I represent a School

Supporting those who are studying for their MTL degree will clearly require commitment from senior managers and colleagues in a school. The school is expected to provide a coach to guide the MTL participant through the each phase of the programme and participants will need to access information guidance from more experienced colleagues. But there are direct and indirect benefits for the whole schools and/or department in supporting a participant. The benefits of MTL will spread much wider than the individuals involved.

Teachers on the MTL programme will emerge with higher level skills in developing their professional practice, leading to improved teaching and learning. They will gain the skills necessary to become lifelong learners and will be well placed to meet the demands on the teaching profession in a 21st century school.

Teachers who become MTL coaches will have the opportunity to share their expertise with and support new entrants to the teaching profession. As they participate in the MTL, they will make a wider contribution to development across the school, and support an increasingly collaborative culture in professional development. They will have the opportunity to develop their own knowledge and understanding through the professional learning that occurs simply by being a coach. They too will benefit from the expert input of the HEI tutor as they work together to provide appropriate opportunities for the teachers’ collaborative learning within and beyond the school context.

There are other significant benefits for the school. By providing support to NQTs in the early years of their teaching career, MTL should help lead to higher levels of staff retention. Additionally, MTL also presents an opportunity to bring expertise into schools to support learning across the school. More broadly, the development of an enquiry- and evidence-based way of working will bring about an even more highly professional workforce capable of delivering ever better outcomes of children and young people – a key characteristic of the 21st century school system.