The document provides a summary of recent developments at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College. Mini inspections of the Art and Design, Performing Arts, and Access to Learning departments found excellent teaching and learning. HR successfully launched a new appraisal system and staff development sessions received positive feedback. The Teacher Development Unit is promoting action research and functional skills training. Resources and upcoming events are also highlighted.

1. SGS
Celebrating Success
May 2013
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

2. In this edition…
 Results from recent mini inspections
 Launching Functional Skills in 13/14
 HR successfully launches new appraisal system
 Positive feedback from staff development
 Inspirational action research
 App of the month
 What’s next?
 Useful resources / links to websites
 Meet the team
Welcome message from the Teacher Development Team… (Click to listen)

3. Art and Design WISE
Fashion students were making excellent progress as part of
their final major project. Learners were motivated and engaged
at all times and spoke confidently and articulately about their
work. The teacher offered good 121 support and stretched the
learners to problem solve. The overall standard of was
excellent.
Learners on the Foundation Degree were producing excellent
work including sculptures, silk screens and large canvasses. All
of the learners were able to critique their own work, drawing
links to other artists that inspire them. Progress was very good
and engagement was high.
Art and Design Stroud
Learners on the BTEC Diploma in Games Design were working
collaboratively to produce 3D games of outstanding quality.
Learners produced individual scores, created voiceovers and
then embedded these into dynamic content. The teacher
promoted independent critical thinking skills with learners
producing and reviewing progress against Gant charts.
Learners in Level (2) Art and Design were producing excellent
quality work and were able to reflect critically on their progress
to date. The teacher and 121 / ICSWs worked well together,
supporting individual learning needs. Classroom management
was good and a lively and enthusiastic teacher used their
subject knowledge to inspire the learners.
Mini InspectionsFour departments were inspected during the month of May, Art and Design (WISE and Stroud Campus), Performing Arts (WISE Campus) and Access to Learning (Stroud).
As with previous inspections there was plenty to celebrate. Why not take the opportunity to read some of the observation feedback, highlighting how excellent teaching and
learning has a genuine impact upon learners. Full copies of the reports will be made available via SharePoint.
Performing Arts (WISE)
Some excellent planning and assessment for learning ensured
that lessons were well personalised to meet the needs of all
learners. Up to date group and individual profiles allowed the
teacher to tailor their delivery, creating an inclusive learning
environment. Learner feedback was positive and reflected the
very good support being received through the tutorial system.
Foundation Learning
This is an outstanding session. The teacher challenged
learners and checked understanding through individual, peer
and group assessments. Questioning techniques were
excellent, clear and to the point. Students understood their
targets and were happy sharing them with the group. A range
of resources were used to keep the students involved.
Progress was rapid.
Differentiated assessments allowed students to access a
range of activities, ensuring all students were motivated and
engaged. The ICSWs monitored individual work stations,
allowing the teacher to help some students with their written
work. 3 learners were practicing their writing skills, 1 student
had access to a lap top, 2 students prepared a salad and
another made hot drinks. Photographic evidence was used to
support students to build their portfolios.
A good level of questioning to check learning and also to
encourage learners to think deeper.

4. Functional skills…
The TDU launch the new Functional Skills Strategy for 2013
As most of you will be aware the Government have made a big push to raise standards of literacy and numeracy. At SGS we will
be increasing our functional skills provision and consequently it is a perfect time to review the quality of our existing provision. The
TDU launched its new strategy on the 24th
May and will be working with teachers to ensure that we deliver outstanding Functional
Skills in the 2013/14. It is a huge task and that is why several members of management have volunteered to take the lead,
delivering both Maths and English.
Staff development
36 staff attended the first training session of the last development day. Staff completed
a series of collaborative tasks that allowed them to share best practice and exchange
ideas on how to improve their delivery in 13/14. Feedback has been very positive (click
here for results). A similar session is being delivered at Stroud Campus on the 8th
July.
Resources
If you missed the training session and want to know a little more, then click on the
image below that will take you to the Prezi that was delivered on the day. If you are
interested in finding out more about staff training for functional skills, then contact
Hazel.budd@sgscol.ac.uk or phone 01179 092333.
What’s that coming over the hill..?
It’s only the legend that is Johnny Ball. Johnny will be delivering 2
bespoke seminars at Filton and WISE Campus on the 12th
July and
will be setting the scene for the delivery of functional skills in 13/14.
More information will follow shortly.

5. HR successfully launches a new appraisal system
All managers have now gone through the new appraisal training and the feedback is overwhelmingly positive. HOFs and HODs are now meeting with their teams
to explain the new process. On-line support is being offered via SharePoint, with helpful guides, tutorials and videos.
A sample video can be accessed below. Beware of the Boss man!
Click on the image to access. If you want to find out more about QR codes then contact a member of the TDU
New appraisal system

6. Staff development
May ’13 @Filton and WISE Campus
Staff development
There were 17 sessions in total with nearly (400) attendances;
themes included starter and plenary activities, classroom
management and creative ways to assess your learners. These
themes were identified during the mini-inspections and the
feedback was excellent. Check out the video by clicking or
scanning the QR code.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive
Click or scan the QR codes to access the videos

7. Action researchAction research:
Since the beginning of the year the TDU has been promoting the virtues of action research. To date, 6 teachers have successfully put
in applications and are busy finalising their results. Here is just a little taster below. If you are interested in completing a piece of action
research, whether on functional skills, innovative technologies and peer assessment, then please contact either
simon.kay@sgscol.ac.uk (Filton and WISE Campus) or Tish.burns@sgscol.ac.uk (Stroud Campus)
Conducted by: Helen Williams
Department: Access 2 Learning (Stroud Campus)
Some highlights…
The girls really surprised me with their ability to make an informed choice each
week about whether or not the i-pads would help them in their session. I was
concerned if the I-pads were available they would try and use them regardless, just
for the novelty factor and not constructively…
… The girls really liked the fact you could have many windows open that they could
flick between easily when initially researching a topic. It generated some fantastic
discussions in the classroom and in the girls words ‘stopped you copying and
pasting’ and it very often resulted in the learners taking notes with a pen and paper
from the i-pads summarizing, very effectively, the content of what they were
reading…
… Giving learners the opportunity to be heard is also another fundamental tool to
promoting independence in learning. If work is constantly being supplied on the
smart board, power points or through handouts all the learners end up with the
same material to work from. The i-pads allow learners to discover their own
material and then more importantly, use and share that material with the groups,
enhancing everyone’s learning experience.

8. App of the Month
Check out AppZapp
Pro, a great little app
that gives you access
to hundreds of free
apps that are
searchable by category,
for example, education
or photography
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter
@SGSPeers or why not celebrate
a success within your department
by using #SGSuccess.
Results will be streamed through
to SharePoint

9. Wanted: Staff to help deliver CPD in 2013/14
What the last staff development day illustrated is that we have some truly
exceptional staff. We are looking for staff to help us deliver some valuable CPD
sessions in 2013/14. So what’s it in for you I hear you ask? Well, we are looking to
form Peer Assisted Learning Groups (PALs) whereby individual teachers,
assessors and ICSWs get together to share ideas and collaborate. We cannot
offer much but, coffee and bacon should be a good starting point. Anyone who
helps will be entered into a raffle at the end of the year; the first prize is an i-Pad4.
The first PAL meet is on:
@ Stroud Campus 8TH
July 2013 tish.burns@sgscol.ac.uk
@ Filton Campus 9th
July 2013 simon.kay@sgscol.ac.uk
@ WISE Campus 9th
July 2013 simon.kay@sgscol.ac.uk
If you are interested, then why not pop along!
Next Month’s Edition
• Review of Sixth Form provision / mini inspection
• Update on HR appraisal system
• Function Skills update
• Release of the TLA Academic Planner for 2013/14. Plan all
of your CPD needs
• Quality update (SARs)
• OfSted update
• Resource of the month

10. Useful Resources / Links
This is a nice little blog that
focuses upon the creation of
21 century resources that are
relevant to the learner. Some
great ideas…
Click or scan…
This site allows you to
convert word documents into
on-line brochures. These can
then be embedded into
Moodle
Click or scan…
Be prepared to be genuinely amazed. This site allows you to
create wonderful animations in just minutes…Check out the
example of the right…this took under 5 minutes. Keep an eye
out for training sessions in 2013/14
Click or scan…

11. Meet the Team
Mark Jones
Head of Teaching, Learning,
Assessment and Standards
01179092 333
Markanthony.jones@sgscol.ac.uk
Hazel Budd
Deputy Head of Teaching, Learning,
Assessment and Standards
(Filton Campus)
01179092 333
hazel.budd@sgscol.ac.uk
Simon Kay
Deputy Head of Teaching, Learning,
Assessment and Standards
(Filton Campus)
01179092 333
simon.kay@sgscol.ac.uk
Tish Burns
Deputy Head of Teaching, Learning,
Assessment and Standards
(Stroud Campus)
01453 761184
tish.burns@sgscol.ac.uk