Educated not just examined Goals and targets and what one needs to reach them
Recent changes to the OFSTED inspection regime include greater focus on what happens in the classroom with a requirement that 50% of an inspectors’ time is spent observing teaching. Sydenham High School received considerable praise in its recent inspection for the quality of its teaching. Headteacher, Kathryn Pullen explains what this means in practice. “Commending the fi rst-rate education we offer, our inspection report highlighted a crucial success indicator as students who are prepared to take risks, willing to think and learn for themselves, who understand they are on an educational journey, are engaged with their progress, who have the confi dence and resilience to deal with failure as well as success, and appreciate the value of education. This happens by design not accident. “Education is not something we do to you, or for you, it’s something we do with you.” It’s a mantra every student in our school knows. Whilst the acquisition of knowledge remains vital, it’s a student’s attitude that makes the difference to their ultimate success. Telling students to ‘take ownership of their learning’ doesn’t work – as teachers we have to help them understand what this actually involves i.e.
thinking about their goals and targets and what one needs to do to reach them. It’s important educationally and a life skill that will serve them well. Every student has time to work with teachers or peers to analyse her progress and think about her goals and direction. In Reception this might happen at a task level, asking a child to look at how they’ve built a tower and think about what they would do it differently next time. Older students might be asked to refl ect on what constitutes effective learning by teaching a lesson. At every age, we encourage pupils to be active participants in their own learning creating an approach that is personal to each individual student. Self-awareness blossoms as girls analyse and evaluate themselves, helping them recognise and take pride in their personal successes and building the confi dence that enables them to rise to further challenges.
“In this school you never get a straight answer to a question, they always make you think about it for yourself fi rst.”
We encourage girls to be active thinkers, to train their intellects. Our teachers are expert at teaching in a way that engenders a sense of self discovery. It may be an art lesson that asks girls to create and deconstruct a Dada-ist painting to help them arrive at an
understanding of the intellectual motivations of the movement; or a maths
lesson that uses real doughnuts to determine the properties of a torus (the mathematical term for the shape). So
students retain
their knowledge and learn to
appreciate the
skills and crucially the aesthetics of learning – becoming
able to identify creative, logical and lateral thinking
solutions that
unlock answers to the problems they are set. “Excellent personal development encompassing academic and social well being” Inspection report 2012
An education at Sydenham High extends beyond the classroom. Our regularly changing programme of extra-curricular courses and clubs stimulate interests from fencing and scuba diving to Arabic and Japanese. Teenage life can be challenging and confusing: our PSHE programme ( Personal, Social and Health education) is contemporary and relevant, focusing both on what girls need to know and want to know enabling students to make good decisions and informed choices. Outside experts deal with contemporary issues like cyber safety and we don’t shy away from more traditional topics like manners topics and issues considered crucial enough to explore off timetable At Sydenham High, passing exams with fl ying
colours is one feature, not the sole purpose of education. Our aim is for girls to leave here with the results they need as well as the education they deserve and importantly, memories to last them a lifetime”. Kathryn Pullen is Headteacher of Sydenham High School, an independent girls’ school for ages 4-18. 19 Westwood Hill London SE26 6BL. For more information please call 020 8557 7004.
8 l education guide
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56