What do you like about working here?

It is an absolute privilege to work in Alsop and be a part of a dedicated and hardworking team of colleagues who work tirelessly in order to make a difference to young people’s lives and our community. Alsop is a unique and special place where people care and look after one another. It is a family.

How have you been supported since joining Alsop?

Alsop encourages staff to pursue their interests and achieve their ambitions. The Head teacher recognises that effective professional development and coaching support for staff results in improvements to the quality of teaching and the outcomes of our pupils. Mr Wilson cares about supporting and developing his staff. He believes in working together as this will achieve more than each of us can do alone.

What have you done that you are proud of whilst working at Alsop?

I am proud of starting the Nurture Group in 2012 and watching it go from strength to strength each year. Pupils enter the Nurture Group in Y7 with a reading age of three or more years below their chronological age along with SEMH difficulties. Nurture enables these pupils to access the same curriculum as their peers but how they get there is through an enriched and differentiated pathway. Watching these pupils grow in confidence, inherit a love of learning and achieve success both emotionally and academically is the reason I went into teaching!

What are the students like to work with?

Visitors to the school often remark about how welcoming and polite our students are. We have high aspirations for our students; they are encouraged to be kind, to be positive, to be thoughtful and to be tolerant. Once our pupils see you care and have respect for them, they also give this back.

Tell me about your department.

The SEND Department at Alsop works with pupils who have a variety of needs, and as a department, we do our utmost to assist students by removing barriers to learning and offering a variety of internal and external support mechanisms in order for pupils to reach their full potential. Like all of our pupils here at Alsop, we have high expectations and aspirations for pupils with SEND. We promote inclusivity and high quality teaching that meets the needs of all pupils.

What extra-curricular activities do you get involved in?

Duke of Edinburgh

KS3 – Lake District, Colomendy, Paris, London

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining Alsop?

Do it! If you want to transform the lives of young people and make a difference to the wider community then #TeamAlsop is the answer. Alsop encourages every pupil, whatever their background or ability to leave here with not only the best possible academic qualifications and skills for further education/employment but also with the character, love of learning and confidence to lead a happy, productive and fulfilling life.

How have you been developed professionally?

During my time here, I have progressed from a class teacher to Assistant SENCO. I have completed the National Award for Special Educational Needs and JCQ Assessing for Access Arrangements. In addition to this, I have had many opportunities for CPD, enabling me to become a more conscious, proactive and experienced practitioner.

What support do you get?

We have a great team at Alsop; all staff are enthusiastic and committed. We all support one another; we care for each other and help each other when times are difficult. The Head and Senior Leadership Team are always visible and approachable; this makes our school a pleasant environment in which to work.

What professional development and career opportunities do you think will be open in the future?

There are many opportunities at Alsop, and as we go towards the possibility of becoming an Academy, it makes it an exciting place to be. As a middle leader, I have had many CPD opportunities that has allowed me to be more knowledgeable and prepared if a more senior position in my department arises in the future. Alsop values hard-working, talented staff and wants them to achieve their true potential.

What do you like about working here?

I like my job because everyone shares the same vision and is dedicated to the mission of improving the life chances of all children who attend. Alsop is a school in the heart of the community it feels like a real family, staff are very supportive and are passionate about what they do. I like the autonomy I have because SLT allow me to plan extra curricula activities and events will their full support. All initiatives are purposeful with the research to back up what we are doing and why. Work produced is always collaborative so the work load is not as big as other schools I have experienced. Everything has a clear purpose. Everyone has a voice. My line manager listens to my ideas and the whole team works together to make them happen. We all support each other and work together to offer creative feedback and then make our ideas a reality. I like being appreciated and listened to. The variability of my job is what gets me up in the morning. No day is the same at Alsop.

How have you been supported since joining Alsop?

Within my department we are fortunate to have two technicians to support in the planning and teaching of our lessons. They support with behaviour management, SEN and help to prepare for lessons. I could not do my job without them. SLT also patrol regularly to offer support.

Alsop has also funded various courses to improve my own knowledge.

I am supported personally with regard to medical appointments and I have not been refused the chance to see my young children in their Christmas plays

What have you done that you are proud of whilst working at Alsop?

I have a proven record of excellent exam results, which includes GCSE Food Technology, Hospitality and Catering and Btec Construction. My recent results show I am above national average in all subject areas. I manage an outstanding team of teachers whom all work together as a team to achieve some of the best results in the school. This includes many pupils achieving D* in their controlled assessments. I currently liaise with a range of secondary schools in the area to share ideas and resources to ensure all pupils are achieving their potential. I have also mentored JMU students over my career and the majority left Alsop with the rating outstanding which I am very proud of. I continue to work closely with SLT and recent initiatives have involved raising standards across the board.

This past year has seen the success of the food scholarship program, which has been recognised by OFSTED as outstanding practise. This is an after school club aimed at pupil premium students who are currently coasting. I successfully applied for funding from The Savoy Trust to fund ingredients. I then liaised with The Academy of Culinary arts who gave me the contact of a local chef. The group linked up with two restaurants and a hotel (London Carriage Works and The Shankly hotel). As part of the program, pupils were able to observe the celebrity chef Paul Askew making his signature dish. The course culminated in pupils working in a real life kitchen to cook a three course meal for their parents and guardians from scratch.

In previous years, I have worked with the ACCESS centre here at Alsop for two afternoons a week. This centre provides an education for students who live in the local area and cannot attend their own school for many reasons including medical, behavioural and mental health issues. I have seen a cohort of pupils through Level 2 Catering within a short space of time and I was delighted with their results. My residual data was 2.2 when compared with the rest of their subjects. I also feel that these students leave with valuable life skills which not only include practical cookery skills but they also leave with the knowledge of how to shop wisely and budgeting.

My work is not just limited to Alsop. I am proud that I have supported over 50 teachers with high quality practical CPD which I have arranged for them.

What are the students like to work with?

Students are very loyal. They have an amazing scouse sense of humour and are very protective of their school. They are generally keen to learn and students and staff have excellent relationships. Parents are supportive. You may work with individuals who have physical disabilities, sensory impairments (i.e. hearing or visual), speech and language difficulties, learning difficulties such as dyslexia, conditions such as autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, or have a combination of these difficulties. Every day is different.

Tell me about your department.

I work in a department of five teaching staff and two support staff. We offer Design Technology and Food Preparation & Nutrition. After KS3 pupils can opt for Hospitality & Catering, Construction, and Design technology – covering all areas. We also offer enrichment lessons to the sixth form.

Our curriculum, amongst other things is based around fun. We always ask ourselves what do we want our children to learn and will they enjoy the lesson. We are very much focused on cultural capital and try to give our students lots of opportunities that they wouldn’t normally experience. There is never a dull moment in “Tech.”

We are popular at KS4 which is a testament to our faculty. We also have above national average results for Hospitality and Catering.

What extra-curricular activities do you get involved in?

I am also proud of all the opportunities I provide students who attend our school. This  includes;

• Trips to Venice and Sorrento
• Meals at Michelin Starred restaurants
• Food scholarship programme
• Cake decorating workshops
• Lunch clubs
• Christmas fair
• Guest speakers
• Sixth form enrichment

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining Alsop?

Working in all schools comes with challenges. A lot of staff have been here from the start of their career. A lot of staff have left Alsop and returned. I have been here for seventeen years and I am still going strong. This says a lot about our school. School staff members have opportunities to build profound relationships with young people and provide help and guidance that not all children receive at home.

There is regular staff voice for you to be heard. If you want to work in a supportive school then I couldn’t recommend Alsop enough.

If you are unsure I would ask for a tour of the school to see what it is like first hand.

How have you been developed professionally?

There are lots of CPD opportunities at Alsop. In the past nine weeks alone I have covered Roshenshine’s Principles, Safe Guarding, TeacherEd, completed my level 2 Health and Safety certification as well as working with a professional Chef to improve my practical skills.

I started off as an NQT at Alsop and I was able to progress on to Head of Faculty within a relatively short period of time. I have also been a PGCE student mentor and I had a brief time working for SIL.

I am currently training with Ambition Institute to become a teacher educator. The main aim being to help more children and young people from disadvantaged areas, improve their school’s performance.

What professional development and career opportunities do you think will be open in the future?

I am currently at a cross roads and I need to decide if I want to return to my previous role of HOF for D&T and Food subjects or pursue a career in educating teachers. I enjoy working with other likeminded staff and enjoy passing on my knowledge and experience. I eventually see myself being part of a SLT within Alsop or another establishment.

What do you like about working here?

The staff body are hard working, enthusiastic and passionate about their roles within our school community. In a changing climate we consistently draw together as a team and support each other in order to achieve success. We instil in our pupils the three pillars of The Alsop Way; Respect, Knowledge and Opportunity.

How have you been supported since joining Alsop?

Since joining Alsop I have become more skilled as a professional and this is due to the vast spectrum of experience that those around me share. I am privileged to work in a department of staff who are experts in their subject and support each other with every aspect of the curriculum.

What have you done that you are proud of whilst working at Alsop?

Since joining Alsop I have worked with pupils that require extra support with Literacy. It is so rewarding to see the pupils in my care become active participants in the classroom, overcome barriers to learning, and reach both academic and personal milestones.

What are the students like to work with?

Our students are talented and spirited individuals who are determined and proud of their school community. Like all schools, we face challenges, however, once Alsop students have forged relationships with both staff and students they are loyal and caring to the hilt!

Tell me about your department.

The English department is a positive environment to work in with colleagues that support each other daily. We work tirelessly to create schemes of work that drive all learners and allow all students access to the curriculum. Everyone that visits says how welcoming and warm our faculty is.

What extra-curricular activities do you get involved in?

Alongside a team of staff I support both reading and lunch time clubs for our more vulnerable pupils. We ensure that pupils know that there is a space where they can receive extra support outside of curriculum time.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining Alsop?

Visit our school and talk to both staff and students about the journey we are on. We are passionate about making a difference to the lives of the young people we teach.

How have you been developed professionally?

Alsop is supportive of CPD needs and has a determination to up-skill their staff in order to refine classroom practice. The opportunity to learn from expert practitioners both within and outside of school is encouraged. If you are proactive and want to develop here, you will.

What professional development and career opportunities do you think will be open in the future?

Alsop High School values hardworking and motivated staff. We are on a journey and this brings opportunity. Regular CPD both externally and in-house is ensuring that staff are prepared for the challenge.

What do you like about working here?

The most enjoyable part of working at Alsop is the honesty, respect and desire to be the best version of themselves that our students display daily.

How have you been supported since joining Alsop High School?

I have been supported in more ways than I can begin to explain. I arrived at Alsop as a SCITT trainee who was wondering if I had made the correct decision in my career choices. However, I was very quickly able to develop as a reflective and determined teacher due to the guidance and support I received. Alsop strives not only to support our students, but staff too. The advice and guidance I have been shown from the outset have been fundamental in my progression into teaching.

What have you done that you are proud of whilst working at Alsop High School?

The thing I am most proud of since starting work at Alsop is the relationships, I have been able to build with the students. The advice and guidance I have been given by experienced staff has ensured that this has not been a difficult task. Due to this, I have been asked to support a student with a specific S.E.N.D requirement in a mentor role when necessary and also to support a year seven student with specific social and emotional needs. This has been an extremely rewarding experience and is indeed something I am very proud of.

What are the students like to work with?

Alsop students are some of the most incredible young people I have had the pleasure to work with. Every day, I go to work happy and come home happier still. IT is an absolute privilege to support the students at our school.

Tell me about your department.

The English department at Alsop is made up of a wealth of knowledge and experience, all of which is shared to support each other. Our team consists of a variety of individuals who all strive to nurture, support, engage and develop each student in our care. The passion and drive of the English department is infectious and a pleasure to be a part of.

What extra-curricular activities do you get involved in?

I am currently involved in the Debate Mate programme which is a joy. Students stay after school on Fridays and are mentored to develop their speaking and listening skills. This programme ensures that our students gain knowledge of the wider world whilst enhancing their confidence and eloquence in public speaking.

I am also in the process of beginning a creative writing club which I will take the lead on. This has been incredibly successful in previous years and I am excited to be given this opportunity.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining Alsop High School?

Quite simply, my advice to someone thinking of joining Alsop would be, do it. Our students have a unique ability to make us smile, to drive us and to ensure that we also strive to be the best version of ourselves. Each day is a pleasure.

How have you been developed professionally?

Alsop offers regular and insightful CPD sessions, all of which have been invaluable in my development. I have also been lucky enough to be included in a higher leverage teaching programme. This has been an opportunity for me to learn from more experienced staff and outside agencies. This opportunity has ensured that I understand the importance of being a reflective practitioner and has supported me to plan accordingly for the individual students in my care.

What support do you get?

As an NQT, I have the support of a mentor who is exceptional and always goes the extra mile for me. Alsop has a tailored NQT programme which offers weekly meetings, providing extra information about key issues specific to our community and our students. Without this extra guidance and knowledge, I would not have coped as well as I have been able to. Again, I am extremely grateful for this continuing support.

What professional development and career opportunities do you think will be open in the future?

Alsop values hardworking and driven staff and supports us in reaching our full potential. I hope that the opportunity to further my career in a pastoral will arise in the future. I am already being encouraged and fully supported to develop my knowledge and skills in this area to ensure that I am the best I can be when such a position becomes available.

What do you like about working here?

At Alsop I feel a real sense of belonging both amongst the staff with the relationships I have developed with the students I teach. As a school, I feel that we all pull together and support one another whenever possible.

How have you been supported since joining Alsop High School?

Over the 13 years I have been at Alsop, I have been supported by a whole range of staff including members of SLT, support staff, admin staff, caretakers/cleaners and classroom teachers. The support offered has also varied from CPD opportunities to support with difficult students.

What have you done that you are proud of whilst working at Pendle Vale College?

Being part of the work experience process as part of health and social care has made me proud as many of our students flourish and blossom when completing their placements. I have also been proud of the success our students in health and social have had in terms of accessing university places for some of the tougher degrees like midwifery, child nursing and paramedic science. It amazing to see the students fulfil their aspirations and enjoy what they are doing so much.

What are the students like to work with?

In general students at Alsop are amazing young people who make me very proud to be a part of this school. Kids are kids and you are always going to get the odd one or two that don’t fall into line, and this is the case at Alsop. Having said this, the vast majority of students are easy to reason with and can reflect on what they have done; to do this is it important that a positive relationship has been formed. Students on the whole are very hard working, they like to be challenged and they respond well to praise, our sixth form students love the postcard system and my year 11s seem to respond well to biscuits!!!

Tell me about your department.

I am very proud to be a member of staff in the health and social care department. Education is not an easy place to be at times, however, the support we provide for each other and for the students we teach collectively makes all the difference. I feel that we are very good at sharing ideas and resources to help improve our delivery and student outcomes. We also work very hard to get the best out of our students and this is evident in our outcomes, in particular our level 3.

What extra-curricular activities do you get involved in?

I have been a member of staff that has been involved in the Duke of Edinburgh for 12 years.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining Alsop High School?

A firm but fair approach is something that our students respond to, our students like consistency and know exactly where they stand.

How have you been developed professionally?

I have never been stopped from attending a course to further my knowledge and understanding. Currently, I am part of a Teacher Educator Programme which I feel has developed my ability to be a responsive and reflective practitioner. As part of the programme I have been observed and coached to improve my practice and the idea is to pass on what I have learnt and developed to other teachers in school.

What support do you get?

More recently I feel like there is a lot more support available from SLT and in particular my senior line manager. As a department I receive support from the individuals who work alongside me in health and social care.

What professional development and career opportunities do you think will be open in the future?

I will be given the opportunity to build on what I have learnt through the programme mentioned to facilitate improvements in teaching and learning.

What do you like about working here?

Two words: Team Alsop! I have been working at this school for almost twenty years. What I have come to both admire and respect, is the tenacity and passion in which we work towards an important and common vision.

How have you been supported since joining Alsop High School?

Aside from CPD and INSET, my approachable line managers feed and support a vision where literacy in this school is alive and kicking! Not only that, it is a responsibility understood and embraced by all. This significant and on-going journey can only be realised when support, such as theirs, is genuine and heartfelt. My line managers are truly knowledgeable. Together we share a common dream driven by our passion to excel in our pedagogy. I know they want me to be the best version of myself, so supporting me in furthering my knowledge, and improving my practice, is key.

What have you done that you are proud of whilst working at Alsop High School?

Changing the understanding of, and the approaches to Literacy, to the belief that disciplinary literacy is essential in everything we do, is my greatest achievement. Our Team Alsop greatest achievement. For Spelling, Reading, Oracy and Writing is everyone’s responsibility. Children read aloud every lesson. Our commitment to closing the vocabulary gap is one we take very seriously. Each teacher is a facilitator of etymology; in addition, all form tutors read the Classics to their students. Bringing Frank Cottrell-Boyce on board, as an ambassador and Patron of Reading, as well as the many writers, poets and performance artists, is another thing I am extremely proud of.

What are the students like to work with?

Without a doubt, our students have character and style! They are honest and passionate, strong and caring. We share a mutual respect for one another based on the three pillars that impinge Alsop High: Knowledge – Respect – Opportunity. They know our expectations of them. Do your very best – reach for the stars! Always be good. Always be kind.

Tell me about your department

The English Department is a very exciting, dynamic and professional body of professionals who strive to provide enriching sequenced experiences every day, and for every child. There is a sense of the canon in Literature, a sense of place, a framework for understanding cultural and contextual diversity. Our pursuit for excellence and achievement is key. We are unique individuals, passionate and talented.

Excitingly, we have the opportunity to specialise in specific units of work so that the whole product, the schema, is organised, diverse and knowledge-rich, thus providing students with a curriculum that will set them up on a secure route for higher standards, and with long-term multiple benefits.

What extra-curricular activities do you get involved in?

I like to work closely with parents whenever I can. I run three six-week short-story creative writing courses a year. Every Thursday, the Librarian and myself, host coffee mornings, for parents – we run a book club, offer Literacy support – give away free books. Furthermore, our parents are members of our school library! Team Alsop is more than just staff and students. Our parents mean a great deal to us too!

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining Alsop High School?

Alsop High School has a strong set of values about what matters: it has soul, purpose and humanity. It is a school were one grows. Every day, you will get a chance to change lives for the better, sharing your passion and expertise. Do not be afraid to ask for help and support either. We are a very friendly bunch; we are more than happy to support you in any way we can.

What professional development and career opportunities do you think will be open in the future?

Because of the size of the school, there are wide-ranging pathways at Alsop High. There are many career progression opportunities, if you are driven, hard-working and an inspirational facilitator.

What do you like about working here?

The whole school community and our stakeholders share a vision of ensuring the young people we work with are given maximum opportunities to achieve. I enjoy a sense of belonging to our school community.

How have you been supported since joining Alsop High School?

I am part of the whole collaborative learning experience for staff. In particular, I was encouraged and supported throughout the process of gaining QTS.

What have you done that you are proud of whilst working at Alsop High School?

The SLT recognised the vision I held in relation to students who are experiencing difficulty within their education and I was given the opportunity to develop, implement and establish our school’s Intervention Hub. This comprises space for our students to gain extra support and intervention. Additionally, our ACCESS centre within the Hub offers a bespoke curriculum for specific students.

What are the students like to work with?

Warm, funny, intelligent, open and, most certainly honest – to the point where they inform me how many grey hairs I have!

Tell me about your department.

I am fortunate enough to work across a range of departments. I coordinate the Intervention Hub which involves me working with a whole host of students across key stages.

My department is dynamic and welcoming; almost like a family to me. We have regular CPD and curriculum development meetings which enables us to give the students of Alsop the best possible educational experience.

What extra-curricular activities do you get involved in?

I run a cultural capital project which involves a group of students spending times out of school developing their cultural awareness. Examples of some of our visits have been to Antony Gormley’s Another Place, Tracy Emin’s My Bed, the range of Liverpool museums, theatres and parks.

I also worked on an Erasmus Plus project collaborating with schools and universities from Germany and Sweden, which involved us welcoming groups of teachers and young people from these countries into Alsop to explore their procedures and share best practice.

Additionally, I organise a wide range of theatre visits both locally and to Manchester and London which enables our students to embed their knowledge of key English Literature texts.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of joining Alsop High School?

Join us; no two days are the same. You won’t work with a hospitable or more supportive staff anywhere else.

How have you been developed professionally?

As well as all of the generic CPD offers, I have also recently gained QTS.

What support do you get?

Whatever I need; the SLT are always open to new ideas and avenues to develop professionally.

What professional development and career opportunities do you think will be open in the future?

I am currently half way through an Educational Doctorate and I believe that my thesis, which will closely examine the educational offer for young people in the north of England, will be rolled out to other schools and I welcome the opportunity to work in collaboration with a range of different establishments.