Comparative CPD

International

Secondary

A headteacher in Mexico uses leadership techniques from the UK

Headteacher Alfonso Tirso Arroyo takes part in a pilot project to develop standards for Mexican school leaders, transforming his own role as headteacher. Alfonso, inspired by exchanging ideas with UK headteachers, has implemented a series of organisational strategies at Escuela Secundaria Industrial Tecnica No.105, to get teachers, pupils and parents used to collaborating in small groups. At No. 105, there are now pupil monitors and recycling projects; and first grade teachers across all subjects are holding regular sessions to discuss issues students may have. Change is never easy, but gradually Alfonso is managing to transform relationships and his own role as headteacher. This video is part of a series looking at inspirational headteachers and the positive effect their leadership has had on the schools they've worked with.

... in Xalapa, Mexico - The Five Standards and the School Community

A Mexican headteacher implements new standards for school leaders

Follow headteacher Maria de la Cruz Galan Raymond through a typical day at her primary school in Cordoba, Mexico, as she implements a new set of standards for school leaders. Maria is taking part in a pilot project to develop standards for school leaders. The standards cover all aspects of school leadership, and inform how Maria interacts with parents, teachers, pupils and the local authorities. She now holds drop-in sessions for parents, regular meetings with the Parents' Association, collaborates with local authorities to raise pupils' self-esteem, and makes time to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning. The strategies are already having a measurable impact on the schools' results, and Maria has rediscovered her passion for the job. This video is part of a series looking at inspirational headteachers and the positive effect their leadership has had on the schools they've worked with.

...in Cordoba, Mexico - Five Standards in One Day

A profile of the work of an inspirational Brazilian headteacher

Headteacher of Escola Maciel Pinheiro in north-east Brazil, Lucia de Sousa Periera, is a strong leader who instills respect in the school despite its situation in a bad neighbourhood. Lucia has introduced a student union and school council, and the school recently came third in the region in the national exam for secondary education. Lucia was chosen for an international school leadership project and visited schools in England. As a result, she has introduced classroom observation to her school, something which is not generally done in Brazil. We watch her progress. This video is part of a series looking at inspirational headteachers and the positive effect their leadership has had on the schools they've worked with.

...in Recife, Brazil

A Brazilian headteacher shows how she has changed class behaviour

E. E Caramuru is a secondary school in a suburb of S&atilde;o Paulo, Brazil. The headteacher, Aleixina Vinhola, is dedicated to improving the prospects of her students, some of whom live in the nearby favela. After being chosen for an international school leadership project and visiting schools in England, Aleixina has introduced classroom observation as part of school self-evaluation. She says she has noticed a definite improvement in teaching and in behaviour in class as a result. This video is part of a series looking at inspirational headteachers and the positive effect their leadership has had on the schools they've worked with.

...in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Revolutionary principles of a Brazilian headteacher in practice

During his 13 year headship at Escola Jose Leite Barros in north-east Brazil, Antonio Fernando Santos Silva dramatically transformed the school into a successful institution. Escola Jose Leite Barros is now a democratically-run institution, with committed staff and a focus on school self-evaluation. Coordinator of 65 schools in the region, Antonio has also visited schools in England as part of an international school leadership project. In this video, we see an English teacher observing a history teacher as they deliver a class about Brazilian presidents, followed by the feedback session - a discussion among teachers in the staffroom. This video is part of a series looking at inspirational headteachers and the positive effect their leadership has had on the schools they've worked with.

...in Tacaimbo, Brazil

Zircus Eldorado visit Cristoph Tornee school in Germany

The Christoph-Tornee School in Germany caters for pupils with mild to moderate learning difficulties. This week, the have some rather unusual visitors. Zirkus Eldorado is a traditional family-run circus that offers project weeks to schools. They've pitched their big-top on the field next to the school and will spend the week teaching staff and pupils a variety of circus skills, improving the pupils' coordination and self-confidence. The circus theme is carried into classroom lessons, which include writing poems and stories, making decorations for the tent and preparing music to accompany the acts. Follow three pupils as they work towards their gala circus performance in front of friends and family, with the theme helping to link different curriculum areas and create excitement.

A Very Special Circus

A look at the work of a refugee school in Ghana

This programme looks at the work of the Carolyn A. Miller Elementary School in Ghana. Located in the Buduburam Liberian Refugee Camp, the school offers pupils education against a backdrop of war, brutality and poverty. The school, founded by refugee Karrus Hayes, struggles with hungry pupils, unpaid staff, no electricity and resources, however has high ambitions for its pupils and a spirit that is as uplifting as it is humbling. This everyday look at a refugee school shows scenes that are both familiar and remarkably different for teachers here in the UK. Amongst the day-to-day business of meetings, PTAs, discipline discussions and lesson planning are a look at over-crowded classes, and a drama teacher who is only too aware that his pupils are the future leaders of Liberia.

A West African Story

Pupils learn alongside rehabilitated animals in New York

A look at the teachings of Green Chimneys in New York, where children learn alongside rehabilitated animals. Green Chimneys is a special school 65 miles north of New York City, catering for children with emotional, behavioural, social and learning challenges. Central to its ethos is a belief in the therapeutic power of interaction between children and animals. Over half the pupils board, and as well as being a school, Green Chimneys has a residential treatment centre, a 165 acre farm with 200 farm animals, and a wildlife rehabilitation centre. Assistance-dog training classes are one example of the way animal-related activities are woven into daily life. The dogs learn new skills, while their trainers - the pupils - learn how to bond with other living things. At the wildlife centre, pupils help to release a red-tailed hawk back into the wild. They are learning that, just like the bird, they too will be one day healed and return to their homes.

Animal Healers

Bayley helps a headteacher introduce new pedagogical techniques

A dynamic headteacher in North Carolina faces major challenges despite working minor miracles at her troubled school. Behaviour management expert John Bayley spends a week discovering the issues at Olympic High School. When Pam Espinoza took over seven years ago the school was in crisis. Results and behaviour were the worst in the district, with staff morale low. But Pam has worked a minor miracle in her time there, and last year took the dramatic step of splitting the 2000-student complex into five small schools, each with its own principal. Olympic now faces a new challenge - the decline of America's global economy. Espinoza believes the USA's multi-choice testing system is poorly equipping students for the 21st century, in which skills like creative thinking and team working are essential. Active learning and project-based teaching are new pedagogical techniques but are proving to be a struggle. Some teachers are finding the changes tough and test scores have taken a worrying dip. Can John provide solutions?

Bayley in the USA

See how history teaching varies within a post-conflict country

This video reveals the importance of history in shaping national identity, by looking at how history is taught in Bosnia. Memories of conflict are still very fresh in Bosnia, where children grow up learning a very one-sided account of their history. In towns of multiple ethnic groups, schools are divided. In the same building, Croat children are taught in separate classrooms from Muslim children. Schools teach history from different national curriculums, providing differing views of the past. And although Bosnia is currently peaceful, this situation could drive a wedge between ethnic groups by reinforcing differences. The video also raises the question of how much of our own country's past we simply accept.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Subjects

> Secondary International

> Comparative CPD