I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Northern Star website. The Northern Star is a group of schools from all stages and with different specialisms who have decided to work collaboratively on the provision of Continuous Professional Development locally. It stands for Northern Area Skills, Training, Advice and guidance and Research. This hub represents an opportunity for the sharing of good practice and the development of a different approach to CPD for teaching and non-teaching staff. It aims to harness good practice in order to promote school improvement. Tapping into the richness of resources by using local expertise makes CPD more accessible and sets it in a relevant context.

Collaborative work is becoming a priority in all areas of education, both within schools and crucially between establishments, namely recently through Extended Schools and the 14-19 curriculum. The Specialists Schools and Academies Trust states that: “The family of schools * team believes that the most effective methods of raising standards involve schools working with each other to share best and next practice and providing mutual support and challenge.”

The Department for Children, Schools and Families also highlights that collaboration is key to shaping successful education for the future in its Whitepaper, 21st Century Schools, A World Class Education for Every Child. It is essential to be:

• making the best use of resources: for example, through sharing staff, functions and facilities across a number of school sites, taking advantage of developments in technology; and […]
• ensuring greater collective accountability for outcomes for children and young people in the local area.

The Local Authority is working with our hub to ensure that local schools help shape future CPD. This website facilitates access to courses offered by local expertise for colleagues in the Northern Area of Norfolk. A range of courses is offered to anyone involved in schools. There are also opportunities to set up a school visit for people interested in working in local schools.

Aylsham High Training School is very proud to be co-coordinating this exciting opportunity and we aim to help and assist in anyway possible existing and aspiring school staff through this website. Please feel free to register and browse and contact us should you require further information or assistance. Note that no registration is required to request an observation form.

* The Family of Schools gives practical support to the transformation of primary education by building and enabling a world-class network of innovative, high performing schools