Mrs Tanya Barwick

As the Lead Mentor (Secondary ITE) I work collaboratively with university-based and school-based colleagues to ensure and assure that ITE trainees receive an excellent placement experience. This includes taking a strategic lead on the development and implementation of robust quality assurance mechanisms related to in-school mentoring and coaching. I also play a role in the contribution to course development following the DfE award as accredited providers of ITE courses from 2024.

My Main Responsibilities are:
To make a significant contribution to the leadership of mentoring by leading this area of provision through developing and maintaining a strategic approach to the allocation of placements, link tutoring and supporting mentor quality assurance.

To lead on the training and quality assurance of mentors, recording attendance and ensuring all mentors engage with the training and that this is built into approaches to quality assure the placement experiences of students.

To lead and manage phase-specific communications with schools and mentors, with the Head of Section, including maintaining the mentor website. In collaboration with Course Directors, ensure all placement documentation is maintained and available.

To ensure DfE statutory compliance criteria are met for all secondary student placements. Oversee the allocation and quality assurance of all placements in liaison with course curriculum tutors and the partnership team.

To analyse and evaluate placement experiences, mentoring, link tutoring and partnership work through a range of means and share the outcomes to support development.

I am a fully qualified and recognised History teacher, with over 15 years leadership experience of supporting trainees and early career teachers. One aspect of this role involved coordinating a weekly programme of professional studies, delivery of coaching and mentor training, coordinating placements and the monitoring of support and provision through regular observation and overseeing quality assurance of grading reviews and target setting. I have a wealth of experience of working in partnership and therefore understand and value its complex nature. In my previous role, as Teaching School Director, I oversaw and supported the strategic development of the alliance’s ITT partnership and early career staff across a number of partner schools in Kent. I have also had experience of working with KCC to support NQTs and their mentors. A large aspect of this role was to conduct school visits across the whole of Kent to QA their provision and to support and develop mentors.

I am an ECF tutor for a local Teaching School Hub. In this role I support mentors and ECTs through the facilitation on conferences and coaching. This role further develops my understanding of mentoring and the transition process from the CCF to ECF