The Bury Schools Alliance (formerly Bury Teaching Schools Alliance) was formed in 2014 by two national teaching schools: Christ Church Primary School and Elms Bank High School. Our alliance demonstrated the power of working in partnership and the privilege of working closely with colleagues across Bury Primary, Secondary, Special Schools and the Local Authority.
We are proud of the legacy created from our time as a teaching school, and as part of Bury Schools Alliance.
We have delivered leadership support, in association with Bury LA, through the Headteacher programme and worked alongside Bury schools to train and support School Direct students in primary, secondary and special schools. Over the last seven years we have worked with Bury primary, secondary, and special schools to place over 140 School Direct students. Many of these schools being involved from the outset, in supporting recruitment. This enabled the voice of local schools and practitioners to determine what was needed in Bury schools, and to support in the provision of a highly rated CPD programme, support, and mentorship. Together, we ensured an incredible success rate where many students graduated and continue to teach in local schools.
Recognising the power of CPD, we developed and delivered programmes for student teachers, NQTs, EQTs, outstanding teachers and teaching assistants. We continue to deliver, in association with Bury LA, a successful Headteacher programme, harnessing the strength and expertise from local practitioners and mentors. Our continuing professional and leadership development programme enabled effective talent management and succession planning within local schools and recognised the strength and expertise from local practitioners, many of which became specialist leaders of education.
As appropriate body, we worked with local schools to support those new to the teaching profession, ensuring schools and teachers were supported throughout this period, supplemented by a CPD programme to continue to build upon the foundations from the teacher training.
We have had the privilege to work alongside those schools requiring school to school support, understanding the effective deployment of national and specialist leaders of education to support the outcomes of schools. Securing the SSIF Grant in 2018 enabled us to continue our work further, working alongside all phases in education within Bury. This legacy remains, as we work with Bury LA to support the effective transition for our pupils from primary, to secondary school.