Our stated aim at Worksop College is the create ‘adaptable, independent and resilient’ learners. But how do we do this?
In the 8A English class, we do this by having a key theme every half-term (this year they have been: Parents, Birds as Symbols, Intersectionality, Women and Society and Greatness).
Pupils are then encouraged to read a core text relating to the theme (this year they have been: When the Emperor was Divine, A Kestrel for a Knave, The House You Pass on the Way, Picnic at Hanging Rock and Macbeth & Beowulf). Pupils are also provided with some thematically-linked poetry and non-fiction writing. Then students are asked to complete at least two Projects – one Reading Project and one Writing Project… and they can undertake an Audio-Visual Project too (if they get ahead of schedule!).
Of course, as pupils complete drafts of their Projects, they receive individualised feedback guiding them on how they can improve their skills and, therefore, their outcomes. It’s pleasing to note how much students retain this advice for future Projects – they rarely make the same ‘mistakes’ again and again.
Pupils’ final drafts are then given a rating, ranging from Unclear to Outstanding. Anything that is Excellent or Outstanding is then included in the class magazine – A Collection of Outstanding Excellence – that is published at the end of each half-term. Hopefully you will agree that the work within it deserves the categorisation it has attained!
Clearly, pupils have a lot of agency in this process and independently make many decisions that affect the outcomes of each half-term. In addition, it has been great to see how many students challenge themselves to adapt to different types of Project every half-term… just because they’re great at analysing poetry doesn’t mean they don’t want to have a go at examining a novel! Also, I’m sure they would be very forthcoming in explaining how much resilience they show in responding to several iterations of feedback for each Project!
Crucially, though, they find the learning fun and interesting and, as with most things in life, if it isn’t fun and interesting then what’s the point?
Tom Sackey-Amber
Head of English