Life after levels within a MAT (A secondary perspective) Miss P Helliwell – Director of English, Trust in Learning Academies phelliwell@tilacademies.co.uk @flipscokid

Timeline January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders introduced to the idea of life after levels. Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams. Summer 2015 – moderation between depts. Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time. Spring 2015 - Mention you were HoD within the secondary at this time - Meeting of middle leaders to wean them off levels / ownership Summer 2015 - Cross TiLA inset to begin discussions around AREx looking at what we wanted from early years to yr11 Staff planning of AREx Already knew primary writing standards would form the core of our new life after levels Began with meeting / exceeding / approaching / below. Now changed to Meeting / Working at Greater Depth / Working Towards and Emerging Shook hands with primary and ensured GSCE skills were there but not a limiting factor data collection systems or showing progress via mng systems was mentioned – it was all about a challenging/interesting curriculum in Yr 7 which put literacy standards from primary at its heart Autumn 2015 – AREx rolled out for Year 7. Year 8 old levels masked by AREx Throughout 2015 staff developed Year 8 AREx ensuring they built on yr7 and were more challenging so to remain meeting for 2 years still represented progress Making the most of KS3 – every child had meeting target – opportunity to close gaps. Really focus on those informative years in 7,8&9.

Timeline January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders introduced to the idea of life after levels. Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams. Summer 2015 – moderation between depts. Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.

Timeline January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders introduced to the idea of life after levels. Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams. Summer 2015 – moderation between depts. Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.

Timeline January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders introduced to the idea of life after levels. Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams. Summer 2015 – moderation between depts. Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.

The key factor Primary writing standards

Timeline January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders introduced to the idea of life after levels. Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams. Summer 2015 – moderation between depts. Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.

Timeline January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders introduced to the idea of life after levels. Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams. Summer 2015 – moderation between depts. Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.

Assessment Emerging Approaching Meeting – based on criteria Exceeding

Target setting – what changed? Old category New category 3c or below emerging 3b-4c approaching 4b-5c meeting 5b or above exceeding

Target setting

The journey January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders introduced to the idea of life after levels. Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams. Summer 2015 – moderation between depts. Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.

Working at greater depth Category changes Old category New category emerging approaching working towards meeting exceeding Working at greater depth

Positives Subject curriculum is owned by the subject itself Challenging curriculum and expectations for all students (no all/most/some!) Builds on primary Focus on the basics all the time No hiding of underachievement within a number and a letter

Challenges How to report progress and forecast (esp in a 9-1 world) How to ensure consistency across departments and then across the trust How to support teachers with: Their own literacy Understanding how to move Emerging/Working Towards to Meeting Having a nuanced understanding of where a child is at within a certain category whilst resisting the desire to recreate levels!

Life after levels within a MAT (A secondary perspective) Miss P Helliwell – Director of English, Trust in Learning Academies phelliwell@tilacademies.co.uk @flipscokid