The PTI wish to celebrate schools that share our values; we believe long-term commitment to embedding The PTI philosophy into educational practice creates real impact. We want to recognise the courage and initiative of schools who empower inspirational teaching and subject specific pedagogy.
"‘Never stop learning!’ instructed a Year 6 Meridian child to her younger peers in her leavers speech. That is what The PTI helps me and teachers in my schools to do - keep learning through high quality professional development at PTI hub days, virtual twilights, leadership days and symposiums. My partnership with The PTI began in October 2019 when I attended a PTI leadership conference, and I have never looked back.
I feel incredibly privileged to serve two community schools in the heart of Greenwich. The children of Meridian and Robert Owen reflect the rich cultural and socio-economic diversity of London and speak over 40 languages. We have a strong ethos of inclusion, with a specialist provision for deaf children, and value individuality and celebrate differences. In tune with The PTI, we are ambitious for all our children. We strongly believe that knowledgeable and passionate teachers can make a difference to the lives of children.
I am also passionate about working for the benefit of all Greenwich children and lead a PTI primary hub of twenty-four Greenwich maintained schools - nurseries, primaries, secondaries and special. I believe that schools are stronger together. Being part of The PTI learning community has increased the capacity of my schools and those of my headteacher colleagues - connecting teachers with high quality speakers and subject experts; opening the doors to a network of other teachers, leaders and curriculum associations. It is through this collaboration that teachers have opportunities to deepen and extend subject knowledge, and reflect upon and strengthen practice.
The PTI enables headteachers like me to focus on our core purpose of teaching and learning, and enact change in our classrooms. Teachers from across my school and the hub tell me that the hub days make them feel valued and reignites their passion for a range of subjects. New teachers and leaders tell me they have increased confidence in teaching or leading their subject; more experienced practitioners have a chance to share their expertise. This learning weaves its way into Greenwich classrooms, strengthening the quality of teaching and learning, widening learning experiences.
The impact on children is wide reaching. At a school level, speakers such as Ryan Ball have inspired Meridian teachers to create more opportunities for children to be creative, take risks, solve problems and make decisions in a way which is more child-led and open-ended. Ignited by an RE hub day, our RE leader regularly collaborates with other leaders, sharing resources and good practice, leading to more relatable experiences for children within and beyond school. More widely, an Oracy PTI hub day in November 2023 led to an ongoing partnership with Beccy Earnshaw and the launch of a year long Oracy project. This was opened up to all Greenwich schools, impacting on the classroom practice of numerous teachers and hundreds of children across Greenwich from as young as 2 years, all the way up to secondary school age.
We are delighted to have been recognised as a PTI spotlight school and look forward to embracing ongoing PTI opportunities in the future."
Jo Graham - Executive Headteacher of the Meridian Primary School and Robert Owen Nursery School Federation