Visible Learning

To find out more information about Visible Learning across the An Daras Trust, please visit https://www.andaras.org/web/visible_learning/473822

 

Our Visible Learning Coaches - Mrs Hooper and Mrs Hunt.

Over the past two years the Academy staff have undertaken action research into how children learn best via a project called Visible Learning. This has been based on the ‘Mind Frame’ work by John Hattie. After collating our  evidence, trialling different strategies and presenting our findings, I was delighted to  receive the following email this week from Laura McWhinnie , Regional Director of  Osiris Educational:

“I would like to congratulate you on your successful application to become a Level 2 Visible Learning Plus Partner MAT. The case study that you have  submitted, capturing your journey, was of high quality and provided a deep insight into how you have moved from evidence to impact.  This is the first of its kind in the UK.”

A huge congratulations to all the staff who have worked tirelessly to enable such a fantastic result to be achieved. As a Visable Learning school our aim is that..

Pupils take ownership of their own learning.  They know where they are within the curriculum and what their next steps are.  Using their target grids they can track their own progress.  The pupils know what to do when they come across something they don’t know and have strategies to progress with their learning.  Pupils seek feedback and respond to it, and more importantly they give feedback to staff about their teaching. 

 

Pupils are active in their learning and are assessment capable.  Assessment Capable Learners can ask and find the answer to: Where am I going? How am I going there?  Where to next? 

 

Pupils can employ a range of meta-cognitive strategies developed through a shared language of learning.  Pupils see learning as hard work, have a ‘can do’ approach and a desire to succeed.

 

By further embedding Visible Learning strategies we encourage children to really challenge themselves.  Each class, has a ‘learning pit’ when they find the learning difficult and challenging. The children often put themselves in to the pit, and work on strategies and skills to assist in their learning in order to achieve their learning intention and success criteria. We encourage the children to place themselves in the pit as this is where learning is at its best.

 

Visible learners are able to

 

  • Understand their learning intentions
  • Know and are challenged by the success criteria
  • Develop  a range of learning strategies
  • Seek feedback and look for their next steps in learning
 
We were delighted to welcome our Chair of Governors, Mrs. Heaton, and our SEND Governor , Ms. Harvey, to our Curriculum Review meeting led by our KS2 UNICEF Steering Group representatives. this week. The children spoke with passion about their learning and the importance of our school values. The Governors were impressed with their ability to reflect on their learning , their subject knowledge and the learning skills they identified that help them now and will be useful in the future.
Great job Team St Stephens Community Academy. Our pupil voice is so important to us to help shape and direct our school provision.
The Governors are looking forward to the next review in the summer term already-they said they learnt so much from the children and that they are immensely proud of them.
Curriculum Review -Pupil Voice Loud and Clear.
Over the past few weeks our KS2 Steering Group have been having working lunches with Mrs. Furber and meeting with their classes to ask questions about our curriculum offer. The group decided upon the following questions to ask to gain some insight into how their class feel about their learning:
What have you been learning about this term?
What have you found the most interesting this term?
What are the main things you will always remember?
What makes you a good learner?
What skills will help you in the future?
A small example from one of the questions include:
What makes you a good learner?
• Being a good listener
• Able to focus
• Determination
• Motivation
• Resources to support you
• Being able to read.
• Teachers making learning fun and interesting.
• Independence
• Resilience
• Growth mindset
• Respect
• Managing distractions
• Hard work
• Confidence and belief in yourself.
• Strength to get out the Learning Pit.
• The correct resources so equality and equity.
The Steering Group are now going to share their findings with our Governors-  a date has been set to share this amazing feedback from our pupils.