Achieve Outstanding outcomes at Key Stage 3 by increasing levels of challenge across all subjects

Recent annual Ofsted reports have described the quality of teaching and the rate of pupils’ progress and achievement at Key Stage 3 as “not good enough”. Their 2015 survey, Key Stage 3, The Wasted Years? reported, “Too often, inspectors found that teaching failed to challenge and engage pupils.”

The survey highlighted the lack of priority given to Key Stage 3 because of the stronger focus on Key Stage 4. A situation that might be exacerbated as schools get to grips with radical changes to GCSE.

Achieving outstanding outcomes at Key Stage 3 will be vital if pupils are going to perform well in the new, more challenging GCSEs.

Ofsted reports clearly identify that, "Where teaching is good or better, high-quality learning is achieved through activities which challenge all students."

This course supports both subject leaders and classroom teachers to increase levels of challenge for all pupils at Key Stage 3.

Session 1. Challenge and engaging pupils with challenge

  • Why should tasks be 'challenging'?
  • What constitutes a 'challenging' task?
  • How do we ensure learners of all abilities aren't put off by 'challenge' and give up because "it's too hard"?

Session 2. Practical, easily implemented ideas for lessons

  • Questioning and dialogue
  • Developing deeper thinking
  • Creative challenges

Session 3. Differentiation and formative assessment

  • Challenge in the mixed ability classroom
  • Lesson design
  • Ensuring challenge leads to visible progress and ‘high-quality learning’

Session 4. Departmental and whole school overview

  • Establishing subject priorities for challenge
  • Monitoring levels of challenge and its impact on learning
  • Action planning

There will be opportunities for colleagues to network and share their own ideas for increasing levels of challenge, so please do bring these along. Teachers love to hear what other teachers are doing in their classrooms and always take away great ideas when they get together. So, all ideas will be welcome.

Presenter Profile

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David Nicholls is an independent Consultant, with a wealth of experience as an AST, Subject Leader and MFL Consultant for a LA. He has a proven track record of supporting teachers and senior leaders across the South West, delivering well-received training on a range of topics, running networks and working in schools with individual departments and classroom teachers. He is Ofsted-trained and experienced in conducting lesson observations and giving feedback through coaching.

Feedback from teachers on David’s course

Great! This course has loads of useful, practical stuff. Excellent resources provided.
Very inspirational – lots of great ideas which I will implement.
So many ideas to choose from; absolutely brilliant.
This was so useful – I would have liked more time as there was so much fantastic information.
Excellent ideas; lots to try out – can be adapted for all abilities.
This was a fantastic course - I feel I have learnt a lot and been inspired. I highly recommend it.

Cost: £250 per delegate which includes lunch and resources; £299 for 2 teachers from the same school

To book your place, please complete the form below:

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