Teachers meeting with astronaut Mark Kelly, learning to bring excitement and aspiration to the classroom

• Guidance & mentoring from school and LEA leaders
• Inputs from Rice University’s ‘Centre for Excellence and Equity in Education’
• Observation and shadowing in schools in Houston
• Assistance from Houston Independent School District leaders
• Inputs from astronauts and industry leaders

The ‘NQT Improving Effectiveness’ programme supports the attainment of standards for the Award of Qualified Teacher Status, builds on the strengths identified in the NQT ‘Career Entry Profile’ and supports the fulfilment of objectives and action plans for the first year of teaching. 

The training provides supportive mentoring to assist NQT’s with strategies to overcome current difficulties and helps set medium and long-term career goals. 

Houston is the largest city in southern Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Centre

ISSET has been involved in teacher and student education programmes in Houston since 2000.

Houston is a fascinating city within which to carry out the work. It is the fourth largest city in the USA, with a population that is approximately:

40% Hispanic Americans
30% black Americans
20% white Americans
10% drawn from a variety of races.

Houston has many of the problems and concerns of a very large multi-cultural inner city, whilst also having great optimism that these concerns can and are being overcome by inclusive policies and programmes. Houston and Rice University have achieved national acclaim for their work in narrowing the achievement gap between majority and minority ethnic groups.

Houston also offers the opportunity to take advantage of the inspirational and highly motivating space programme that is based at NASA’s ‘Johnson Space Centre’, the home of Mission Control and astronaut training.

Initial Saturday workshop:-

• Essential teaching skills
• Active learning techniques
• Importance of key skills
• Assessment & planning
• How to benefit most from the US study
• Mentoring & online-community

Observe and partner in teaching at Houston schools

School Observation & School District Input :-

• Behaviour management                
• Attendance & punctuality
• School ethos                                              
• Use of assessment information
• Tracking student progress            
• Use of ICT
• Wider educational development  
• Equal opportunities
• Progression through planning      
• Personal responsibility
• Working with ethnic minorities     
• Setting high standards

Visit Rice University, one of the finest US educational institutions

Rice University :-

• The achievement gap between majority & minority ethnic groups
• Focusing on achievement of ethnic minorities
• ‘No Child Left Behind’ programme
• Importance of teams and team building exercise at ‘Houston Museum of Natural Science’

Johnson Space Centre and Aerospace Industry :-

• How to inspire students
• The importance of personal goals
• High achievement for all
• Preparing for a world of global partnership and advanced technological communication

Explore space in the classroom at NASA's Johnson Space Centre

Mentoring for :-

• Individual difficulties                      
• Develop team ethos
• Setting goals
• Comparison of US and UK approaches
• Career Entry Profiles
• Personal objectives & action plans

Online virtual community and support

Personal objectives & action plans                     

Experience professional tuition in working weekend seminars

• 25 Oct-1 Nov 2008

Course Directors

Chris Barber: Director ISSET with 14 years experience in school leadership

Bernard Whittingham: Senior Adviser for Cardiff LEA with responsibility for secondary school improvement