Middle Leader

A school in Blackpool responds to local educational needs

By designing their own curriculum, Collegiate High School in Blackpool has responded well to the needs of its pupils. The town's lack of investment has created areas of deprivation, leading to low aspirations and under achievement for many pupils. The Ulysses project aims to make the pupils more independent and successful learners. Their success has lead to them being a case study for the Key Stage 3 curriculum reforms. Individual needs are met by the staff, in a combination of a tutor group format and cross-curricular teaching.

A Community Curriculum

Raising attainment with an innovative cross-curricular approach

Hinchley Wood School in Surrey has developed Thinking Smart, a new approach to the Key Stage 3 curriculum based on the RSA's Opening Minds programme. This high-attaining school believes that its students can do even better by Thinking Smart, using the cross-curricular approach with an emphasis on group work and core competencies. The school's innovations have also led to an 80 per cent drop in exclusions and a 50 per cent drop in behaviour incidents. Head of science Sue Eacott has been won over by the approach. In this programme, she teaches a lesson on cells which is full of wonderful examples of student creativity and collaboration.

A Cross-Curriculum Approach

A day in the life of a form tutor at a school using vertical tutoring

This short film follows a busy day in the life of a form tutor at a Bristol school which has implemented a system of vertical tutoring. Emily Grainger, at the John Cabot Academy, has to juggle teaching drama, a new pupil arriving and her ongoing form tutor duties. Registering pupils twice a day, mentoring and providing structured activities for pupils, Emily has her hands full being a form tutor and drama teacher. Drawing on Emily's role as form tutor, the John Cabot Academy's innovative approach of vertical tutoring is demonstrated, showing how vertical learning can be made use of.

A Day in the Life of a Form Tutor

Explore an innovative approach to the KS3 curriculum

At Whitley Abbey Business and Enterprise College in Coventry, an innovative approach to the KS3 curriculum enables Year 7 pupils to spend the whole morning with just one teacher, covering multiple subjects. Using the RSA's Opening Minds approach, the school focuses on providing learners with core skills and competences in order to engage with their learning and with the world. In this programme, we follow a cross-curriculum lesson in which risk-taking is a key skill, and observe a lesson on migration where pupils are asked to make difficult decisions. Teachers also discuss the benefits of the school's approach for pupils and their own teaching, and reveal the challenges of teaching outside their specialist subject. The school believes that responsibility for learning leads to responsible behaviour, with falling detention rates and improved attendance being evidence for the innovation's success.

A Flexible Timetable

An insight into a 21st century personalised curriculum

Richard Green, executive principal at Waingels College, explains why he wanted to get away from a "one-size fits all" curriculum and develop a fluid, open and personalised approach to learning fit for the 21st century. Year 7 pupils at Waingels undertake the RSA's Opening Minds curriculum, staff use a skills-based approach in other years, and have vertical learning groups in some areas. The school ensures teachers are not isolated and brings them together regularly to reflect on the impact of their innovations. In this programme, we follow a Year 7 lesson dedicated to listening skills and a Year 9 science lesson aiming to develop effective thinking skills. We also drop in on a pupil feedback session where teachers explore the impact of these new approaches to learning.

A Personalised Curriculum

Teachers show how they are using APP at Key Stage 3

Teachers at the Thomas Keble School in Gloucestershire demonstrate how they're using APP in maths and English at key stage 3. Head of Year 7 maths, Kate Apperley, uses the APP guidelines to plan a lesson where she can assess her students' understanding of area and perimeter. Later in a Year 8 English class, head of English Katherine Burridge, guides the students in identifying the level they are working at, and what they need to do to progress beyond it. Finally we see how the teachers use nationally available APP materials in addition to a locally created spreadsheet, to record the levels at which each pupil in the class is working.

Assessment for Learning - Secondary Maths and English - APP in Action

Strategy-makers, victims and former bullies discuss anti-bullying

The best anti-bullying strategies for primary and secondary remain hotly debated. Leading advocates are interviewed, including children's charity Kidscape, in this video which links with Every Child Matters. Go beneath the rhetoric and explore the key strategies on offer. Kidscape recommends a multi-layered approach including assertiveness training for victims. Also interviewed in this video are those behind the controversial "no blame" method; reformed bullies and former victims; and schools minister Jacqui Smith. And Pam Orchard, the headteacher who ordered a mass suspension of 40 girls after a single bullying incident in 2004. Each contributor reflects on the lessons learned from their experiences of bullying and gives their views on how best to beat the whole-school issue of bullying. Bullying affected one in four of the 140,000 callers to Childline in 2004.

Beating Bullying

Learn strategies and skills needed for successful job interviews

Watch expert advice and coaching on the skills needed for successful job interviews, in a professional development resource following two teachers who have applied for promotion. Science teacher Colin Douglas is determined to become a head of year but he suffers from crippling nerves and a tendency to waffle. Maths teacher Raj Jutley also interviews badly but the head of department is leaving next year and Raj wants his job. Both go through a mock interview and in a session with professional development coach Lee McAuliffe, each is given strategies to overcome their problems before facing the interview panel again.

Becoming a Middle Leader

Professional development and interview advice for teachers

Gain insights into professional and personal development as two teachers going for senior leadership positions get expert coaching and interview strategies to improve their interview performance, in this careers video for teachers. Assistant headteacher Rebecca Clark wants to become a deputy headteacher but lacks confidence in interviews, while Mike Lambert is frustrated in his role as a head of department and wants to become an assistant headteacher. Both Rebecca and Mike go through two mock interviews, and between their first and second interviews, professional development coach Simon Cooper-Hind reveals strategies to help each candidate overcome interview problems . Can they improve their performance in their second interview?

Becoming a Senior Leader

Follow the learning experiences of three autistic brothers

Including pupils on the autistic spectrum at primary and secondary brings particular challenges for schools. This whole-school video on SEN shows an honest account of life with autism, with views from three autistic brothers. Inclusion can be challenging for teachers, and for the pupil school life can be a buzzing confusion of uncertainty. Meet brothers Luke, Joe and Ben Jackson. Their mother Jacqui is outspoken and articulate about how teachers can support pupils with autism, and the boys are extremely candid about how their condition affects them. For Luke, there are many positives. He describes brother Joe as 'the most imaginative person you could ever meet' and Ben as 'the nicest and most honest kid'. Jacqui and the boys share their ideas about living with autism, as do the teachers who are working with Joe and Ben to ensure their inclusion in school life. There's also an exercise devised by Luke that helps teachers imagine what the world is like for people with autistic spectrum disorders.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Roles

> Secondary Middle Leader