The Learning and Teaching Committee at Brechin High School has been meeting regularly for the past year at lunchtime on Thursdays to discuss issues of professional interest. The group of approximately 25 teachers started out with a mutual interest in behaviour management and progressed to discussing their experiences in implementing cooperative learning strategies. The meetings were so successful that the group decided to develop ways of supporting each other through peer observation. An early focus for this work was the area of listening skills which was adopted as a learning focus for teachers throughout the school.

 The group’s experience make it an ideal context in which to pilot Learning Rounds,

I am delighted to be able to join you here today at the 2nd Scottish Government International Summer School on School Leadership.  The excellent turn out during the summer holidays is a clear indication of the significance that this event has for educational leaders.  I am pleased to see that we have wide representations from within schools (headteachers, deputy headteachers, principal teachers, chartered teachers and classroom teachers) and from local authorities and other stakeholders.  I am also glad that the summer school has again been able to attract interest from abroad.  I am sure you are all enjoying your week - it certainly looks an interesting, varied and challenging programme. I want to do two things as I speak to you this afternoon. 

This is a guest post from Graham Thomson of SCSSA.

The Professional Learning Rounds pilot (led by Graham Thomson of SCSSA) recently held an orientation day with the 6 Directors of Education involved with the 1st stage.

The pilot seeks to promote learning about system-wide change by putting key leaders close to the action in small professional learning communities.

In the next school session, the pilot will be extended to leaders at all levels.

You can find out more by reading the briefing paper (learning_rounds_paper.doc) or by contacting Graham Thomson directly.