At Bridgewater we are committed to the students receiving the highest quality, inclusive teaching of a broad curriculum, which provides rich knowledge and deep understanding. This can only be achieved through expert teaching, informed by cognitive science and contemporary research, yet set in the context of our school and with our students. Supporting continuous and sustained professional development on evidence-based classroom approaches is essential to developing the practice of teachers Our highly qualified and dedicated teaching staff, create an industrious but supportive working environment where students are motivated to learn. Teaching and learning is very much built on an inclusive platform, and seeks to stretch and challenge every to student to achieve his or her academic potential.
T. Shorrock
Assistant Headteacher
Improving teaching in the classroom.
Staff receive professional growth and development opportunities, which afford them purpose, autonomy, and mastery of their responsibilities. We have a variety of forums in which this development takes place including faculty meetings, INSET days, our staff CPD programme – this includes staff meeting an hour a fortnight to collaborate and discuss teaching and learning, peer observations and a coaching programme. We work with our fellow TCAT schools in terms of how best to develop teaching pedagogy and to support the development of our staff to this end, with the ultimate impact being upon the learning of the students themselves.
An inclusive approach
Evidence indicates that high quality teaching is the most important lever schools have, to improve student attainment, including for disadvantaged pupils. Staff therefore know the importance of using explicit instruction to introduce new learning: the sequence of clear and succinct explanations, modelling, guided practice with scaffolding, and independent practice – with each stage of the sequence being underpinned by a check on student understanding before moving on. This sequence will be shown on a variety of levels; over a couple of lessons, over a year or over a key stage. This is complimented by consistent approaches across the school such as cold-calling, active circulation and improving oracy in the classroom. There is also focus on cognitive and metacognitive strategies as a means of developing student agency and enabling greater academic growth.
At Bridgewater, study skills are embedded into subject domains to make sure students can apply their learning independently to different contexts. The school has also introduced study support sessions at the end of the school day to support students where needed, with their programmes of study.
Everyday Excellence
Our consistent approach to teaching and learning for every teacher, in every classroom, every day is best demonstrated through the graphic below:
