Laura Yates

During my time at DBSJP, I have taught across both key stages and been reading lead for the past four years. In my role as reading lead, I have worked extensively to develop the English curriculum, analysed data to improve outcomes for all and implemented new and purposeful initiatives such as VIPERS and Accelerated Reader. In addition to this, I have monitored and evaluated teaching and learning to ensure consistency and high standards and provide CPD opportunities. As well as this, I have also organised whole school events such as English Week, World Book Day and Author visits. The impact of all this has been English uplifted from very good to outstanding in both the progress and attainment categories in the 2023 DSIB inspection. Furthermore, it also maintained this grading in the 2024 DSIB inspection.

During my first two years in an international setting, I taught in Year 6. Whilst working in Year 6, I was asked to support two underperforming colleagues in the year group with planning. In addition to this, I collaborated with my Deputy Head and subject coordinators to embed a mastery curriculum at DIS. I planned and delivered whole school training alongside the Deputy Head. In 2017, the Year 6 team were awarded for the pastoral care by the British International School Awards. The award recognised our effective, sustainable, and successful transition of Year 6 student from primary to secondary school life.

By my third year at DIS, I was Head of Year 3 and responsible for five classes. My role involved monitoring teaching and learning across the year group and providing CPD opportunities for areas of need that were identified. Whilst in the role, I re-wrote the Year 3 curriculum so it was more cross curricular and engaging for the students. I also trialled various ways of team planning to promote the sharing of ideas, teaching and learning strategies and ownership. In addition to this, I also analysed data and identified pupils for intervention. Furthermore, I was also part of a working party that created a new whole school marking policy. I monitored that this policy was being followed within my year group and across the school.

My first post as a teacher was at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School where I taught Year 5 and Year 3 respectively. During this time, I was involved in one OFSTED inspection and was judged as an outstanding teacher by SLT. Whilst in this role, I was P.E, computing and maths lead. As maths lead, I regularly attended meetings amongst our families of schools and wider networks to share good practice and further develop the teaching and learning of maths within our schools. In addition to this, I also carried out maths interventions across the school for those pupils who were identified as having gaps in their learning to accelerate their progress and raise attainment.