Introducing TOTEM

A time-saving and easy to use electronic system
that enables senior leaders to record all aspects
of their monitoring of teaching in a transparent,
systematic and consistent way.

The Teaching Over Time Evaluation Matrix (TOTEM) is personalised to the needs of the individual teacher allowing for strengths and areas of development to be recorded and tracked, providing the next steps to improvement, which can also be used to support performance management processes. Data taken from the system can be put straight into the SEF, school Improvement Plans and reports to Governors and other external agencies. It enables the SLT to provide an instant spot in time picture of the quality of teaching across the school or to consider specific aspects e.g. the quality of questioning or effectiveness of subject leadership.

Our Teaching Over Time Evaluation Matrix provides absolute clarity. With the five dimensions of effective teaching identified, Classroom Provision, Accountability, Pupils’ work and voice, outcomes by pupils and subject leadership, Head Teachers can be confident that their judgements are consistent and meaningful, leading to the further development of teaching skills in all teachers. TOTEM’s framework is entirely based upon the current Ofsted inspection framework and the Teacher Standards and makes the monitoring of the quality of teaching and learning really straight-forward.

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HOW TOTEM CAN HELP YOU

Record and track teacher development

Generate reports easily for governors and external agencies

Monitors quality of teaching inline with the Ofsted Inspection framework

Increased efficiency and consistency in the monitoring of teaching

Can be personalised to the needs of an individual teacher

Confidence that quality of teaching is being accurately evaluated

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The perfect tool for all school leaders looking to
enhance their quality of teaching

TOTEM is unique in that it enables “real-time” instant reporting into the quality of teaching across the school as monitoring evidence is being gathered. Within the software, the comprehensive matrix of statements provides teachers with clear outcomes and next steps in their journey to becoming highly effective teachers.

TOTEM is very easy to use. It has been constructed with the principle of “keep it simple”. As former Head Teachers ourselves, we know how little time you have to learn how to use a new resource. It comes with a brief user guide and it will save you time and give you and your staff a rich profile of what is working well in your school and what areas need improvement.

Suitable for use in any context where teaching is taking place such as, primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, rural schools, urban schools, from small to large schools, TOTEM is an accessible tool for all school leaders who hope to enhance their quality of teaching in an effective time efficient way.

Related blogs

Monitoring the quality of teaching and learning

Why strong and effective subject leadership is vitally important to all teachers

Need help to improve the quality of teaching in your school?

Alistair Shaw and Nicki Bell are former Head Teachers and accredited leadership coaches. Talk to them today to discuss
how OLS can help your teachers maximise their potential.

FAQ’s

As a Head Teacher what will TOTEM do for me?

TOTEM provides the Head Teacher with an efficient means of reporting on all aspects of the quality of teaching across the school. It saves a huge amount of time, is totally transparent and enables full accountability to be enacted. It enables the Head Teacher to personalise their monitoring to the identified needs of the indvidual teachers which saves time and also ensures that the Head Teacher focuses on the real issues.

How will it benefit me and my staff?

Teachers gain a comprehensive profile of their teaching over time, together with grades, comments and developmental feedback. Head Teachers gain clarity, consistency and confidence that the quality of teaching in their school is being accurately evaluated. It enables the Head Teacher to task senior members to take a full part in monitoring knowing that judgements will be made consistently against tightly focused descriptors.

Is it easy to use?

Very. It has been constructed with the principle of “keep it simple”. As former Head Teachers ourselves, we know how little time you have to “learn” how to use a new resource. It comes with a brief user guide and it will save you time and give you and your staff a rich profile of what is working well in your school.

How up to date is it?

TOTEM combines the Teacher Standards statements and the current Ofsted Inspection Framework, together with our combined experience of working with Head Teachers across all sectors and in all contexts. As part of the purchase process there is a service level agreement through which you will receive updated versions annually as national changes occur.

Which sectors can it be used in?

TOTEM is totally applicable to any context where teaching is taking place – primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, rural schools, urban schools, from small through to large schools. If you have teachers, you need TOTEM.

Where does TOTEM sit in regards to Ofsted?

The Education Inspection Framework, 2019, firmly puts the emphasis of the judgement of the quality of education at the centre of the inspection process. Contained within that is the quality of teaching and learning. TOTEM enables you to evaluate classroom provision, teacher accountability, pupils’ work and their voice, outcomes and subject leadership. In other words, it provides you with an incredibly efficient tool with which to gather, process and report on the quality of teaching over time.

Can it link with my SEF and SIP writing?

TOTEM is an efficient evidence gathering tool. That evidence can be used to report on the effectiveness within your SEF and will highlight priorities for improving teaching which can be entered into your SIP. All three sit perfectly together.

Can it be used to monitor the quality of subject leadership?

Yes, it can as the fifth dimension is totally dedicated to that aspect of being a teacher. It has ten descriptors covering the full range of subject leadership roles and expectations.

Who gets to see what?

You set the rules. An individual teacher sees her/his personalised profile as it develops during the year. As Head Teacher, you see everything, of course. If you want your senior staff to use TOTEM as part of their monitoring, they will see everything too. You can generate an anonymised report on the quality of teaching for your governors/trustees that removes the names of teachers.

What if a teacher leaves / joins my school?

The departing teacher can take their profile with them as evidence of their current effectiveness. It can sit within their portfolio. The joining teacher can have a profile created as they join the school. Total flexibility whenever required.

How much is it and how do I get it?

This depends on the number of full-time equivalent, (FTE), teaching staff are at your school. Not the number of teachers – there is no limit to that. There is a scale of charges depending upon the size of your school – up to 10 FTE it’s £300, between 11 and 20 FTE it’s £400 and for 21 FTE and above, it’s £500. After the first year, the annual service level agreement is applied and this equates to 50% of the purchase cost. You can enquire about ordering TOTEM here.

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