British School of Chicago

Policy for Teaching and Learning

Introduction

This document is a statement of the aims, principles and strategies for teaching and learning at the British School of Chicago.  This document was completed in March 2008 and is currently being reviewed by the leadership team.  Once the contents has been agreed it will be distrbuted to staff in April 2008.

Purpose of the Policy

Teaching and learning is the core focus of our school with main outcome being improved student progress and attainment.  It is the method through which we offer a curriculum which is broad and balanced.  The curriculum is supported by a wide range of clubs and extra curricula activities.  The focus of these programmes is to provide students with the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding, promoting life long learning.

This document lays the foundation for the whole curriculum, both formal and informal and forms the context in which all other policy statements should be read.  It is written for the benefit of all members of the second community to ensure that all are aware of the fundamental principles underpinning teaching and learning at The British School of Chicago.

Aims

To fulfill the school's definition of learning and mission statement.

Learning Statement
'Learning is the acquisition, consolidation and extension of knowledge and skills, leading to understanding, developing our children into life long learners.'
This definition of learning was first put together in collaboration with all staff in September 2005 and was updated in September 2007.

Mission Statement
'Inspiring World Class Learning'.

Responsibilities

All members of the school work as a team to:

• Ensure that all members of the school community understand what is meant by learning
• Provide a good learning environment which is well resourced
• Create a learning focused school improvement plan
• Create policies that are focused on learning
• Create documentation given out to the community that focuses on learning.  For example, the parent handbook, prospectus and Key Stage booklets and DVDs
• Share good practice and create a collaborative learning environment

The leadership team should work towards the school's aims by:

• Ensure that learning and raising standards is the core focus when making decisions
• Holding meetings that are focused on learning
• Monitoring the learning going on in the classroom by carrying out learning observations and implementing strategies for improvement
• Monitoring students work by regular sampling of class work to ensure that learning is taking place and then implement strategies for improvement
• Monitoring teachers planning by regular sampling to ensure that it is learning focused and implement strategies for improvement

Curriculum co-ordinators should work towards the school's aims by:

• Establishing and implementing clear learning focused policies and practices for assessing, recording and reporting on pupil progress
• Monitoring the learning going on in the classroom by carrying out learning observations and implementing strategies for improvement
• Monitoring students work by regular sampling of class work to ensure that learning is takingplace and then implement strategies for improvement
• Monitoring teachers planning by regular sampling to ensure that it is learning focused and implement strategies for improvement
• Keep up to date with current practices and attend relevant INSET training
• Ensuring that their curriculum area is well resourced and appropriate resources are ordered to enhance learning

Teachers work towards the school's aims by:

Learning

• Ensuring the students have an understanding of learning and for each form to create it's own definition of learning.

Teaching and Planning

• Planning lessons which allow students to progress in their learning
• Planning lessons which allow students to develop and practice thinking skills such as creativity, analysis, problem solving, decision making and application
• Planning lessons which provide pace and challenge for all students
• Providing a differentiated learning approach to suit the needs of all students
• Ensuring each lesson has a learning objective and ensure that the students evaluate what they have learnt at the end of each lesson
• Providing a challenging and stimulating programme of study designed to enable all students to reach the highest standards of personal achievement
• Ensuring that learning is progressive and continuous
• Carrying out a VAK audit on all students in order for all teachers to know different children's learning styles and provide various activities to cater to these learning styles
• Providing a variety of learning situations to the suit the stage of the learning progess e.g. pair; group; individual work
• Using methods which engage, motivate and challenge all students, enabling them to progress at a suitable pace to be aware of their achievements and progess
• Regularly set homework which extends or complements the work completed in lessons
• Giving regular feedback (thoughtful marking, discussion of work with students) which helps students progress
• Using evaluation of students' progress to support and encourage them to extend and challenge them appropriately

Assessment

• Setting achieveable yet challenging learning targets for each student.  Using assessment for learning techniques within the learning environment by identifying where the student is, and providing necessary stimulus to ensure that students recognize and accept the next stage of learning.
• Being able to devise appropriate assessment activities encouraging students to assess their own performance and strive for improvement
• To use assessments to set half termly class targets which focus on what the students will learn
• Providing positive comments in student books stating what the student has learnt and how they can progress further
• Writing reports and holding parent meetings focused on what the students have learnt
• Providing assessment opportunities which inform progress
• Monitoring the learning in the classroom and keep records of student progress using the BSC database
• Using data to ensure students are working at their full potential and set targets to achieve this

Reporting to Parents

• Recording what the students have learnt using the learning overviews
• Writing learning focused reports twice a year focusing on what the students have learnt
• Reporting to parents at parent consultations three times a year regarding the learning that has taken place and the targets that have been set.  Informing parents of student progress or underachievement

The Learning Environment

• Creating learning walls in their classrooms for students to record what they have learnt
• Producing learning focused displays
• Creating challenge boards in classrooms to extend the student's thinking and learning skills
• Ensuring that there is a range of appropriate, accessible and labeled resources available to enhance learning, for which students can select materials suitable to the task at hand

Professional Development

• Sharing of good practice using teachers skills in school based INSET training creating a collaborate learning environment
• Keep up to date with current developments and attend relevant INSET courses

Celebrating Children's Learning

• Using positive behavior management and encouragement for students to achieve, including praise and rewards according to school policy
• Celebrating what the students have learnt using the house system and weekly learning awards
• Celebrating what the students have learnt by regularly placing work and writing up events on the website and newsletter

Learning Support

• Being aware of the specific learning needs of their students e.g. gifted and talented
• Consulting with SEN co-ordinator about the needs of individual students when appropriate
• Working with Learning Assistants and other adults to ensure students are best supported in their learning

Students work towards the school aims by:

• Developing an understanding of what is meant by learning
• Having an understanding of their best learning style in order to help them learn effectively
• Being aware of the learning objectives
• Being involved in target setting
• Being aware of their own potential
• Being fully involved in the learning activities
• Being motivated to learn
• Being interested in learning
• Evaluating what they learnt at the end of each lesson
• Applying what has been learnt to unfamiliar situations
• Taking growing responsibility for their own learning e.g. being prepared for lessons with the correct equipment
• Completeing homework in order to enhance their learning
• Taking pride in their work by consistently producing accurate presentation of their work
• Discussing what they have learnt with the teacher, a student or parent

Parents work towards the school's aims by:

• Understanding what is meant by learning
• Discussing with their child what they have learnt that day
• Being  involved in their children's learning by checking the weekly and half termly overviews
• Being realistic about their children's learning abilities and offering encouragement and praise
• Participating in discussions concerning their child's learning
• Ensuring early contact with the school to discuss matters which affect a child's learning
• Giving due importance to homework as a way of extending theirs child's learning

Policy review:  Summer of 2009