Description

November 2000
Meeting to clarify purpose, organisation and philosophy behind Y Band Curriculum. Prepare action plans.
January 2001
Video taping lessons, followed by analysis, feedback and discussion. (Outcome: notes form the basis of sections on 'Effective Teaching' and 'Classroom Organisation' in Handbook/Guidance for teachers of 7Y Band 2001/02. Ref CS9.1 in Appendices or on website). The focus for the video taping was: teaching strategies, approaches to learning, pupil's responses, classroom organisation and involvement of learning support assistants. An additional key aspect was the extent to which pupils were actively involved in their learning, and how this linked to achievement, self-esteem and positive responses, with the potential for accelerating their progress and raising standards.
February 2001
Meeting with College tutors, who acted as consultants, for core subjects - discussion of approaches. Viewing resources in primary teaching practice library/support services. Identification and viewing publications, including new initiatives, promoting practice in primary schools which had not been readily available to secondary.
March 2001
Meetings with specialist tutors: discussion on curriculum content and planning, teaching strategies and learning styles and resources.
May/June 2001
Two twilight training sessions sessions for Y Band team, focusing on interactive teaching including video presentations of primary and secondary practice, and extracts from training videos: numeracy strategy (primary) and literacy (secondary). Objectives to:
  • clarify understanding of 'interactive teaching' and identify key components;
  • identify teaching strategies and approaches to learning currently implemented in Year 7, and recognise similarities and differences with Year 6 (primary experience);
  • recognise, and where appropriate, identify adaptations to teaching strategies and approaches to learning which may increase pupil response rate, achievement and progress;
  • identify opportunities for promoting collaborative skills;
  • identify strategies for helping pupils convey their understanding.
July 2001
Evaluation, along with other school involved in project.
November 2001
Finalisation sections for Handbook of Guidance.