Sunday 8 November 2015

Interim Assessment Framework...

Please find below a link to the new video published by STA (Standards and Testing Agency) on the new Interim Assessment Frameworks for primary school assessments in 2016. Little new information to impart but we may still find the video useful...


Friday 6 November 2015

Making Good Lessons Great!


A conversation with an Ofsted inspector about strategies for making learning even better...
  • —“Simply judge teaching on whether children are engaged, focused, learning, and making progress ... and in the best lessons (are) being inspired”.
  • —Too many teachers were attempting to break lessons into bite-sized chunks instead of allowing pupils time to complete extended tasks.
  • —The secret lies in a teacher’s planning, self-reflection, perceptiveness and resilience.
  • —Think about what is going to fully engage your pupils. What is the curiosity that you provoke, the responsibilities you delegate or the surprise that you reveal. 
  • —There are thousands of outstanding teachers who are branded "good" because the level of risk they, for good reason, refuse to take big risks in observed lessons. 
  • —Work scrutiny is a huge source of evidence.

Wednesday 4 November 2015

Good to Great!


We've been spending time as a staff reviewing our progress using the theme 'Good to Great!' This has been a useful way of exploring what we do well and what we need to do to get even better.





Monday 2 November 2015

Themed learning experiences...


Part of our INSET day last half term was reviewing the opportunities we provide for pupils and staff to work in a more collaborative way across the phases. Working with colleagues and peers we hope to create many more cross curricular opportunities and more compelling learning experiences that will provide a stimulus for pupils and opportunities for inspiration.