School Improvement Plan
The School Improvement Plan for 2007-2008 highlights 5 key areas which will be reflected in the work of each department. These are:
Assessment for Learning (AfL)
Development of the use of MyClasses
Use of Data to Track Progress
The 14-19 Curriculum
Development of Independent Learning
Assessment for Learning
Assessment for learning involves using assessment in the classroom to raise pupils’ achievement. It is based on the idea that pupils will improve most if they understand the aim of their learning, where they are in relation to this aim and how they can achieve the aim (or close the gap in their knowledge).
Assessment for learning should focus on how students learn
The process of learning has to be in the minds of both learner and teacher when assessment is planned and when the evidence is interpreted. Learners should become as aware of the 'how' of their learning as they are of the 'what'.
Learners should receive constructive guidance about how to improve
Learners need information and guidance in order to plan the next steps in their learning. Teachers should:
pinpoint the learner's strengths and advise on how to develop them
be clear and constructive about any weaknesses and how they might be addressed
provide opportunities for learners to improve upon their work.
MyClasses
All Year 7 and 8 Homework should be posted onto MyClasses by subject teachers so that parents and students can access this from home. The aim is that this is rolled out through all Year Groups over the course of this year. Resources will also be places here and if students are away from school they will still be able to access much of the work.
Use of Data to Track Progress
The school currently does some baseline testing of students in Years 7 and 10 which generates exam predictions and helps the school to recognize individual student’s strengths and weaknesses. Year 7 take both CAT and MidYIS Tests and Year 10 take YELLIS. The data is then analysed and used in target setting, lesson preparation and often setting.
Individual students can also be tracked as subject teachers, Heads of Departments, Heads of Year and Form Tutors all have access to the relevant data.
The 14-19 Curriculum
In 2008 the school leaving age is raised to 16. The school will also be having students from St Peter Port School join us next year and it is important that we keep looking at the range of courses we offer as well as doing further research into alternative courses to cater for the diverse range of needs of all our students. We firmly believe that ‘Every Child Matters’ and will do all that we can to make sure that we offer as many alternative courses as we can.
We also have close links with The College of Further Education and many Key Stage 4 students are offered Link Course opportunities on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons
Independent Learning
We are keen to encourage our students to become increasingly independent and to think about their own learning. We would like them to:
Set their own learning aims
Plan and organise work
Decide when best to work alone, work collaboratively and when to seek advice
Learn through experience
Identify and solve problems
Think creatively
Communicate effectively orally and in writing
Assess their own progress in respect of their aims
Students have Target Setting Interviews with their Tutors each year and decide together on learning targets that they will work towards. The students are undertaking more Peer and Self-Assessment as part of the Assessment for Learning drive and therefore have to think more about the way in which they learn.
Over the next 2 years we will be developing a ‘Learning 2 Learn’ Course which will look closely at how students learn and the different ways they can undertake enquiry based projects.