Bell Work: Discuss… How is pushing a sprout up Mount Snowdon with your nose like linear assessment?

The “Linear Problem” Session outcomes: Identify the challenges and opportunities associated with linear assessment. Share successes between departments. Generate new ideas to promote student achievement in a linear curriculum.

Starter: Round Robin Take turns to identify any strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats posed by linear assessment. Start with strengths and move through the SWOT analysis until all ideas are exhausted. Strengths Pupils are mature, take exams more seriously than Year 10 Pupils have well developed skills by the end of Year 11 One chance – promotes revision? Cheaper! Weaknesses Students reluctant to regularly review learning Some students unable to recall content taught some time ago Opportunities Can teach course content in any order Coursework can be taught at any time Threats Amount of content Timing of exams Lack of resit options

Task One: Diamond Ranking Study the ten ideas listed on the cards. Rank them according to their possible impact on student achievement. Note: you must discard one card entirely. Feedback: which idea is most applicable to your subject area?

Task Two: Success stories Our GCSE and A level results show that we have coped with the change to linear. Strategies implemented by subject leaders and classroom teachers have proven successful. Stand up, hand up, pair up: what has worked well for the students in your department?

Task Three: New ideas Memory retrieval strategies – quiz quiz trade, flash cards, taboo cards etc.

Review: Actions Consider the ideas we have discussed. What will you do as a result? Make a list of three action points.