In partnership with:

Profile• Mixed 11 -16

• Foundation School

• Number on roll 1050

• Ethnic Background 87%

• Free School Meals 29%

• School Action/Action Plus 30%

• Statemented Pupils 48 (5%)

• Teaching Staff 70

• TA’s 22

• Nurse, ESW, Home Link, Counsellor

• Oversubscribed – 638 applicants for 210 places

Colmers School: Background Information

Mission

Best individual results possible

Good Citizens

Colmers School: Background Information

Colmers Achievements

5 A* - C2004 – 53% 2009 – 78%

5 A* - C inc English & Maths2004 – 37% 2009 – 54%

Average Point Score2004 – 366 2009 - 444

Why Learning 4 Life?Like many schools, we found from our Pupils Attitude to Self and School survey (PASS) that students:

• Lacked necessary self esteem and self confidence

• Didn’t have the ‘readiness to learn effectively’

• Lacked motivation if problems arose in their learning

www.w3insights.pass-survey.com/pass.htm for PASS survey details

What is Learning 4 Life?

Our course aims to equip students for learning and for life by:

• Equipping students with learning skills through TRICS

• Raising aspirations by emphasising pathways

• Developing emotional intelligence

• Providing insight into the wider adult world

• Promoting leadership skills

When & Where Learning 4 Life?

Tutorial sessions – Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1.55 – 2.15

• Materials developed by school and Student Coaching

• Delivered by all teaching staff (Performance Managed to ensure effective delivery)

• Essential staff training programme addresses shortfall in skills, consistent delivery & ownership of programme

Lessons: Years 7 – 11, 1 hour duration

• Programme of Study developed by school staff

• Approx 20 staff now involved in delivery of lessons

Identity

Learning Success

Independence

Inter-dependence

The Learning Journey The Learning Journey

Raising HorizonsEvents intended to inspire, inform and invigorate:

Post 16 & Post 18 Education• Yr 10 ‘Awayday’ to local universities for experience

• After completion of research & UCAS forms

• ‘College Fayre’ event for Year 11 to meet college representatives about post 16 curriculum opportunities

Curriculum Enhancement• Preparation for the Post-16 ‘Extended Learning’ project - Zimbabwe topic (Citizenship activity also!)

Financial Management & Enterprise Education• Charity Enterprise Project

T.R.I.C.S.

QCA’s introduction of Personal, Learning & Thinking Skills into the national curriculum is easily absorbed into Learning 4 Life because they reinforce the messages of the course.

Operating across the school and embedded into curriculum areas, we enhance these skills.

We call them T.R.I.C.S…..

T…for Team Learner

A Team Learner will:• Show leadership

(be able to inspire, listen, compromise & drive the team)

• Be responsible(know what needs doing, their role in it, share the effort)

• Be a good communicator(Listens to everyone, is easy to understand, give supportive criticism)

• Be respectful(Cooperates & values others’ input, is fair & considerate)

R…for Reflective Learner

A Reflective Learner will be:• Self-aware(Knows their strengths & weaknesses, accepts praise/criticism)

• Thoughtful (Considers work carefully, justifies answers, links prior learning to new)

• Adaptable(Is flexible with change, deals well with setbacks & understands consequences of their decisions)

• Able to develop themselves(Sets targets & methods to achieve them, regularly reviews progress against them)

I… for Independent LearnerAn Independent Learner will be: • Determined

(Doesn’t give up, takes initiative, is committed to learn)

• Focussed(Never distracted, committed to task, helps others focus)

• Individual(Thinks for themselves and stands up

for what they believe in)

• Organised (Able to plan, prioritise, complete &

evaluate their work)

C… is for Creative Learner

A Creative Learner will be:• A Problem-Solver(Offers practical & realistic solutions, experiments until solutions are found)

• Imaginative(An original thinker, sees things from different sides and can improvise well)

• Curious (Always interested, finds ways to enjoy their work, eager to discover)

• A Challenge-Seeker(Enjoys change, takes chances, looks for challenge)

TRICS of the TradeTRICS underpin all learning at Colmers:

• KS3 & KS4 reward systems

• Activities in lessons explicitly teach, reaffirm and emphasise these

skills

• Assemblies reinforce their relevance to school and to employment

• KS4 Learning for Life lessons reinforce links with Diplomas and post

16 education

Learning JournalsA resource for teaching and learning across the school

• Recording TRIC rewards for personalised pupil profiles

• Student Action planning based on TRIC skills

• Resources to support learning in all lessons and available for parents

• Literacy elements

• ‘Aim Higher’ resources for post-16 pathways

Learning 4 Life ImpactUsing the PASS survey since 2004-05, we have reliable

data to justify our belief that ‘Learning 4 Life’ works…

2004 -05 2006 - 07 2007 - 08Perceived

learning capacityAverage Above average Above average

Self regard Below Average

Average Above average

Preparedness for learning

Average Above average Well above average

Confidence in learning

Below average Above average Well above average

Response to the curriculum

Below average Average Above average

Learning 4 Life Impact1. Students continuing into post 16 education increased by 8%.

Colleges tell us our students are much better prepared for further study now.

2. Increasing standards of achievement 78% A*-C in 2009. (Three years ago we consistently achieved around 50%)

3. Greater levels of self confidence (PASS Survey 2007 & 2008)

4. “Your students were certainly more mature than some other Year 10 groups we have had so whatever you have added to the water at Colmers, it’s working!” University Aim Higher coordinator, March 2009

5. Greater enjoyment and positive involvement in the education process allowing learning – for life! (Evaluations by Year 11 at end of course)

From the horse’s mouth When asked, ‘What have you personally gained from the

course’

“It’s a good starting point in which to research my future. It got me thinking and made me question everything about life.” Jake

“I have found Learning for Life more interesting than most subjects because it’s about money, problems and careers. I have found the sessions to be reflective… a chance to break from cramming things into my brain.” Amy

“[The intention of the course is]… to create awareness. To enable young people to learn about themselves in order to develop and become citizens… not just be clever with good grades but who can think for themselves.” Harriet

“I was most impressed by the confidence and honesty of your year 10 and 11 pupils.  They were articulate, candid and really gave the proof that L4L works.” Deputy Head, Lincs

Want to know more?

More details available on our websites: www.colmers.bham.sch.uk & www.studentcoaching.co.uk

Tel. 0121 435 9771 Email: pparker@colmers.bham.sch.uk.

“How to use Learning 4 Life to get from Good to Outstanding”

Conference at Colmers, Thursday November 5th.