely user-friendly, as I’ve
said, and I like the dashboard too.”
“I can see an overview of what is completed and what is
outstanding. Being an admin user, I can track other staff and see where the
training and development is.”
“There is a lot of professional development on the platform
which provokes discussion and challenges your understanding.”
“I think the biggest benefit is that we can align the
webinars and courses to our yearly overview of professional development. We can
monitor and develop individuals, groups or teams,” he stated.
“Moving forward, I can certainly see The National College
becoming an integral central part of that process.”