Stoke Park School is dedicated to developing students so that they may grow into confident and positive individuals who reach their full potential in whatever field that may be. Stoke Park makes a commitment to provide a quality learning experience for its students. The Teaching and Learning Policy is defined through the following areas:
Climate for Learning & Professional Values
Assessing Impact and Progress
Lesson Design
Supporting the Learning
We believe that learning can best be described by the following principles:
Learning involves, making sense of information and experiences Learning is making connections between prior knowledge and new information Learning should be an active process where there is opportunity for collaboration Learning is about being resourceful, and applying knowledge in different ways Learning is about being reflective and having the confidence to change the way you see things
Climate for Learning & Professional Values At Stoke Park School, we believe the Climate for Learning is as important as the learning experience itself. We believe that being inclusive and developing good, positive relationships between adults and students develops our students’ enjoyment of learning and fosters a learning culture. We believe that a successful learning culture is depicted by the following expectations:
Clear classroom routines & behaviour for learning strategies Engagement and enjoyment Safe and calm atmosphere Challenging & interesting material Good relationships between adults and students Informative, effective display stimulus including sharing students’ work Opportunities to develop and become open to new skills, methods and forms of learning Opportunities for out of classroom learning, including visits to offsite activities
We have a strong commitment to promoting and sharing our Professional Values and see this going hand in hand with the learning culture we create. Our teaching and support staff are encouraged to work in an open and collaborative manner in order to enable students to reach their full potential. We achieve this by supporting students, leading student learning and building professional relationships in order to equip students with the skills that will prepare them for the future.
Support students throughout their education enabling them to reach their full potential
Leading Learning
Well qualified, highly motivated staff deliver both an exciting and challenging curriculum that equips students with the skills and knowledge they will need for a career in the 21st century
Set aspirational targets that are both realistic and attainable
Frequently monitor student progress identifying key areas for support and development
Students are taught a curriculum that is relevant and meets the needs of the individual
Ensure that all student data is reliable and accurate and is assessed in line with government and/or examination board guidelines
Enable students to feel comfortable taking responsibility for their learning, encouraging them to make informed decisions and to exercise their rights and responsibilities
Promote a range of enrichment activities
Prepare students for life beyond Stoke Park School, teaching them a range of skills that will leave them better equipped to deal with many of the challenges they may face
Promoting Language of Learning
All staff are expected to use positive language to encourage and motivate students to learn
A common language, where appropriate, will be used by staff to help learners make connections between different areas of the curriculum Students will be given praise through positive comments and rewards
Building Professional Relationships
Know students as individuals
Listen to students and find out how they learn best
Deliver lessons that are industrious, enjoyable and involve all
To develop mutual respect
Frequent communication with parents/guardians
To encourage students to develop a positive selfimage and sense of worth
Lesson Design
Every lesson at Stoke Park School will develop and enhance student knowledge, understanding and a set of skills. Students are expected to make progress every lesson to maximise personal achievement. This will be achieved through a variety of methods of delivery, dependent on subject area. The learning cycle will underpin all lessons, and regular opportunities for training and sharing of good practice is evident through weekly Teaching & Learning sessions and a thorough CPD programme.
The Learning Cycle Prepare the learning Lesson planning takes into account prior learning and is differentiated according to ability Planning and delivery will be sequential Common lesson planning structure for consistency of approach to learning Students are greeted at the door and welcomed into an appropriate learning environment
Share the learning outcomes Split screen objectives are evident with content running alongside skill Students take a lead in their own learning as the learning journey is clear and purposeful Learning outcomes are concise and progressive using Must, Should, Could or levels to show progression and challenge Learning outcomes take into account individual need and will appeal to all learners
Present new information
Construct
Apply to demonstrate/ Review
Underpinning elements
The ‘hook’ to evoke interest (punchy starter)
Level of challenge to be age/stage appropriate
Stoke Park Learning Power (SPLP) embedded across the curriculum
Variety of technologies/ strategies to be employed
Variety of groupingspair/small/whole class
Learners will be able to show what they have learnt by applying it to a different situation or context
Differentiation of resources
Leading questions to promote independent enquirers
An opportunity to learn in different ways – V.A.K Use of ICT to enhance learning Information will be shared in an interesting and informative way
A variety of tasks to search for meaning and make sense of it An opportunity for active learning
The learning experience will be shared and discussed Progress will be evident through review and reflection Open ended questions to promote higher order thinking skills (HOTS) AfL evident throughout lesson as well as in a plenary/review Homework will be meaningful and enhance the learning
Topics will be relevant to the st 21 century learner Tasks will be short and manageablepace and timing to be appropriate to the group Behaviour for learning will be promoted in a positive and clear manner Be dynamic, take risks and promote a sense of fun All students will have the opportunity to succeed in every lesson Enrichment programme will have a range for all interests and talents
Assessing Impact & Progress
At Stoke Park we use a wide variety of strategies and techniques to monitor student progress and assess impact. Both summative (Assessment of Learning) and formative assessments (Assessment for Learning) are used to inform learning and teaching both in and outside the classroom.
Assessment at Stoke Park involves:
Regular and accurate marking & feedback An holistic approach to assessment for learning (AfL) using subject knowledge and Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS/SPLP) Whole School and Departmental target setting Data analysis and accurate predictions
Assessment techniques are student centred. There is a culture of high expectations for all students based on individual progress. Assessment criteria is shared and in student friendly language. Peer and self-assessment are used to improve student involvement. Students are involved in setting curricular targets which are reviewed on a regular basis and integral to teaching and learning. AFL is part of every lesson for every student. All students’ achievements are recognised. Learning outcomes are visible throughout the lesson. Lessons are planned according to assessment information and prior knowledge of individuals’ ability. Target Setting Targets are used to maximise progress by setting high yet realistic expectations for individual students. We use end of key stage data to set challenging individual targets based on levels of progress. Students are involved as much as possible in the target setting process and are aware of how to reach them. Targets are set using the SMART approach (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reachable, and Time), which helps us have an holistic approach to assessment. Parents/guardians are informed of targets through our reporting system.
Data Analysis and Predictions All staff aim to use data to ensure students make progress and achieve their full potential. Intervention is tailored to fulfil individual learning needs. Data for all years are available to all staff and updated at least three times a year. All staff are expected to analyse data to identify groups of students or individuals to work with. Key stage co-ordinators assist teaching staff and form tutors in analysing the data for different groups of students.
Supporting the Learning We ensure that all students are supported throughout their learning at Stoke Park School. We support learning in a number of different ways, ensuring that the support we offer is available to every student and is tailored to suit the individual needs of our students. To support learning effectively we take pride in our high level of knowledge of our students and use this to ensure a personalised learning journey takes place. Our student support team are on hand at all times with information, support strategies and guidance to assist in supporting the learning experience for all. We ensure that relevant support is available both in and out of the classroom for individuals, to enable our school to be all inclusive.
We understand that effective learning takes place when:
All staff use a student-centred approach to teaching & learning when planning and delivering lessons Targeted and specific use of adults other than teachers in the classroom to support the learning process is well managed IEPs for targeted students are followed and reviewed effectively All staff are aware of students’ individual learning needs and involve support staff effectively Pastoral support is used to correct and model the effective behaviours for learning Mentoring is used to challenge and support individuals to aim higher Additional learning opportunities are offered to targeted students as well as open to all A range of learning styles is used in teaching, in order for all students to access the curriculum A differentiated approach to learning is put in place through the learning cycle in classrooms The achievement and enjoyment of every student is at the core of our priorities