DBIS Parent Evenings - 'Making Space For Learning'

1. “Making Space for Learning”
Primary curriculum, timetable and
reporting developments in 2015-
2016

2. Listening,
evaluating
and
reflecting
Redrafting
our guiding
statements
Crafting a new
four year
strategic vision
and plan
Establishing
structures,
opportunities
and
responsibilities
Developing
teaching and
learning
The process this year

3. Developing teaching and learning in the Primary school
Skills Knowledge
Dispositions Understanding
We aim to develop
learners at DBIS who
possess…

4. How will we develop Primary teaching and learning next year?
• English to replace the reading and writing
• Specialist time to be consolidated
• Learning for Life to be embedded
• Chinese provision to be evaluated
• Discovery Time to build on Enrichment
Curriculum
Structure
• Enquiry developed through IPC and Discovery
• Challenge for all students in their learning –
“Stage not age” in 2 subject areas
• Transition points to be prioritised
• Continuums in learning to be developed
Approaches to
Teaching and
Learning
• Staggered reporting introduced
• Online reporting trialed
• Student reflection through exhibitions
• A window into the classroom created
Assessment,
Recording and
Reporting

5. Curriculum Structure
 Reading, writing, spelling and handwriting combined into
English lessons and Guided Reading Lessons.
 Specialist learning time to be consolidated and enhanced.
 No increase in Chinese lesson time next year, however, we will
be planning for this to occur in 2016-2017. Our intention is to
develop the current curriculum and approach next year before
increasing curriculum time. We wish to build two defined
Chinese language pathways into Secondary – second and
foreign language.

6. Curriculum Structure
 Weekly “Learning for Life” (pastoral lessons) embedded in
the timetable in order to build upon our Virtues programme
and IPC Personal Goals.
 A spiraling pastoral curriculum built into Secondary with key
themes e.g. relationships, decision making and risk.
 Parents made aware of weekly pastoral foci through the
weekly newsletter and Moodle.
 Extension of lunch time play to allow more opportunities for
lunch time activities.

8. Curriculum Structure
 The introduction of “Discovery Time” to encompass
all the benefits of Enrichment and provide further
opportunities for student directed learning, skills
development through investigations and an end of
year exhibition.

9. Approaches to Teaching and Learning
 Enquiry skills strategically developed through IPC and
Discovery Time. Professional development for all teachers
in enquiry methods will take place next year.
 A School Development Leader for Enquiry has been
appointed to support and facilitate the use of an Enquiry
model through at least one unit of IPC in each year group
next year.
 “Stage not Age”– Opportunities for some students to be
taught in a year group above their chronological age in
Mathematics and English. This will be for those who have
gone beyond their current differentiated curriculum at
Key Stage 1 and 2. Extension opportunities will also be
provided in Year 6 Chinese.

10. Approaches to Teaching and Learning
 Graduation between year groups established.
 New transition opportunities established e.g. Year 6 and 7
camp and units of work in English. More cross phase
(primary/secondary) learning and teaching opportunities
specifically in Science, Technology and Mathematics.
 Student mentoring programme developed.
 Critical thinking sessions introduced this and next term with
Ian Gilbert of “Independent Thinking”.

11. Assessment, Recording and Reporting
(ARR)
 ARR Parent Forum - Term 1, 2015-16.
 Development of ARR Approach – moving to ongoing
holistic assessment of students’ abilities.
 Two areas of development:
1. Student learning experiences
2. Parent experience – home/school partnership.

12.  Data development group formed across the school.
1. Triangulation of Attitude, Aptitude and Attainment
Data.
2. Mechanisms for sharing and reflection.
 Greater student reflection opportunities
through primary exhibitions learning and student led
conferences.
 Use of ePortfolios Trialed.
Assessment, Recording and Reporting
Student Learning Experiences

13. Assessment, Recording and Reporting
Home/School Partnership
 New reporting schedule introduced with short and long
reports staggered throughout the year.
 Online reporting trailed through a new “parent portal” on the
website.
 “A window into the classroom” created with introduction of
class blogs and trial of e-portfolios.

14. School/Home Communication
Secure parent
portal
Private data
portal
Windows into
the classroom

15. Other developments this and next year
Student
leadership
and voice
Language
pathways
Inclusion and
student
support –
ASDAN and
FRIENDS
School
evaluation
and review
(CIS)
Communication
methods
Learning spaces
– Library and
classrooms

16. “Making Space for Learning”
Secondary curriculum, timetable
and reporting developments in
2015-2016

17. Listening,
evaluating
and
reflecting
Redrafting
our guiding
statements
Crafting a new
four year
strategic vision
and plan
Establishing
structures,
opportunities
and
responsibilities
Developing
teaching and
learning
The process this year

18. Developing teaching and learning in the Secondary school
Skills Knowledge
Dispositions Understanding
We aim to develop
learners at DBIS who
possess…

19. How will we develop Secondary teaching and learning next year?
• New 7 day timetable with day 0s introduced
• New school day with 5 lessons not 6
• 1-2-1 tutoring introduced for all
• Learning for Life introduced for all
Curriculum and
Timetable
Structure
• Enquiry and cross disciplinary development in
years 7,8 and 9
• Challenge and support for all students in their
learning (ESL, ASDAN, Core Skills, CIE Maths
and Critical Thinking courses introduced)
• Continuums in learning developed
Approaches to
Teaching and
Learning
• Online reporting piloted
• Student reflection through conferences
• A window into the classroom created
Assessment,
Recording and
Reporting

20. Enquiry and skills development
 Strategic use of timetable blocking to allow for cross curricular learning
opportunities.
 Humanities and English (Year 8)
 Mathematics and ICT (Year 9)
 Drama and Music (Year 7)
 Back to back blocking also allows for the school’s new enquiry method to
be strategically piloted next year in 3 year groups.
 This will run parallel with the consolidation of Discovery Time (PBL) in
years 7,8 and 9.

21. Secondary Day School Day
08:00 08:15 Tutoring
08:15 08:25 Registration
08:30 09:35 Lesson 1
09:40 10:45 Lesson 2
10:45 11:05 Break 1
11:05 12:10 Lesson 3
12:15 13:20 Lesson 4
13:20 14:10 Lunch
14:10 15:15 Lesson 5
New Secondary School Day 2015-2016

22. Other developments this and next year
Student
leadership
and voice
Language
pathways
Inclusion and
student
support
School
evaluation
and review
(CIS)
Communication
methods
Learning spaces
– Library and
classrooms
Evaluating the
viability of
Year 12 and
13

23. Additional Notes
 Three areas in the Discovery Centre will be turned into
additional secondary classrooms and a primary/secondary
staff work area.
 Three form entry will be extended into year seven next year.
We anticipate seventy students in August.
 All students will take Chinese and one other language from
year seven onwards.
 Next year we will begin a staggered introduction of laptops for
all teaching staff in the Early Years, Primary and Secondary
sections of the school.