1. 7 strategies for maximising the progress of More Able Learners
Stretch and Challenge
7 strategies for maximising the progress of More Able Learners

2. Strategy 1: Use students’ Personal Learning Strategies
Getting to know the students’
preferred learning styles and
personal aspirations will help you
to match your planning and
teaching more effectively to the
students’ learning needs

3. Strategy 2: Use class learning pro formas
For top sets, or clusters of More Able students in mixed groups, co-construct a learning pro forma to focus you and the students on how to gain the top levels/ grades

4. Strategy 3: Differentiated work
Extension work should never be
about doing more of the same. Add
another layer of difficulty:
More abstractness
More complexity
More variety
More open-endedness
More analysis/ critical thinking
More reasoning
More pace
More depth and detail
More breadth
Study of methodology
Don’t be afraid to fast-track students to work for a higher year group
Don’t expect More Able students to work through easy tasks first!

5. Strategy 4: Provide targeted intervention
What exactly is the intervention need? Develop specialists across your team in a variety of areas:
Lifting your work by 1 grade/ level
Exam/ Assessment skills
Exam/ Assessment knowledge & understanding
Learning and memorising skills
A/A* or L8 performance

6. Strategy 5: Use other students
Peer Coaching: horizontal and vertical
Study Dates
Form Time Coaching (Maths example)
Student Buddies in or across classes
Buddy up classes in different year groups. Have top set Year 10 students working with top set Year 7 students

7. Strategy 6: Buddy up classes
Buddy up top set classes or top set students in different mixed ability classes and encourage class competitions
Team plan, teach and mark, and do peer assessment across classes
Have student buddies across classes
Have a shared group address for A/ A* wannabes in your subject
Have a designated subject mentor from your department for A/ A* wannabes

8. Strategy 7: Provide Enrichment
More Able students should be working above and beyond the curriculum:
Extension tasks to add breadth and depth
Extra projects tailored to students’ interests
Extra reading and resources for students who want to learn more
Trips and visits to stimulate students’ curiosity
Enrichment activities to allow students to explore your subject