Director's Office Education Department County Hall Martineau Lane Norwich
Director of Education: Bryan Slater		Norfolk NR1 2DL
		Tel: 01603 222146
		Fax: 01603 222481
		Minicom: 01603 223833
		Email: bryan.slater@norfolk.gov.uk
Please ask for:	Brenda Emmott	Your ref:
Contact Number:	01603 433276	My ref:	BCS/neas/fc/cr

2 June 2003

To all Norfolk LEA Schools

Dear Headteacher

Future work with Advanced Skills Teachers (ASTs)

Over the last few years we have jointly achieved considerable success in promoting the appointment and deployment of Advanced Skills Teachers (ASTs). As an LEA we think it right that due recognition can be given to some of our most talented teachers who wish to remain in the classroom. We also consider the use of ASTs, as a support for other teachers, sharing their practice and researching improvements, to be an important part of the LEA’s approach to school improvement.

From a slow start two years ago when there were very few ASTs we have helped schools recruit over sixty by the end of May 2003. We are now at an important point of decision about the number of ASTs we should have, the phase and subject specialisms to promote and the way that we can use the expertise of the ASTs more systematically.

The issues are twofold. Firstly, a number of schools have asked that we take on a greater co-ordinating role in helping identify and allocate the outreach part of the ASTs role. The second issue relates to possible changes in the way ASTs will be funded from the financial year 2004/’05. It is likely that the funding for ASTs will be transferred from Standards Fund into the schools base budget. We are still uncertain how this will be carried out and the DfES is currently consulting on this matter. A recent letter stated;

'On the funding question, the next steps will be for the Department to formally seek the views of LEAs on Fair Funding issues in late April or early May and this will incorporate AST issues. Initial outcomes will be announced in August.'

We don’t yet know whether the funding will be distributed in a targeted way or whether it will go to all schools. We also still have to decide the total number of ASTs to be supported by the LEA contribution. Therefore, I am asking Fred Corbett and Brenda Emmott to consult with groups of headteachers and by the end of September to make recommendations on the role of ASTs in Norfolk and the numbers we should try to support.

Our current priorities for ASTs are;

è to ensure support for those already appointed and committed to outreach work in collaboration with the LEA,

è to support ASTs working in or for schools in challenging circumstances,

è to ensure that our work with Early Years settings has sufficient numbers of expert outreach teachers,

è to develop expertise in modern foreign languages particularly to support the development of MFL in KS2 in the coming years

It may be that these priorities will change during our consultation but in the meantime it is very important that any school seeking to appoint an AST should discuss this first with Brenda Emmott. If appointments are made outside the agreed priority areas we may not be able to guarantee the additional funding support for the post next year. We know that the original target the LEA had for the number of ASTs in Norfolk was 85 by the end of this year. As a precaution, until the consultation is complete and the future funding arrangements clear we are reducing that target to 65. In September we will determine whether the criteria should change and whether the total numbers should be greater.

Brenda and Fred will consult with the headteacher associations and the teacher associations in the coming months. There will also be a few group meetings with headteachers, if you are interested in taking part in these discussions please let Brenda Emmott know, she can be contacted at the Norwich PDC (01603 433276). Brenda Emmott is the lead adviser with responsibility for ASTs and if you have any queries about this letter please contact her.

Yours sincerely

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION