RELENTLESS TEACHING AND LEARNING

The Gold Standard

All of the approaches to teaching and learning included in NOA 10 are expected also in all KS5 lessons. However, given the advanced nature of most sixth form courses and their role in developing levels of independence in our learners, we expect KS5 lessons to go above and beyond what we do with our students lower down the school. Sixth form teaching and learning should form the pinnacle or gold standard of what we do elsewhere and teachers should address The Gold Standard 8 in their planning and preparation.

• Students should be given copies of specifications, examiners reports, book lists and other relevant material from the awarding body at the start of their course. These resources should be referred to regularly during their course.

• Learning objectives in lessons must be tied in to the assessment structure and methodology of each course so that students know why they are completing learning and how it will help them in final assessments.

• Success criteria, when used, should be connected to mark schemes, grade descriptors and the requirements of aspects of summative assessments.

• Assessment methods and schemes should form the basis of lesson planning, should be consistently shared with learners and should be evident in activities taking place in each lesson.

• Study skills should be built into schemes of work of every sixth form subject. Their selection should depend on the subject content and skills requirement of each course, but could include the following:

  Note taking

  File / folder organisation

  Research methods

  Academic referencing

  Presentation of work

  SPAG and numeracy

• Small group teaching should be highly structured, well planned and contain multiple opportunities for AFL.

• Differentiation should be clear and should focus on the bottom end of the ability range as well as the top.

• Opportunities for independent and extension learning outside of the classroom should be promoted and made available to students (through the VLE especially as well as other media).