The John Locke AcademyOpening Minds to Success

Darrell Butler BMus PGCE

John Locke Academy

Sharing our vision

John Locke Academy

A teacher’s past has a direct influence on how they want their classroom to be run; a principal’s past has a direct influence on how they want their school to be run...

Experiences as a pupil that have stayed with me

Experiences as a teacher

Leading a school

John Locke AcademyVision for the school:

John Locke (1632-1704) was a British philosopher who developed theories about education that are still relevant today

Tabula rasa – blank slate people are able to control their own lives through education

Reading furnishes the mind only with the materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours

There is frequently more to be learnt from the unexpected questions of a child than the discourses of men

John Locke Academy

A curriculum and classroom that are irresistible to children - so they want to achieve their best

All areas of the classroom and outdoors are planned to maximise their potential for learning

A school and classroom that makes children feel safe and welcome - where routines are established

A place where children can take risks and learn from their mistakes; where success is celebrated, whatever that success is

John Locke Academy

A place where language and communication are highly valued - children will learn to communicate their ideas, opinions and thoughts and these will be valued – confidence through public performance

Resilience, resourcefulness, risk taking and reflectiveness have equal value to high standards of learning in reading, writing, maths - control, choice

A school that invites imagination and creativity - children need to ‘mess about’ with things, take them apart, rebuild, tinker - curiosity

High quality technology is the norm

In practice

• Classroom indoors and outdoors

• Using area to create their own learning spaces – dens, self-designed climbing frames

• Blocks

• Gardening

• Easy wipe boards/chalks so mistakes can be corrected quickly

Mind set

• Fixed mind set/growth mind set

• Challenge – embrace

• Obstacles – fortitude

• Effort – work hard

• Criticism – learns

• Success of others - celebrate

In nursery and reception, your child is working in line with The Early Years Foundation Stage

Characteristics of Effective Learning

Does the child play and explore?Are they willing to have a go?

Are they involved in play? Can they concentrate?

Can they think of their own ideas?Can they make decisions themselves? Can they make connections between things?

Assessment

• Early Years Profile (Government document)

• Characteristics of effective learning

• Leuven scale of Well Being and Involvement

• Child conferences – talking to the children!

• Observations of play

• Field notes – long observations, on going observations

• Photographs

John Locke Academy

A school that meets the needs of its pupils and serves its community

This includes breakfast club, afterschool club and afterschool

Breakfast club – £2 a day if booked ahead (£2.50 on the day) 7.30am – 9.00am

Afterschool – arrangements depending on staffing, run by staff until 6pm.

Holiday clubs- to be arranged and dependent on interest – link to other schools

John Locke Academy

High quality staff who will have ownership of the vision for the school - induction, range of experiences, desire to get stuck in, opportunity to shape a school

An inclusion manager - role is to champion children with special educational needs, more able pupils, pupils whose first language is not English

Looking at a way for children to meet each other

Building

John Locke Academy

Uniform

Website www.johnlockeacademy.co.uk

School to home communication - Scholarpack

Access

• 3 approved vehicular and pedestrian accesses – two from Hillingdon Road and one from Park Road

• Hillingdon Road/Greenway

• Park Road/Chippendale Waye

• Pedestrian access from Vine Lane via St. Andrew’s Road

• Vehicular access from Vine Lane to serve houses being built on St. Andrew’s Road – residents only

• The gate at the end of St. Andrew’s Road will eventually be opened to pedestrians only