Ysgol Cae Top aims to create a happy and effective learning community, emphasizing student achievement and staff development through professional learning communities (PLCs). The school focuses on high expectations, strong leadership, and community engagement to enhance student outcomes. The collaboration within PLCs is guided by data-informed inquiries to support effective teaching practices and improve overall school effectiveness.

1. CERI WYN JONES Ysgol Cae Top CYMUNED DDYSGU HAPUS AC EFFEITHIOL A HAPPY AND EFFECTIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY

2. Our Vision at Ysgol Cae Top To Create a Happy and Effective Learning Community Ysgol Cae Top

3. What is an effective school ? Ysgol Cae Top EFFECTIVE Happy Safe Interesting Variety of activities Something for everyone Ahead of the game ! Clear vision Challenging Opportunity to learn Strong Leadership Effectively designed learning environment Fair Focus on Pedagogy Best possible staff Focus on CPD Child centred Enjoyment After school activities Emphasis on “The Voice of the Child” Teamwork Member of a Professional Learning Community Strong links with the community

4. Vision: Happy Community Happy children = Happy Parents Happy Parents = Happy Staff Happy Staff = Happy School Happy School = Happy Children Ysgol Cae Top

5. Moral Purpose/Our belief Every student is capable of high achievement Every teacher / member of staff can improve Every individual has a contribution to make Start from here but set high goals Seek help but avoid dependency Raise expectations Share good practice Ysgol Cae Top

6. Ysgol Cae Top “ A Professional learning community is an inclusive group of people, motivated by a shared learning vision, who support and work with each other, finding ways, inside and outside their immediate community, to enquire on their practice and together learn new and better approaches that will enhance all pupils’ learning.” Professional Learning Communities

7. Decide on their own agenda/inquiry (data informed) PLC’s need to be specific and measurable. Clear focus guided. Shared responsibility. Specific learner needs. Outcome driven. Ask Yourself: How are we doing? Where are we going? Where to next? Professional Learning Communities

8. Ysgol Cae Top Professional Learning Communities Criteria for judging the effectiveness of a PLC Impact on pupil learning Impact on staff morale and practice, with potential for developing leadership capacity Impact on culture ‘the way we do things around here’

9. Ysgol Cae Top Professional Learning Communities The ultimate goal of professional learning community (PLC) can be summed up in three words: improved student outcomes.

10. Ysgol Cae Top A number of PLC’s: Teachers within Ysgol Cae Top Teachers within local and National schools Teachers in other countries Support Staff Children Governors Professional Learning Communities

11. School Effectiveness Framework School Development Plan British Columbia Literacy Plan Professional Learning Community Overview

12. Ysgol Cae Top PLC with Hillcrest Elementary in Vancouver, Canada. Initial Visit Headteacher – Mr Rhys Howard Hughes British Council/WAG initiative to look at literacy in British Columbia. Initial link/contact Performance Based Standards PISA Tests International Professional Learning Communities {IPLC}

13. Ysgol Cae Top International Professional Learning Communities {IPLC} Follow up Visit How do the Performance Based Standards run alongside the mainstream subjects? How are assessment structures used to gauge pupils progress? How were the standards first rolled out? Were they phased in? Are they statutory/non-statutory?

14. Ysgol Cae Top Performance Based Standards Focus exclusively on performance standards. Describe levels of achievement in key areas of learning. It uses Afl as a driving force. Accurate, credible and fit for purpose. 4 levels of students performance in terms of prescribed learning outcomes (rubrics). According to BC Education Authority:

15. Ysgol Cae Top British Columbia Everything woven in their curriculum. Consistency. Emphasis on literacy (oracy). PBS - Easy to measure a child’s performance. Learners knew exactly what they needed to be doing, where their at and how to improve. There was a common language – learners were very articulate. Emphasis on PROCESS rather than PRODUCT.

16. School Effectiveness Framework AfL Children’s voice PLC focus reading comprehension E-mail/blogging Reading Power-Adrienne Gear Hillcrest - Cae Top

17. Ysgol Cae Top Cymunedau Dysgu Proffesiynol Professional Learning Communities How do we make an effective school more effective ? Children’s School Effectiveness Group

18. We are modelling the within, between and across schools. International Professional Learning Communities {IPLC}

19. Cymunedau Dysgu Proffesiynol Professional Learning Communities Ysgol Cae Top Ysgol Cae Top Cymuned Ddysgu Hapus ac Effeithiol A Happy and Effective Learning Community Ffordd Eithinog Bangor Gwynedd LL57 2GZ 01248 352 325 [email_address] www.caetop.gwynedd.sch.uk