State and independent school teachers attend night classes together as part of CPD pair-up

Teachers from a secondary academy are learning ballet, sewing and Mandarin through an innovative partnership with a local independent school.

The link-up is part of Hampton Court House’s ‘Form 7’ scheme, which allows teachers to develop new skills in their free time through evening classes in everything from languages to painting.

Usually reserved for teachers at the independent school, students and their parents, staff from Reach Academy Feltham have been offered free places as part of a CPD initiative bridging the gap between the independent and state sectors.

“We’re looking to do a lot more work with Reach because we feel as an independent school that we want to learn from the state sector,” said Adam D’Souza, thedirector of the Form 7 programme.

“I’m going to start going over to Reach myself to observe lessons, and do a bit of teaching. We’re trying to make it a real two-way street.”

The sessions, which are run and attended by staff from Hampton Court House, allow teachers to build relationships and swap ideas while picking up new skills.

“This is a brilliant opportunity for our teachers to be learners once in the week,” added Reach’s principal Ed Vainker, who is also a governor Hampton Court House. “They are buzzing every Friday morning.”