CURRICULUM // REFLECTING ON LOCKDOWN
Our focus on individual support and encouragement has been something that we have tried very hard to maintain over the last term . Familiar methods of monitoring learning have continued :
‘ In Psychology we still have our mini whiteboard quizzes which allow us to see what knowledge we have learned and what we still need to work on .’ ( Lower Sixth )
Online delivery has , in many cases , provided the ideal opportunity to provide diagnostic , individualised feedback to pupils as well as allowing teachers to perfect innovative feedback strategies that they will seek to maintain once face to face provision resumes . Our Learning Support provision , for example , has flourished , with staff continuing to offer individual support and guidance . Flipgrid has been used to support pupils ’ continued development and reading proficiency , with one parent commenting :
‘ he has loved reading with you and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate how you have made him feel .’ accessing support and feedback from their teachers as they prepared for the next phase of their education . Finding strategies to maintain pupils ’ engagement and motivation over this extraordinary period has been hugely important , and our new transition hub ( https :// pocklington . fireflycloud . net / transition-pages ) will evolve further in years to come to ensure that the same opportunities are offered to future cohorts of Pocklingtonians .
One of the key lessons that we have all taken away from this term , is that learning really does happen ‘ without walls ’; it is not confined to the classroom , and we are keen for our pupils to develop their learning through encouraging their curiosity about the world around them . Our new package of ‘ Curious Questions ’ includes a range of staff posing thought-provoking questions to encourage pupils to think creatively and reflectively and gives a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to continue their learning outside the remit of either a physical or a virtual classroom over the summer period : https :// pocklington . fireflycloud . net / curious-questions
For all our staff too , the last six months have reminded us that schools really are ‘ places of learning ’ and that all those of us who work within them are continually learning and evolving . Like all learners , we value constructive feedback , and it has been wonderful to see our parents engaging fully with our provision this term :
‘ Can I just say how well the school has adapted to the new way of teaching and having three children at different stages of Pock School ( 17 , 15 , 12 ) I think the lessons are being provided in a well-planned and thought out manner .’
As we look forward to provision for September onwards , there are many aspects of ‘ normal ’ school life that we are , of course , looking forward to resuming . However , along with the inevitable challenges , the last six months have also brought with them much innovation , many creative solutions and wide-ranging new skills , and we will seek to bring what we have learned over the last six months into the future with us .
Laura Powell Director of Curriculum
Pupils too have found strategies this term that they would like to see continue in the future :
‘ even when lockdown is over and we are back in school , I would like to keep using Teams to set homework .’ ( 2nd year )
The opportunities provided by online provision have enabled us to innovate with new learning opportunities too . Our wide-ranging programme of transition materials for both Fifth Year and Upper Sixth pupils allowed those year groups to extend their learning and engagement throughout the summer term , and to continue
THE POCKLINGTONIAN 53