The first schools that Terry White took me to in UK was the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community
Academy (IPACA) opened in September 2012, bringing together five Portland
schools, the Grove, Brackenbury and Underhill, Southwell and Royal Manor Arts
College. The new primary school is a converted leisure centre. The school is
co-educational state school providing for students aged 4 – 16, together with
Foundation Stage units including nursery and reception age children.
IPACA is sponsored by educational charity The
Aldridge Foundation, which has strong links to the community forging employment
opportunities for school graduates. This thinking is considered critical as
most school leavers stay in the area – the school has a commitment to building
networks with commercial and manufacturing organisations in the district
and incorporating opportunities for students in their teaching and learning.
IPACA is led by Head teacher Alison Appleyard and its Governing Body. This body includes Sponsor Governors, Staff Governors, Local Authority Governors, Parent Governors and co-opted governors selected by the Academy Trust
Professor Stephen Heppell, is the patron of IPACA. Stephen is recognised
internationally as a leader in education. As a Heppell.net school the staff here have the advantage of working directly
with Stephen Heppell who influences the direction of the school.
Gary Spracklen is the
Director of Digital Learning and Innovation across all campus of IPACA. His
role is to drive the vision around digital learning and innovation. As an early
adaptor and enthusiast for digital and future focused learning, Gary is
exploring different ways he can work with the leadership team to make sure that
the thinking and culture around digital learning and innovation is consistent
across all five campus with ideas being explored at all levels of the
school. His blog can be explored at www.digitalipaca.blogspot.co.uk
Is an ”all through school”
focused on ”stage not age” Currently 5 years to 9 years, but new build will
take students to 18 years. The students work in house groups, across two year
groups. Each space can accommodate 90
students with 3 teachers, plus two teaching assistants. Most learning support
happens in the classroom. A typical lesson has one teacher leading 1 supporting
and 1 stretching more able students. Every learner has a chrome book from Yr 7
up.
Key educational elements of the design include:
·
spaces within spaces
·
flexibility
·
personalising learning
·
Why before the How and What
·
mixed age learning
·
digital learning
The flexible environment is achieved by a
range of different furniture including high backed sofas and utilising
furniture to make withdrawal spaces. These spaces were observed being used
flexibly in the junior areas of the school
Gary explained that in UK there is huge pressure
to teach to the SATS which schools and teachers are judged on nationally.
Personalising learning is considered to be a risk because there are tests to
pass and jobs and careers can be lost if the student achievement results take a
dive. IPACAs SAT results are impressive. Gary is working with staff across all
campus to have confidence in letting go didactic approaches and to have the
belief that the fantastic student achievement results will just get better with
the open and team teaching approach in the modern learning environment that
IPACA is committed to.
We had a brief visit to the Royal Manor
campus where the senior students are currently located and met with principal
Alison Appleyard where we discussed the proposed new campus at Southwell Park. This
exciting project is an old Navy base that is currently a commercial centre.
It will
cater for students between 3 and 16 years old, with the main school buildings
divided into houses or “schools within schools”, and a separate section for
early years children from Nursery to Year 3, with its own entrance and play
areas.
The plans
or Southwell Park include:
·
a performing arts theatre
·
heated swimming pool
·
a new sports hall
·
specialist sports, art, drama, music, science and
environmental science facilities
·
cutting-edge computer facilities and new technology
to support learning
·
a dedicated zone to support enterprise for students
and the community.
TheSouthwell Park campus would offer a range of after-school activities and
facilities will be available for after school and community programmes as part
of the commitment to linking to the local community.
My take outs from the IPACA schools include:
- · The collaborative teaching model of one teacher leading the lesson, 1 supporting and 1 stretching students, plus 1 or 2 teacher assistants for three teachers with 60 students.
- · The importance of the school structures supporting the vision of the school – eg exploring leadership and team structures in relation to the school vision around teaching and learning.
- · Teacher development around the vision and reflecting the vision/ way of working needs to be a priority. If we want staff to be developing a programme of personalised learning / learner led design – then they need to be involved in such a programme for their professional learning.
I I was impressed with the work in schools in UK where new schools were being created utilising commercial buildings - in this case both a leisure centre and naval base. This is a great way to respond to roll growth accommodation needs and get good bang for buck. The concept of several schools or campus in an Academy was new to me. I wonder how head teachers can keep in touch
with staff and learners across so many campus. The current New Zealand
Government policy direction is to create communities of schools informed I think from the academy concept. While I am
sure there are advantages the concern for me is that Government policy makers
may consider this a way to drive right wing policy around testing through a top
down hierarchy rather than developing curriculum that is future focused and
relevant to learners future lives.
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