The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust is coordinating a European Union Leonardo da Vinci project supporting schools in developing best practice in vocational education and training (VET).
Why?
The SSAT is working with the EU to offer a series of five 6-day vocational study visits throughout 2008/2009. The visits are for teachers, staff and leaders in English schools to examine vocational good practice in other educational systems, complemented by an SSAT professional development programme.
What?
Visits will focus on aspects of vocational education and training, including: 
- Visits to schools with a range of vocational specialisms
- Meetings with representatives from the local business community
- An opportunity to network and establish links with schools in the country visited
- Briefings to set objectives and educational outcomes, as well as professional development sessions during the visit
- A focus on ensuring real impact on professional practice
- Opportunities for professional recognition through the Teacher Learning Academy
- Evidence towards a Learning Through International Partnerships certificate if desired
When?
We are running study visits during 2008/2009:
- Seville/Málaga, Spain
26-31 October 2008
Licence to cook; hospitality diploma
View further information about this visit here.
- Askim/Oslo, Norway
23-28 November 2008
Enterprise learning; business, administration and finance diploma
View further information about this visit here
- Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
15-20 February 2009
Special educational needs; information technology diploma
- Stockholm, Sweden
29 March – 3 April 2009
Information, advice and guidance; vocational centres/facilities
- Jyväskylä, Finland
3-8 May 2009
Vocationally orientated language learning; travel and tourism diploma
View information about the five visits we ran in 2007/2008, including objectives, activities and visit resources.
The fee for the full professional development programme is £494. This includes the support, if applicable to achieve TLA professional recognition (awarded by the General Teaching Council for England)*, and £1 environmental levy. Funding from the European Union Leonardo da Vinci programme covers the cost of air travel to, and transport within the host country, accommodation, a contribution to subsistence and insurance. Participants are also given a training and information pack prior to departure which is accompanied by professional development sessions that are hosted in the European country to be visited.
* Each visit offers opportunities for professional recognition through the Teacher Learning Academy. Find out more about TLAs here.
To book a place on one of the five visits we are running during 2008/09, fill in and return a booking form and the terms & conditions.
Any queries?
Email Ana Miranda at ana.miranda@ssatrust.org.uk
or call on 020 7802 0682.
