Life after levels within a MAT
(A secondary perspective)
Miss P Helliwell – Director of English, Trust in Learning Academies
[email protected] @flipscokid
Timeline
January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders
introduced to the idea of life after levels.
Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams.
Summer 2015 – moderation between depts.
Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.
Timeline
January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders
introduced to the idea of life after levels.
Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams.
Summer 2015 – moderation between depts.
Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.
Timeline
January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders
introduced to the idea of life after levels.
Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams.
Summer 2015 – moderation between depts.
Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.
Timeline
January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders
introduced to the idea of life after levels.
Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams.
Summer 2015 – moderation between depts.
Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.
The key factor
• Primary writing standards
Timeline
January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders
introduced to the idea of life after levels.
Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams.
Summer 2015 – moderation between depts.
Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.
Timeline
January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders
introduced to the idea of life after levels.
Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams.
Summer 2015 – moderation between depts.
Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.
Assessment
• Emerging
• Approaching
• Meeting – based on criteria
• Exceeding
Target setting – what changed?
Old category
New category
3c or below
emerging
3b-4c
approaching
4b-5c
meeting
5b or above
exceeding
Target setting
The journey
January 2015 – the seeds are sown – subject leaders
introduced to the idea of life after levels.
Spring 2015 – AREx development in teams.
Summer 2015 – moderation between depts.
Autumn 2016 – AREx implemented for the first time.
Category changes
Old category
New category
emerging
emerging
approaching
working towards
meeting
meeting
exceeding
Working at greater depth
Positives
• Subject curriculum is owned by the subject itself
• Challenging curriculum and expectations for all
students (no all/most/some!)
• Builds on primary
• Focus on the basics all the time
• No hiding of underachievement within a number
and a letter
Challenges
• How to report progress and forecast (esp in a 9-1
world)
• How to ensure consistency across departments
and then across the trust
• How to support teachers with:
• Their own literacy
• Understanding how to move Emerging/Working Towards
to Meeting
• Having a nuanced understanding of where a child is at
within a certain category whilst resisting the desire to
recreate levels!
Life after levels within a MAT
(A secondary perspective)
Miss P Helliwell – Director of English, Trust in Learning Academies
[email protected] @flipscokid