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Year 6 isn't a lot of fun in many schools. "What did you
do last year?" we kept asking our 11+ intake. "Prepared
for SATs," they replied.
SATs are a Government requirement, not an educational need.
If education is what matters, why not abandon content and
focus on "learning to learn." So we set up a Year 6 entry,
gave the teachers freedom to teach what the students wanted
and needed to learn, encouraged the students to lead the
learning and to think about what skills were needed for
effective learning ("metacognition"). Content is driven
by the spirit of inquiry. There is assessment, too, but
to measure attitude and approach as well as knowledge.
It's not Year 7 done a year early. It's different, and
special. Parents and children have responded positively
and it is growing by the year. A need has been identified
and we are fulfilling it. It's a great recruiter too: current
members of "Big Six" are happy, challenged and fulfilled
and act as great ambassadors with their friends in Year
6 elsewhere.
It is also starting to influence teaching throughout the
school. The pioneers, now in Year 7, are superb learners
who influence the learning of those who joined us new in
September.
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