Colleagues from across NCG came together at Lewisham College on Thursday 2 July for the return of the Magpie Market, an engaging and collaborative professional development event, designed to showcase and share effective teaching practice. Now in its second year, the event was led by Lewisham College staff, as well as colleagues undertaking their Level 5 Teaching Apprenticeship, who hosted a series of interactive ‘market stalls’ to share ideas, strategies and resources with colleagues.
Staff from Lewisham were joined by visiting colleagues from Southwark College and Kidderminster College, highlighting the strength of collaboration across the Group and bringing the One NCG ethos to life.
Sharing ideas and inspiring practice
The Magpie Market was made up of 16 stalls offering short demonstrations of teaching techniques or approaches that have proven successful in the classroom. The stalls were themed around equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and were linked to NCG’s TLA Hub standards. Across the afternoon, attendees were able to explore the market at their own pace, engaging with colleagues, asking questions and taking away practical ideas to support their own teaching.
The format created a vibrant and informal learning environment, encouraging open discussion and the exchange of ideas across curriculum areas and campuses.
The event reflected NCG’s commitment to collaboration and continuous improvement, providing a valuable opportunity for colleagues from different colleges to connect, share expertise and learn from one another.
Brooke Parkinson, Teaching, Learning and Development Manager at Lewisham College, who helped organise the event, said: “This event is an opportunity for teachers and apprentices to showcase some of the amazing things they do and share the resources they use with their colleagues. For everyone attending, it’s an opportunity to talk about and share good practice and good ideas. My hope for the event is that everyone here learns one new thing today from a colleague.”
Showcasing and celebrating teaching talent
Inspired by the idea that great teachers collect small, effective ideas to enhance their practice, the Magpie Market celebrated the creativity and expertise of NCG’s teaching community.
The market-style approach encouraged colleagues to gather a range of ‘bright ideas’ they could adapt and apply in their own classrooms, reinforcing the value of practical, peer-led CPD.
It also provided a platform for Level 5 Teaching Apprentices to showcase their development, confidence and professionalism, highlighting the impact of investment in staff development across NCG.
Liam Ellis, a Maths teacher at Southwark College currently undertaking the Level 5 Teaching Apprenticeship, said: “At the beginning of the apprenticeship my confidence was low. My background is in mentoring and one-to-one support, so it’s been quite a journey transitioning from that into the classroom, but the apprenticeship has given me so much confidence. It allows you to connect strategy and tactics that you already know with the theory, which is mind-blowing. I can now use these strategies with confidence in the classroom and get results.”
Ria Willoughby, Assistant Principal at Southwark College, added: “The Magpie Market really showed the fantastic work our Level 5 apprentices have been delivering all year. They’ve really developed their skills in teaching, learned new language and techniques to apply in the classroom and the programme has really elevated our TLA.”
The success of this year’s Magpie Market demonstrates the importance of accessible and collaborative CPD opportunities in supporting high-quality teaching and learning.
By encouraging innovation, recognising expertise and fostering a culture of shared learning, the event continues to play an important role in supporting staff development and enhancing the student experience across NCG.
