Delivering improved results through the active collaboration of students
Pupils owned the project from the beginning, forming a committee of ten comprising representatives from Years 7 to 13 each of whom had different skills and attributes. With support, they decided on the skills and attributes of a Creative Partner who would be able to develop their ability to lead on learning and then interviewed the candidates.
The chosen Creative Partner then worked with the Project Leader for maths and the pupils to plan a high quality day’s learning experience for Year 8 students. The learning objectives for the day and the resources needed were then agreed.
The student committee launched the project to Year 8 in January and then, with other pupils and support from teachers and the Creative Partner, developed a range of engaging and fun maths lessons, using both practical and experiential activities. On 11 March, the student committee took over the school hall and, with no help from teachers, delivered all of the lessons – which covered topics including symmetry, 3-D visualisation, problem solving and bearings – to the Year 8 cohort.
To make sure the impact could be seen in the long term, the group reflected on the project and the student committee presented thoughts to governors and staff, recounting what they had learned, explaining the benefits.
"With the active collaboration of students, we want to improve results in subjects currently being taught in a traditional teacher-led manner, enhancing the teaching and learning experience. Key to this is to understand how the voice of students can be developed, thereby giving them the platform they need to be real partners."
-John Leahy, Assistant Head Teacher (Provision)
Impact
- Mathematics was selected as a target subject. The proportion of students achieving at least a grade C at GCSE has gone from 50% to 69%. Those achieving an A or above has gone from 3% to 20% and those achieving an A* has gone from 0% to 6%.
- Student-led learning has been developed within the school. As a consequence of the project, students are actively involved in areas of the school where previously they have been passive. Students now carry out ‘lesson starters’, presenting the first ten minutes, in a wide range of subjects.
- Previously students were represented on the school council. Now they are on the ICT steering group and at SLT and curriculum learning meetings, in each case with a focus on school improvement.
- 66% of students say they are now given leadership opportunities in their lessons. They lead on preparing and presenting the transition programme and a team of peer-mentors monitors the leadership opportunities given to students. A student leadership award is presented every month to the student or team that displays the most outstanding leadership.
Results
"I told Jay (the creative practitioner) that I couldn’t fly a kite because I hadn’t done it before. He challenged me and I realised I could, I just hadn’t ever done it before."
"From this project I have learnt that I can work effectively as a member of a team and that if it needs to be done, and I put my mind to it, I CAN ACHIEVE IT!"
"I learned that you don’t just build on your successes – you also can really build on your mistakes."
"This project changed my expectation of what lessons should involve – I want to get more involved."
"I feel I have developed my confidence greatly over the course of the project. At the start I felt I would not have been able to lead a group of students on my own."
"It was quickly clear that the chief learning benefit from this project was going to be the significant change in students’ attitude to the impact they could have on their own, and others’ learning."
"The focus should be on the potential offered by developing the role of the student in learning, as we have recognised that this is key in all spheres of learning. We have seen a shift in the staff perception of this, but a huge change in the perspective of the students."
If you are interested in this project and would like to find out more about this project and others, please visit www.cre8us.org.uk
