Jane Breen
Advanced Skills Teacher and Director or Leading Edge
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
About Me
I joined KEGS 14 years ago as a German Teacher, became Head of German, Assistant Head of Languages, Advanced Skills Teacher for MFL (2005), then Director of Language College. As Director of Leading Edge I now work with teachers across the school developing outstanding Teaching and Learning and coordinate and lead cross-curricular projects, many of which have won national awards and funding—e.g Science/MFL project, Learning Through the Looking Glass (using videos of lessons to improve learning) and Talking Texts (a whole-school literacy project). I work closely with Cambridge University and am responsible for teacher-researcher communities at KEGS and research-evidenced innovation and change. As an AST I first worked in a school in very challenging circumstances for a year before moving to the National Strategies programme and working in a team to build teacher learning networks in Essex. In 2010 I took on the role of joint MFL coordinator for Essex running a 2 year programme of CPD seminars.
I have extensive experience of delivering CPD locally, regionally and nationally (as keynote speaker, workshop presenter and conference organiser) on MFL teaching, Assessment for Learning, preparing for OFSTED, maximising whole-school strategies for A/A* grades, and innovative literacy strategies across the curriculum. At KEGS I have led AfL across the school and have driven innovative curriculum development which underpins dynamic and successful learning. I have been involved in ITT as well as developing Middle Leaders. I edit KEGS’ in-house research publication, Learning Lessons and am jointly responsible for setting up a school Teaching and Learning Blog. I won UK German Teacher of the Year 2007.
Specialist Areas of Expertise
- Teaching and Learning
- Leadership of CPD
- Assessment for Learning
- MFL Teaching
- Preparing Departments for OFSTED
- Literacy
- Teacher-Researcher communities
- Curriculum Development
- Cross-curricular projects
Other Areas of Expertise
- ITT and NQT mentoring