KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PARTNERSHIPS KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PARTNERSHIPS
Recognising the potential
Such was the success of the project that Anna received
notable recognition at the annual KTP awards in March.
Anna was named as the Business Leader of Tomorrow,
which recognised a year of outstanding achievement in
innovation.
The awards highlighted the most successful business
and higher education partnerships fostered through the
KTP programme. Anna said: “The KTP project is
opening so many doors both for the school and for me
personally. The Business Leader of Tomorrow award
is recognition indeed for the hard work and dedication
of everyone involved at Bedlingtonshire Community
High School.”
Principal of the school, Kieran McGrane, added:
“The impact of the project has been outstanding in
the way it has supported a change in the culture of the
school, with teachers being more adventurous in their
teaching. Students have responded positively to the
greater freedom and responsibility offered – enhancing
their enjoyment in lessons.”
The project has also attracted visits from delegates,
headteachers and advisors from as far afield as The
Netherlands interested in learning more about the
assessment framework. Negotiations have also been
opened with a publisher regarding a possible publication
of the toolkit.
It has been essential throughout this process for assessments, which are designed to make judgements
teachers to continually reiterate the reasoning behind about student performance and grades; the role of a
Investing in the future
Leading learning: Students from the new techniques. Some pupils did not take to the formative assessment is to improve learning. In the long-term the school is expected to benefit from
Bedlingtonshire Community High tasks very well initially, as it was a move away from Anna set out to develop a clear focus for the the project through higher post-16 retention rates. But
School engaged in independent the normality of traditional teaching. However, after a enquiry-based skills and to see how evidence could in the short-term what has been most evident is the
learning activities few lessons, the pupils showed a greater understanding then be provided to demonstrate its success. She renewed sense of motivation and drive within pupils.
of why this process was being put into place and what a therefore wanted to delve into the habits of the minds of Pupils have become more responsive, confident
positive impact it was having on lessons. pupils by focusing on meta-cognitive techniques which and independent throughout the last year and are
Throughout this process, pupils were asked to work involved asking pupils to think more deeply about their gaining a much greater understanding of how this
in groups and it led to a dramatic improvement in the
Measuring progress
enquiries. The pupils have started to develop a greater process can benefit them. It has given pupils the tools
engagement and motivation of pupils. Working in the After about nine months of the new initiative, the KTP understanding of enquiry skills and started to use the to take responsibility for their own learning, which has
groups also gave many pupils a new-found confidence project started to move into a new and totally unique same techniques to overcome a multitude of different significantly enhanced their interest.
to ask questions that they would have previously area. The aim was to develop an assessment framework problems. Most significantly of all is that the KTP project has
avoided under traditional teaching models. for the newly acquired enquiry skills. This remains a To support this process, the school recruited and acted as a vehicle for developing skills for lifelong
Other techniques adopted from the toolkit included key aspect of the project because assessment is one of trained a team of student researchers from years 7, learning in pupils. These are skills and techniques that
the “graph”, the “odd one out”, and the “8 question the key stumbling blocks in curriculum innovation. 8 and 9 to support staff when they have been trying will prove vital for shaping their future careers. SecEd
sheet”. All of these resources were underpinned by the This stage of the project, while still in its infancy, out new initiatives in class. While some techniques
same principle of enquiry-based learning to encourage could have a significant impact on the future of have been used on GCSE and A level students, it • Victoria Bonner is an English teacher at Bedlingtonshire
pupils to take greater responsibility of the subject matter teaching across the UK. Measuring the success of new was deemed more appropriate to focus the learning Community High School in Northumberland.
and to really get to grips with the curriculum material. teaching initiatives is very difficult and can often be techniques on pupils who have just started their
It has been fantastic to see how pupils have become reliant on pupils’ exam success. secondary school education. It has proved to be
Further information
more inquisitive as result of these techniques. Lesson Therefore, Anna has been working with pupils and a resounding success, as students have become KTP is a UK-wide programme funded by 18
frameworks are increasingly being shaped by this type teachers to develop a formative assessment method to accustomed to the techniques and, through the organisations and headed by the Technology Strategy
of learning, which has ensured that it has become more allow students to undertake a self-reflective process to developing assessment framework, are also finding Board, a business-led, executive non-departmental
embedded in the overall culture of the school. their own attainment. This is in contrast to summative ways to review the impact of their new skills. public body. Visit www.ktponline.org.uk
SCHOOL TRIPS
Maths focus: NCETM
National Media Museum, Yorkshire
Seven galleries in this Bradford museum focus on photography, television, animation, light, and IMAX film
technology at the centre of which is an IMAX cinema with a very large screen to show 3D films. Options
The trouble with Alex
include Fly Me to The Moon – a 3D presentation – and Forces of Nature which is about earthquakes,
volcanoes, severe storms, and the science which explains them. Lions, Sea Monsters, Dinosaurs, Deep
Steve Humble
Fermat’s work has withstood careful scrutiny and
he was held in high regard by his peers. It is debated
Sea, and Space Station also feature. There are free previews for teachers and INSET in a range of media
as to whether or not Fermat had found a proof
production skills, and the education team will help you plan and run your visit.
heralds the spirit
to Diophantus’ conjecture. However, unsuccessful
Subject potential: Science, media studies, geography, art, design and technology, engineering
attempts to prove the theorem over the following
Contact: 0870 701 0201 and www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/learning
of Fermat
300 years led to a wealth of other mathematical
discoveries. So does the spirit of Fermat have a
Flambards Experience – Victorian Village and Gardens, Cornwall
place within modern day curriculums as a source
Recreated Victorian streets with shops, homes and businesses (the chemist’s shop is a gem) give a real sense
LET ME describe Alex. He is the student in top set of inspiration? Are his ideas, conjectures and proofs
of 19th century life. Also on-site is Britain in the Blitz, an exhibition dedicated to pilots and flight since 1902
year 11 who does not appear to do much. In fact, he’s transferable to a key stage 3/4 lesson? Is there a Pierre
and a hands-on science experience to develop understanding of gravity and the passage of light and sound.
reluctant to put any of his thoughts onto paper for fear Fermat in your school?
of getting it right in front of his peers. He contributes
There is no education department as such, but it’s a popular venue for school visits and there are plenty of
to discussions by asking awkward yet poignant
An idea for the classroom – perimeter
potential national curriculum links in the exhibits. The gardens are worth exploring with students too.
questions. His appearance is becoming increasingly Last time, I talked about perimeter. Since then, I have
Subject potential: History, science, citizenship, art, design and technology, engineering, English
“alternative”. Is your Alex the brightest student you done some further work on this subject.
Contact: 01326 573404 and www.flambards.co.uk are ever likely to teach?
Pierre Fermat (1601 to 1665) might have been
Mills Observatory, Dundee
an Alex. His peers certainly did not perceive him
Gifted to the people of Dundee in 1935 with a legacy from linen and twine manufacturer John Mills,
as conventional in his approach, yet his ability to
Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Mills Observatory has pictures and models of the solar system and space
comprehend complex mathematics was remarkable.
The MacTutor History of Mathematics said: “His
stations on its ground floor. Historical equipment is displayed upstairs. Group visits are welcome and you can
reputation as one of the leading mathematicians in
combine telescope observation with a planetarium show. A 40-seat lecture room is available. You could play
the world came quickly, but attempts to get his work
them Gustav Holst’s Planets suite before or after your visit to broaden things out a bit.
published failed mainly because Fermat never really If you know the length and width of the rectangle
Subject potential: Science, geography, astronomy, art and design, history, maths, English, music
wanted to put his work into polished form.” above, it is possible to work out the perimeter. If the
Contact: 01382 435967 and www.dundeecity.gov.uk/mills Fermat’s contributions influenced many branches length and width are a and b, the perimeter is 2a +
of mathematics, including analytical geometry, 2b. Similarly, if indents are made to the rectangle, the
Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucestershire
calculus, number theory, and probability. perimeter can still be expressed in terms of a and b.
The cathedral, built 900 years ago in the English style, has stained glass from the 14th to the late 20th
Today, however, he is best known for Fermat’s Students can be asked to draw their own rectangle
century, an extraordinary lead font, and 40 “green men” to watch for along with other wonders. Henry
Last Theorem, a conjecture which had infuriated and progressively modify the shape, at each stage
many mathematicians until proved correct by British determining the new perimeter in terms of the original.
VIII’s charter required the cathedral to be a place of learning and it still takes that commitment very seriously
mathematician Andrew Wiles in 1994. Using your own starting point and making your
– the education centre won a heritage education award in 2008. Education officers will tailor a tour to your
Ironically, the problem posed did not originate own modifications is an integral part of the activity,
needs or, for key stage 3, ready-made tours include Art and Architecture, Believing: Big Questions, and
from Fermat, but a Greek mathematician called rather than a “bolt-on” for those that finish quickly.
Mediaeval Realms. There are also useful suggestions for key stage 4 and post-16. Diophantus of Alexandria, the “father of algebra”. Good questions to ask pupils would be: how
Subject potential: Religious studies, history, art, art history, PSHE, English The problem posed by Diophantus states that xn + does your new shape relate to your original shape,
Contact: 01452 521 010 (Sarah Law or Jane Penny) and www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk
yn = zn has no non-zero integer solutions for x, y and is the width of the indent important, is the length of

z when n>2. After reading this in Claude Bachet’s the indent important, can you draw a shape whose
Osterley Park and House, Middlesex
published text of Diophantus’ Arithmetica, Fermat perimeter is 4a + 2b, etc, and can you draw a shape
Robert Adam was commissioned to transform a Tudor mansion into this neo-classical villa in 1761 by the
wrote in its margin: “To divide a cube into two whose perimeter is 3a + 2b, etc?
other cubes, a fourth power or in general any power Although pupils calculate the perimeter of
founders of Childs Bank. Today, the rooms are one of the best surviving examples of Adam’s colourful work.
whatever into two powers of the same denomination the shape, the main focus is to use mathematical
There is also an almost intact 16th century stable block and 18th century gardens and parkland with plenty
above the second is impossible, and I have assuredly reasoning to justify the decisions the pupils make in
of space to walk. There is an education centre and National Trust staff will help you to plan a tailor-made
found an admirable proof of this, but the margin is too order to perform the calculations.
visit. Free planning visits are offered for teachers and there are half-day workshops for leisure and tourism. narrow to contain.”
Subject potential: History, history of art, art and design, science, environmental education, geography, Is this the kind of response which might be • Steve Humble specialises in secondary maths at the
English, PE
anticipated from Alex while answering a GCSE National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of
Contact: 020 8232 5069 and www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-osterleypark
question in his mock exam? Mathematics. Visit www.ncetm.org.uk
SecEd • May 14 2009 19
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