We are fortunate to be part of the LEA KS4 strategy. This provides us with the opportunity and the funding to work with LEA colleagues to produce training and materials which will be of benefit to both students and teachers.
Our project is “To improve the quality of teaching and Learning by using strategies which support the preferred learning style identified by our pupil database”
What this means is that we use CAT* data to help us to identify the way in which each of our students learns best.
All of our students are tested in year 7, and the CAT data gives us 3 scores in:
•
Verbal Reasoning,
•Non-Verbal Reasoning
•Quantitative abilities.
We use the Verbal and the non-verbal scores to give us a graph, which we divide up into coloured sectors – this work is based on, but further develops work done by Pat O’Brien.
This is an example of the graph produced by our year 10 student data.
Students in particular colour-coded areas have specific learning styles, and the aim of the project is to both gather together, and to produce materials (specifically lesson starter and plenary activities initially) which teachers can use in their lessons to enhance the learning of those particular students.
Currently (Autumn term 2004) our Geography and Technology Departments are working with the LEA consultants to produce materials for students in the Red and Amber zones.
In the first half of the Spring Term 2005, they will be working with our Science and Modern Foreign Language depts, with students in the yellow zone.
Students in the Lilac zone are catered for by our Special Needs department, and students in the Purple zone are catered for by our More Able student programme.
In addition to this, all Heads of Department are receiving training on a variety of teaching strategies, using the ‘Teacher’s Toolkit’ produced by Paul Ginnis.
D. Jackson
Key Stage 4 co-ordinator
D. Valentine
Assistant Headteacher: Curriculum
*CAT = Cognitive Abilities Testing, a National scheme organised by NFER, the National Federation for Educational Research
Option Pathways at Year 9
All students are entitled to a broad balanced curriculum, which is tailored to suit their particular needs.
In order to accomplish this we provide a variety of pathways for students to follow in years 10 and 11 (Key Stage 4)
For some students there is the opportunity to attend a local college to follow a Vocational course. Currently we have students following courses in Hairdressing, Plumbing and Music Recording. For some students we offer a reduced GCSE pathway, with the Youth Award, and a few ‘Work to Qualify’ placements.
All students follow the GCSE National Curriculum subjects in:
English – English Language for all, English Literature for most students.
Mathematics Double Science
A Technology subject – either Food Technology, Resistant Materials or Graphics
A Humanities subject:
History, Geography, Vocational Business Studies
or Vocational Leisure and Tourism
ICT – a half GCSE course.
R.E. – a half GCSE course.
An Expressive Art subject:-
Art , Music, Drama or GCSE P.E.
Citizenship/ PSHE (Personal and Social Education)
P.E./Games
