Celebrating our Teachers’ Council

Since its launch in February, the Waterton Teachers’ Council has quickly become a dynamic platform for collaboration and professional voice within our Trust. The group has grown to seven members, representing four of our schools. These teachers bring a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds, all united by a shared commitment to enhancing teaching and learning across Waterton.

The Council’s first project focused on oracy, supporting the exploration of this area as a potential Trust-wide strategy. Each member was assigned a piece of research exploring the benefits, challenges, and implementation of a robust oracy framework in schools. The group engaged with their readings and prepared insightful presentations for the next meeting. Their discussions not only deepened individual understanding but also sparked wider reflections on how oracy could be further developed within the Trust.

One of the core reasons the Teachers’ Council was established was to ensure the voices of those working directly with children every day are heard and valued. It’s vital that Trust-wide decisions and strategies are informed by the insights, experiences, and expertise of our classroom practitioners. In line with this vision, Council members were invited to present their findings at a recent Headteachers’ development session. In small groups, they shared their research and recommendations with school leaders. Despite the natural nerves that come with presenting to senior colleagues, each member rose to the occasion—speaking with clarity, confidence, and professionalism.

Feedback from leaders was overwhelmingly positive:

“Great to see teachers empowered to conduct and deliver research as the experts in the room, with consideration of the impact of this ‘on the shop floor’.”

“I was so proud of our Teacher Council reps – they are so keen and really are the heartbeat of CTA.”

“Such a brilliant (and brave) group of practitioners who are clearly passionate and talented. Hopefully, they continue to drive the teacher voice throughout the Trust and that their expertise is nurtured at Waterton in the growing months and years.”

Looking ahead, the Council’s next session will explore the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence and its implications and opportunities for education across our Trust—continuing their commitment to staying at the forefront of pedagogical innovation.

The Waterton Teachers’ Council is more than just a forum—it’s a platform for meaningful engagement, professional development, and the cross-pollination of ideas across our family of schools.

We’ve also heard this week that other Trusts are inspired by our approach, with growing interest in establishing similar Teacher Councils. It’s exciting to see teacher voice being valued and amplified beyond our own community.

We are incredibly proud of the Council’s journey so far and look forward to the impact they will continue to have in shaping the future of teaching and learning at Waterton.

If you are a teacher in one of our schools and would like to join the Teachers’ Council, please email lnicoll@watertonacademytrust.org