What does it mean to be an OTSA Lead School?
Membership of OTSA as a Lead School is open to any state funded nursery, primary,
secondary, special school, maintained school, academy or free school in Oxfordshire who
commit to the ethos of OTSA and have been designated as a Teaching School by the NCTL.
Lead schools take responsibility for a significant contribution to the delivery of at least one
core area of OTSA activity, whilst participating in a range of other teaching school activities.
Lead Schools have overall strategic responsibility for the Oxfordshire Teaching Schools
Alliance. Lead schools will not compete with other OTSA Lead Schools, Strategic Partner
Schools or Partner Schools in OTSA activity areas. Any delivery of ITT, NQT Induction, CPD,
Research and StSS, outside of multi-academy trusts and local partnerships, will be delivered
through OTSA.
Expectations of being an OTSA Lead School

Take responsibility for the delivery of a minimum of 1 strand of OTSA activity, whilst
contributing to, and participating in, a range of other Teaching School activities.

Attendance by the Headteacher at Board Meetings (6 meetings a year)

Attendance by the Teaching School Director at relevant Board meetings

Employ a Teaching School Director to lead the school’s contribution to the delivery
of Teaching School activity for a minimum of 2 days per week and allow them to
attend training / team meetings on an ad hoc basis

Employ a Teaching School Administrator to support the delivery of Teaching School
activity for a minimum of 2 days per week and allow them to attend training / team
meetings on an ad hoc basis

Display the OTSA Lead School Certificate in the school reception area

Include the OTSA logo on the homepage of the school website – hyperlinked to the
OTSA website (Lead Schools may also include the OTSA logo on school stationery,
PowerPoint presentations etc.)

Forward the OTSA newsletter email to all teachers, support staff and governors

Encourage all teachers, support staff and governors to sign up for the OTSA
newsletter

Participate with the SCITT ITT Programmes, including assisting with marketing,
recruitment and training. Lead schools are expected to offer placements for feefunded and salaried trainees at a scale appropriate to the capacity of their school

Register NQTs for induction through OTSA as the Appropriate Body for Oxfordshire

Ensure teachers, support staff and governors are made aware of the professional
development opportunities on offer through OTSA

Comply with the terms of the OTSA Constitution
April 2017