Pilots and Trials

KS3 Regional Pilot

Carrickfergus Grammar School

The following information is a transcript of an interview conducted with the pilot school at the end of the first year of the pilot.

 

Conscious of the mass of work involved in the participation in the pilot, this school had begun their planning before any training had been provided. It was decided an integrated approach would be adopted for the implementation of the revised curriculum at Key Stage 3.

 

This initial planning was independently conducted by the coordinator. The school allocated time for the coordinator to read materials and adapt the information into manageable chunks for dissemination to the whole staff.

 

The ELB link officer was invited to the initial planning discussion which was used to generate ideas. The coordinator conducted a sample audit for their own field of geography before introduction to the other staff. This took four days to complete. Aware of the issue of time the information in the audit was refined for staff to ensure completion time would be no longer than four hours.

 

All materials were disseminated to the staff in an information file; this included the big picture and information on each cornerstone. Using this information staff at departmental level conducted an audit to evaluate their present overview of work at Key Stage 3 in relation to the revised curriculum. This included ensuring the curriculum objectives and key elements in the 'big picture' were being met by each subject area. It also identified any gaps or items departments may be failing to cover. The key principle of the planning of Carrickfergus Grammar was to 'Ditch the Dull'. This included revamping work schemes and excluding content that was seen as 'dull' to teach to the pupils.

 

Planning involved all the staff and was at a departmental level as well as a whole school level. Training needs of the staff were identified; these included more time spent on Assessment for Learning and thinking skills and personal capabilities.

 

The school has planned to deliver Learning for Life & Work as a discrete subject but certain elements will be infused through the subjects under the 3 curriculum objectives.

 

A number of concerns were highlighted in the planning process:

  • Time to complete the planning;
  • The method of report that will be used for Learning for Life & Work;
  • More time for training of staff on Thinking Skills & Personal Capabilities and Assessment for Learning.