Yorkshire & Humber
Practice Development Groups

We are now recruiting participants for the second round of the Yorkshire and Humber Practice Development Groups!

Practice Development Groups (PDGs) form part of the Education and Training Foundation’s Practitioner Research pathway. Practitioners can join the research pathway at various points; including practitioner-led enquiry, small-scale research projects or postgraduate research.

Join us from January to April on this exciting project which focuses on developing the embedding of maths or English within your curriculum. Working in a group of 5-6 other educators from across the region you will meet once a month to share an idea for a project or improvement you want to make to your practice, and using action learning sets, you will share and receive offers of help and support, taking this idea and getting it into action.

As a participant you do not need experience of similar activity as you will be supported by the community of practitioners involved and guided by experienced group facilitators.

There are many benefits to taking part, including collaborating with other educators from across the region, learning about other focused projects, issues and ideas, gaining confidence when networking, and bringing projects to action. You will also have the exciting opportunity to share your work at our Showcase event in June 2021 bringing together teams from colleges and training providers from across the Yorkshire and Humber to celebrate the work of the PDG collective.

We are recruiting participants with the following focus:

  • Engaging Construction students with English and maths
  • Embedding maths within the arts curriculum
  • Growth mind-set in English classes – how to increase learner confidence with English skills
  • Developing Speaking and Listening skills in ESOL classes
  • Discuss and Debate – engaging IT / Computing learners in live discussion
  • English and maths – the remote delivery dilemma
  • Developing English skills within vocational curriculum
  • Engaging disengaged learners with Creative Writing

As well as the above groups, we will be running two further groups with a more general focus on developing English and math across the region, so if your idea / project doesn’t fit the above please still apply!

Download our guidance sheet below for more information on the PDG format, project timelines and commitment required from participants and their organisation.

Hope to see you soon!

Andrea Quantrill 
TLA Quality Manager, Calderdale College 

FAQs

There are no fees to be a part of this project. Where the launch event or collaboration events take place in person, participants will need to fund (or have funded by their organisation) their travel expenses. Participants are always welcome to join us online where this may not be appropriate.
We are taking applications from teachers and trainers, progress coaches and support staff who work in an ESFA funded organisation in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
No previous experience required. All that is needed is a desire to improve an aspect of your teaching, learning and assessment with an English or math focus, an idea and a positive attitude!
As an applicant you are asked to make a commitment to attend the four meetings. The dates and times of these meetings will be agreed at the launch event by each ALS and their group facilitator therefore will be at a time convenient for you. Once dates are agreed they are to be upheld.

Project outcomes are down to the individual participant. You might chose to produce a resource, a case study, a short video or presentation. Other participants may choose to use the process as their product, documenting the outcomes of any experimentation – it is entirely up to you!

What we do ask is that you share your developments and any outcomes with your wider teams, so that at least 2 other colleagues benefit from your work.

Apply Now

Applications are now open for participants. If you have any questions please get in touch with us by calling 01422 357 357 or email [email protected]

We may look a little different!

You might have noticed we recently made some changes to the look of our website but don’t worry you can still find all the courses and information you need!

Here are some quick links below