Course outline
Learn at a time that suits you, with a practical, hands-on curriculum
Hear from seasoned practitioner and curriculum expert Alex Pethick in 4 video classes, released at fortnightly intervals. Each class is a recording from Alex's highly successful live online course in autumn 2023, adapted for you to watch on-demand. With video classes that fit around your schedule, real-world practical tasks and built-in time for structured reflection, this is a meaningful and convenient way to train.
Class 1
Released Monday 5 February
What’s the real role of a subject lead?
- The fundamentals of curriculum intent, implementation and impact
- The difference between leadership and management
- How to set the strategic direction and vision for your subject
Estimated watch time: max. 90 minutes, including reflection
Gap task: max. 60 minutes, designed to put your learning into practice in your role before the next class. Your trainer, Alex, will share details of the task with you at the end of this class
Class 2
Released Monday 19 February
How to lead your curriculum intent
- How to design a broad and balanced curriculum for your subject, or review and improve the one you’ve got
- Creating a well-sequenced curriculum that allows for fantastic progression
- Applying subject-specific knowledge from subject specialists when designing your curriculum
- Aligning your curriculum with your school’s vision
Estimated watch time: max. 90 minutes, including reflection
Gap task: max. 60 minutes, designed to put your learning into practice in your role before the next class. Your trainer, Alex, will share details of the task with you at the end of this class
Class 3
Released Monday 4 March
Leading exceptional teaching and learning
- Lead the curriculum for your subject across your school, and set sky-high standards for teaching and learning
- Review your assessment measures: are they robust, appropriate and working well?
- Make sure your curriculum implementation is ambitious and effective for all children
Estimated watch time: max. 90 minutes, including reflection
Gap task: max. 60 minutes, designed to put your learning into practice in your role before the next class. Your trainer, Alex, will share details of the task with you at the end of this class
Class 4
Released Monday 18 March
Monitoring impact like an expert
- How to evaluate and monitor the quality of teaching in your subject, and its impact
- Carrying out monitoring and evaluation in a light-touch and supportive way
- Developing an effective action plan, and carrying it out
- Get 100% ready for a subject deep-dive
Estimated watch time: max. 90 minutes, including reflection
No gap task to complete in follow-up. Just look out for your course completion certificate in your inbox, as long as you've watched all 4 classes by midnight
on 29 March!
Your expert course trainer
Alex Pethick is director of curriculum for the Knowledge Schools Trust. She oversees the design of the ‘Primary Knowledge Curriculum’, and joined the trust as the deputy headteacher for West London Free School Primary and Earl’s Court Free School Primary. She has taught in both rural Suffolk and inner-city London.
Alex has designed our course curriculum. She leads all the video classes and sets all the gap tasks.
Who can take this course?
This course is designed for primary subject leaders who are:
- New to role
- New to subject leadership
- In need of a refresher
This course is exclusively available to The Key's Whole School members. If you're not yet a Whole School member,
find out more here.
More reasons to love this course
Active learning, not passive instruction
You'll learn by doing, with practical tasks to weave into your day-to-day work. And your video classes won't be lectures. You’ll hear and see all the questions asked by the live audience at the time of recording, as well as Alex’s responses. You’ll pause for structured reflection, and where appropriate you’ll also hear Alex’s feedback on the small-group activities set during the live classes.
Take away practical resources, templates and case studies
To use in school, in your role. New resources shared with every on-demand class, to help you apply what you’ve learnt immediately.
Learn with a cohort of subject leader peers
Learning virtually doesn't mean learning solo. Signing up to this on-demand course also grants you access to a private Facebook group, where you can network with others taking the course and even team up to complete your practical tasks.
Earn a certificate of achievement
Watch all your video classes by midnight on Friday 29 March and get a certificate of achievement from The Key for your learning record.
What previous attendees of our live course have said
"I understand my role so much more now. Every subject leader should do this course!"
"The first time in 11 years that I've had the subject lead role properly explained"
"The tasks were very practical and a brilliant way to secure that knowledge"
Frequently asked questions
This is an online, on-demand course. All 4 classes are video recordings from our successful live course, run in autumn 2023. A new video class will be available each fortnight, on the dates stated above, for you to watch online at a time that suits you. You’ll have practical tasks to complete independently between classes, and 24/7 access to your own online course community forum.
Deeply practical tasks. They’ll help you put learning into practice immediately and get ahead on work you need to complete in your day-to-day role. You might work with colleagues on a task, and get supportive feedback.
Yes! This course was built with full-time school leaders and teachers in mind. We've converted this from a live course to a series of on-demand videos that give you maximum flexibility in when you learn. Video classes will last no more than 90 minutes and will be released once a fortnight. You have until midnight on 29 March to watch all 4. Outside of that, expect practical tasks to complete at any point that suits you ahead of the next class, and an on-tap peer community to engage with as you like. All your practical tasks will directly relate to your day job — they’ll never take you more than an hour.
Yes! You’ll get a certificate on completion of the course. You must watch all 4 classes by midnight on 29 March to qualify.
These courses are included in The Key's Whole School membership. So, if your school is a Whole School member, you can take this course at no extra cost to your school. If you're not yet a Whole School member, find out more here.
Yes!
No! Unlike our live courses, there's no limit to the number of participants per school, and you may find it valuable to work through the course with a colleague.
Just email any questions to cpd@thekeysupport.com. We’ll get back to you within 2 working days.