If the curriculum is central to the success of every student at Sidney Stringer Academy, then teaching and learning is its implementation. We pride ourselves on being a research-driven, forward-thinking school; maximising learning impact is at the heart of everything we strive to achieve.
We subscribe to the belief that, first and foremost, no education system can be better than the quality of its teachers. We therefore take the development of our teachers incredibly seriously, and have a coaching ethos that drives the success of our Continuing Professional Development programmes. We have a dedicated team of Teaching and Learning Consultants who support staff at every stage of their development. It is our mission and ambition that, as a direct result of the outstanding teaching and learning culture at Sidney Stringer Academy, every person, student and staff alike, makes excellent progress regardless of their starting point.
Effective Teaching and Learning at Sidney Stringer Academy – what a student can expect!
Whilst studying at Sidney Stringer Academy, students will benefit from a diverse and varied approach to teaching and learning; we plan lessons to adapt specifically for individual student needs, simultaneously supporting the progress of the student through a carefully structured learning journey, whilst additionally stretching and challenging their thinking or approach to a given task. We place great emphasis on the skills of oracy and independence; from a student’s very first day here, they are exposed to a programme of skills-development and learning revolutions known as The Stringer Way.
Paying particular attention to our school values, The Stringer Way helps our students to focus on the learning behaviours that maximise their chances of success in the classroom. It follows three core rules: be safe, be respectful and be ready. All staff at Sidney Stringer – from teaching staff across the curriculum, to pastoral and support roles – will use refer to The Stringer Way to support the needs of our students in the following ways: students can identify and access more challenging content; know where to look to support them when they are ‘stuck’; identify the most important vocabulary that they will need to be able to access the learning; read and know how to respond to the feedback that they get from their teachers.
Educational research tells us that one of the biggest benefits of seeing and hearing the same language in every lesson is that it helps our students to concentrate more on what they need to learn and how they can learn it.
As well as experiencing the Stringer Way in every lesson and pastoral tutor time, the students also have dedicated time for refreshers on why The Stringer Way is so important in helping our learners be the best they can be. These will consider not just how to secure academic success, but also life beyond Stringer. It is our mission and belief that all students deserve to go on to secure successful careers in whatever they choose to do. The Stringer Way is but one step on this journey!
