The Derbyshire Curriculum Development Network

20 September 2011

• Do you want to take charge of the curriculum in your school?
• Are you concerned about the flexibilities available to create an exciting curriculum, and how OFSTED might view this?
• Do your staff know how to develop a primary curriculum which builds on the evidence of best practice and a clear understanding of the link between school vision, values and principles of learning and teaching for all?
• Are you worried that the government may change its mind over content and emphases in the National Curriculum; but you want your school to have the skills and knowledge to be able to respond whatever the situation?

You are not alone, if you answered yes to the above; but schools have told us they want the support to make their own decisions about the curriculum.

To sign up to the Derbyshire Curriculum Development Network, please complete the online registration form. Alternatively, contact us for more information on freephone 0800 678 3311 or email us at udc@derby.ac.uk.

Working in partnership with:

What's in it for you and your school?

• Professional development in the practice of curriculum development: design, learning, teaching and assessment; and understanding planning for the whole curriculum based on research and the latest evidence.
• Develop confidence of Heads and senior teachers responsible for the curriculum that there is flexibility and that national policies and curricular can and should be interpreted at a local level by schools.
• Giving schools the confidence that they can be creative in the context of the new OFSTED inspection and self-evaluation arrangements.
• Professional testimony: sharing ideas and experiences of the new curriculum.
• Learning about the process by which curricular are negotiated and designed within a local context.
• Supporting transition management as the primary curriculum changes and the primary workforce changes in response to this.
• Helping schools to make the most of the resources available to them: through Local Authority, school clusters and other professional networks.
• Enabling accreditation of professional development where teachers want this.

What is the Derbyshire Curriculum Development Network?

This is a professional network for schools, run by schools and will help you develop the curriculum you need for your school.

Signing up to the Derbyshire Curriculum Development Network gives access to four network meetings, the chance to explore your concerns and support to facilitate you and your school in developing the curriculum you want.

For each of the seven different localities of Derbyshire LA there will be a network meeting, with a Head teacher from your local area. This will cover:

• Amber Valley
• Bolsover
• Chesterfield
• Erewash
• High Peak
• North East Derbyshire
• South Derbyshire

You can choose which network meeting to attend. By signing up to the network now you guarantee a place for you or one of your staff at each of the four network meetings throughout the year.

When will the network meet?

Each network meeting runs from 2pm to 5pm and will be based at a venue central to the each of the above areas.

Is there a charge?

To cover the cost of venue, and the tutors, the network charge will be £400 for each school. For this you will be able to send one representative to each meeting. If you need to send someone different, that's not a problem.

At a time when there are significant changes due in the primary curriculum, this is not much more than £10 a week to really invest in the future of your school. Your children are worth such a small amount.

To sign up to the Derbyshire Curriculum Development Network, please complete the online registration form. Alternatively, contact us for more information on freephone 0800 678 3311 or email us at udc@derby.ac.uk.

Take a look at the following for Head Teacher of Kirk Langley CE Primary School, Sarah Tew's view of why you should join the Derbyshire Curriculum Development Network.