Quality First Teaching (QFT) has been designed with teacher development firmly in mind. This guide supports the thinking and understanding explored through coaching and the self-directed study. QFT sets out key terms, ideas, concepts and strategies, thus giving colleagues a common frame of reference.
It is important to note that Quality First Teaching is not a checklist of actions that teachers must perform in every lesson. Teachers who are new to BISS Puxi will have at least one formal lesson observation during their probationary period, however, once that period is completed, they will have no further lesson observations.
Moroever, coaching has no association with observation or monitoring whatsoever. In coaching, the coach and coachee work together on specific areas of teaching practice that require more attention than others. Coaching aims to help teachers to enhance their practice, explore new pedagogies, grapple with areas that may be challenging and to take risks. Achieving this requires an environment where curiosity and reflective dialogue are the bedrock.
Colleagues should still expect to see members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) dropping into lessons, speaking to students and looking at samples of student work. SLT walkthroughs help us to gain an accurate and up-to-date picture of teaching and learning in Secondary, but they are entirely separate to professional development practices such as in-class coaching, video coaching and the self-directed study.
We recently received the very exciting news that three of our students have won special awards for their exceptional performances in last summer's Pearson Edexcel IGCSE examinations — ahead of 70,000 students globally. The Pearson Outstanding Learner Awards recognise students who have achieved the highest marks in subjects in their country or across the whole world.
On Monday 20 November, The British International School Shanghai, Puxi celebrated World Children's Day. This UNICEF initiative holds special significance, as we at BISS Puxi strive to create an inclusive environment in which every child feels valued and empowered. The Sustainable Development Goals focused on this year – that of ‘Goal 4: Quality Education’ and ‘Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities’ – also resonate deeply with our commitment to promoting academic excellence and creating a community where diversity is celebrated.
Having graduated from BISS in 2022, Joceline is now studying Fashion Design Technology (Womenswear) at University of the Arts London. Joceline reflects on her time at BISS and how her education has helped to create her future.
Charity is particularly poignant at Christmas - so what better way to mark Thanksgiving and the beginning of Christmas this year than to celebrate and support our school animal charity PAWS2? So, on Friday 24 November, that is exactly what we did!
