Working Towards Success at and Beyond Easthampstead Park Conference Centre Friday 26 th February 2010 Outstanding Teaching and Learning in the Sixth Form PresentersLittle Heath School John PhilipDeputy Headteacher Alison SeymourStudent Voice Leader

Why listen to us? The sixth form is outstanding The progress made by students of all abilities is outstanding. The exceptionally good progress that students make is underpinned by outstanding teaching and learning. The success of the sixth form is a direct result of exceptionally strong leadership, excellent relationships between staff and students and the positive attitudes to learning by very committed, articulate and mature sixth formers Grade: 1Outstanding (also achieved in 2005) OFSTED: February 2009 Little Heath has sustained outstanding value-added ratings, for example ALPS 2 in 2004 – 2009 inclusive. In 2008 Little Heath School’s KS4 – KS5 CVA was and in 2009 it is (Top 5%) In 2009 our KS2 – KS4 CVA is

A teacher’s perspective How often does your school focus training on teaching and learning in KS5? How often is good practice shared within your department and across your school? Is Advanced Level teaching a dark art, distinctively different from KS3 & KS4? Is Sixth Form teaching & learning sometimes the low man on the totem pole?

Your Classroom Your castle or your dungeon?

A student’s perspective Alison is currently in Y13 studying for A Levels; She is student voice leader on the Sixth Form Committee; From September 2010 she will be employed as Student Voice Assistant, working alongside our Student Voice Co-ordinator, Jon Linz.

A student’s perspective Lessons are more informal; Smaller and more personal classes make learning easier in sixth form classes and help to build a good teacher/student working relationship – a greater respect from teacher to student and student to teacher; A good teacher really understands their students and is able to build a relationship with them that creates a better learning atmosphere; Independent learning empowers students by giving them the responsibility for their own learning; Sixth Form also provides the sense of being in a community which increases the student sense of belonging and purpose in the school; Students can be developed for a career path, whatever that may be.

Raising the quality of teaching and learning in the Sixth Form What are the ‘key ingredients’ of outstanding teaching and learning in the Sixth Form? 1.On your own write down 5 things you think are essential. 2.In pairs, share your ideas and agree and prioritise them. 3.Then we will feedback to create draft framework.

One I cooked earlier! From 2003 to 2006 as KS5 Leader I led a KS5 Teaching and Learning Group containing a volunteer representative from each subject taught in the Sixth Form; We created the mind-map on the next slide as a set of ingredients for outstanding teaching & learning; The process was more important than the product; This work continues under our current KS5 Leader, Gisella Vignali. In 2010 / 11 one role for Alison will be to challenge our perceptions and support an even better understanding of effective teaching and learning across the school.

Teacher Well-organised Positive Confident Helpful Clear outline of unit and its assessment requirements: the ‘road map’: to include feedback to students from Exam Reports / Exam board meetings Lessons that have clear objectives and an overt link to the examination / assessment requirements Regular reinforcement of key learning objectives; testing from an early point (before half-term in first term in Y12) Lessons that have pace, rigour and, if possible, thrill: the joy of learning / discovery / accomplishment PracticeTesting Working through past questions Modelling of good answers; examples written by teacher or student. Use of relevant sections of mark schemes and Examiner’s Reports Regular feedback (e.g. through marking & individual discussion) that enables the individual student to target improvements in the standard of his or her work by understanding how this can be done. Good relationships between students and the teacher. Teacher aims to treat students as adults, expecting in turn an adult response / approach. Students increasingly encouraged and able to take responsibility for their own learning: professional students. Students developing into independent learners. Students understand the AS / A Level system, e.g. the relationship between AS and A and the importance of UMS marks. Outside the Box / Classroom Students able and willing to extend their learning beyond the classroom, reinforcing skills and knowledge learnt in lessons. Development of Sixth Form areas of Little Heath Website to give the students the ability to access our classrooms at home. If the 3 part lesson is a good idea at KS3 and KS4, what about KS5? Approachable An effective scheme of work for teachers and students to follow But support in place for those who require more help

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