New director for West Sussex teaching hub

The new director of a West Sussex teaching hub has been working with the Department for Education to help shape the new landscape for professional training.

Angela Rodda has taken over as director at the West Sussex-based GLF Teaching School Hub (TSH) and says she is ‘excited about the new role the hubs have been given with the strategic role for Initial Teacher Training.’

She has worked as an ITT associate with the DfE and hopes to bring this experience to the new GLF School Centred Initial Teacher Training partnership.

“Trainee teacher recruitment remains challenging for all, and it must be high on everyone’s agenda. The GLF school-centred initial teacher training has been leading the way by supporting the writing and piloting of the new Inspiring Future Teacher’s curriculum,” she said.

Working with other training hubs and headteachers, the message that teaching is an ‘incredible privilege’ to be a part of is an essential element to focus on.

Moving  to GLF from Saffron Teaching School in Essex, Angela brings a wealth of experience in the TSH landscape and enthusiasm for ensuring teacher development through every stage of a career, including senior leadership level. 

“I have always been interested in taking part in, and leading, continued professional development since I first started teaching at 21. Over the last 25 years it has become more evidence-based and more effectively linked to colleagues’ professional goals and career pathways. Continuing Professional Development should be working towards  fixing education’s tricky problems.

“Learning how to coach another colleague to change and rethink their practice has become an essential role of a facilitator and work of the TSH. It helps ensure we make those problematic shifts in our practice,” she said.

Having been inspired by supportive teachers herself, Angela was the recipient of free school meals and the first person in her family to attend university. She trained at Leeds University in Theatre Studies and Visual Arts before completing a PGCE in Drama at Middlesex University.

“Teaching is all I have ever wanted to do, and I have been fortunate to have had a varied career and worked with some wonderfully talented people who have taught me a lot over the years,” said Angela.

“I think we forget about the difference we make in schools to people’s future decisions,” she added.

While her previous TSH is similar to the GLF teaching hub, with both working beyond their geographical areas, her new position sees her with a significantly higher scale of Early Career Framework and Appropriate Body Services. 

“I am excited about the new role that TSHs have been given, this should allow our West Sussex hub to work collaboratively with other providers to ensure high-quality Initial Teacher Training and a strong pipeline of teachers for our schools. I am also keen that we ensure all schools are aware of the leadership training TSHs can offer, ensuring we continue to have a high quality professional development throughout a teaching career.”

Some of the TSH work operates remotely, due to the large area it covers, but the new director said she was looking forward to meeting headteachers and other colleagues in person where possible.

“Covid has undoubtedly changed how personal development operates, and people expect remote options,” she said.

As a drama teacher, Angela still enjoys both watching and reading plays - but her guilty pleasure, by her own admission - is an all-out action film.