Lessons for Learning

Teachers and students have worked together to agree what are the most important ingredients for quality in the classroom.

This is what we agreed:

The Four Factors

At Outwood Grange Academy we believe that all students deserve the very best. Teachers plan their lessons to make sure that they include the four factors that turn outstanding teaching into outstanding learning.

Factor 1

Lessons have a regular pattern incorporating 5 stages in the lesson

Lessons will commence with a starter task to get students thinking or help the teacher find out more about our learning.

Teachers will explain the outcomes and success criteria of the lesson, and how it links to the big picture.  Links to the wider world and contemporary and historical issues will be identified, and how topics, skills etc will help students become successful learners.

Students will receive help and encouragement to ‘engage’ in learning through creative and inspiring input.  Input can be teacher or student led, facilitating the learning in different ways.

The activity section focuses on what students will be doing either individually, in pairs, in teams or as a class.

At the end of the lesson ideas/concepts/questions/experiences will be pulled together in a plenary.   Students will understand how to complete homework/directed study so that they can develop the learning from the lesson.

 
Factor 2

Knowing how to get better

Teachers share with students how their work is assessed and how they can improve.  Teachers give verbal and written feedback and set targets and goals for future learning.  Teachers know students well and know how they learn best; they plan the lessons to enable students to feel that they have made progress.  Work is marked regularly and students understand how to move on.  As a community, all stakeholders practise good learning so it becomes something everyone can do independently.  Students must be made aware of the language of learning so that they can address their own targets.  Students are praised when they have been successful at the level appropriate to them.

 
Factor 3

Enjoyment challenge and support

Teachers assess learning and progress carefully.  This means that the work is planned at the right level so students feel that they have been stretched, but also feel confident that they will continue to improve.   Teachers enjoy their subject and know it really well.  Lessons include a variety of activities to enable students to learn in different ways.  Everyone is able to get involved in the lesson.   Differentiation is a powerful tool for student learning in the classroom and at home. This will take many forms and can include:

• differentiation by outcome

• differentiation by task

• differentiation by question

• developing and adapting resources to both support and extend students, taking into account all students’ needs

• the use of student groupings.

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Outwood Grange Academies Trust, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 06995649. Registered office address: Potovens Lane, Outwood, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 2PF. VAT number: 722 0149 78. Outwood Grange Academies Trust is an exempt charity.