The role of the co-educator

I have noticed in recent weeks as the staff number within our school increases, that I am beginning to see the introduction of a co-educator within some of my lessons – a new phenomenon to me and one which has thrown me some what.

Although my PGCE taught me of their importance within a classroom setting theoretically, performing arts within my placement schools rarely saw me having to practically use one, more asking another member of staff to “pretend” to be a co-educator within an observation so that I could meet the required standards to pass the course.

The few co-educators that I did encounter within my placements were targeted to a selected student in the class, usually an SEN student, which has meant that now that I have one at my disposal, I am needing to ask for help as to how to go about really making the most of their presence.