37IRK VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL |
BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2018
Focusing on teaching
Following the resignation of one of
the deputy heads, I restructured the
leadership team. I appointed two
assistant heads, experienced across
all key stages, and, together, we
set about improving teaching and
learning. This was especially important
as there had been many changes to
the staff team and we had also taken
on seven newly qualified teachers.
We worked with the staff to develop
a new teaching and learning policy,
setting out what good teaching and
learning should look like in every
classroom.
This was backed up with a
programme of staff training, coaching
and personalised professional
development, based on each member
of staff’s individual needs. In order
to give more support to the teaching
team, I stripped back certain aspects
of planning and marking enabling
them to manage their workload
and focus on the learning of the
children in their classrooms. Alongside
this, I supported and developed
a new middle leadership team
made up of the four departmental
heads, encouraging them and the
senior leaders to take on nationally
recognised leadership qualifications
(which they have now all been
awarded). There is now a different
atmosphere around school: teachers
and teaching assistants feel that they
are well supported and everyone is
welcome in the classrooms, owing to
our ”open door” approach.
Personalising the curriculum
We made considerable changes to
the organisation of the curriculum.
Prior to my arrival, the curriculum had
been delivered through a number of
published schemes. While we still use
published materials where relevant
to support teaching and learning, we
now deliver teaching through topics
based on our children’s interests and
needs. We serve a diverse community
and many children do not speak
English as their first language, some
having limited experiences beyond
their own homes. Our learning topics
are now therefore rooted in practical
experiences, beginning with a “hook”
to engage the children and help
them buy into the learning: e.g. a
visit to a museum, a Roman soldier
visiting the class, some eggs to hatch
in the classroom. The children also
have a practical and creative task to
complete with their families for their
homework e.g. build a lighthouse,
make a volcano. These are displayed in
the classroom and provide a “museum
of learning”, where the children
showcase their learning at the end of
each topic.
In addition to the academic curriculum,
we try to give many opportunities for
our children to learn about taking on
responsibilities and caring for each
other. We now have many pupil-led
teams: playground buddies, safety
monitors, prefects, digital leaders,
our “eco team”, “urban crew”,
healthy tuck shop monitors and an
active school council. We are trying to
provide experiences for children which
will help them prepare for their life
beyond the schoolgates.
“Rainbow challenge” in
the construction area
It is clear to see
that the children
really enjoy their
education here
and enjoy
coming to
school for the
many
opportunities it
gives them
Inclusion Award,
September 2017
“
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Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett, MP
Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles, MP
