Learning, teaching and assessment

The Evelyn Grace Academy approaches to learning and teaching will make the difference. We believe that we must get the following three areas right.

 

Mindset

We will all maintain a positive personal outlook that promotes:

  • High expectations
  • Positive relationship building
  • The joy factor

 

Effective learning

We engage our students through a range of challenging and engaging learning activities and equip our students with transferable learning skills to ensure that every child makes outstanding progress. We teach and model the characteristics of effective learning and we teach them across the curriculum.

Our priorities for Year 7 this year are to achieve effective learning skills particularly in: literacy, numeracy, IT, independent and group learning skills.

 

Assessment and response

We have established a rigorous approach to assessment, both formal and informal, which is always diagnostic and formative and driven by the following principles:

  • high expectations
  • excellence
  • no excuses
  • assessment as an on going process

We expect the EGA “foundations for creating an outstanding lesson” to be evident in every lesson

 

What you can expect from teachers

  • The teacher will arrive at lessons on time and greet the students as they enter the classroom
  • The classroom space, whiteboard and lesson resources are always prepared so that every student can get started on the 'do now' activity immediately
  • The teacher takes the register, record any late arrivals and where appropriate collect in homework
  • The teacher has a clear call to order that signals the start of the main part of the lesson and must establish all school routines as laid out in the academy's Culture and Ethos document
  • The teacher must always clarify the learning objectives for each lesson, explain the big picture and provide opportunity for preview and review of what is being learned
  • The core activities offer a variety of learning activities to challenge and engage all learners and inspire in all students a love of learning
  • The teacher will guard the sanctity of learning at all times
  • The teacher will acknowledge and reward students engagement, hard work, achievement and improvement and will enforce the code of conduct clearly and calmly where any student disrupts learning
  • The teacher always sets homework to ensure that learning and progress is reflected upon and that students understand what they have achieved and what they need to do to make further progress
  • The teacher will always ensure that every lesson ends in a calm and orderly manner.