Academy Shares Best Practice
Categories: School News
The video is part of a new series called ‘Boost Your Teaching’, due to be broadcast online at www.teachers.tv in the autumn. It features schools that have been identified as having areas of outstanding teaching practice, and aims to pass on handy tips and advice to those who work in education.
During the week of 5th July, a team from broadcast production company Big Heart Media, who produce observational documentaries and resource programmes for Teachers TV, filmed a number of lessons across the Academy and conducted interviews with key staff.
In particular, the producers were keen to look at ways in which Merchants’ Academy encourages students to take charge of their own learning, such as the Academy’s ‘Learner Profile’ which helps students identify and develop different competencies that help them become better learners. To this end, the Academy gives every student a ‘Learner Profile’ diary which they fill in with their tutors, to help them track their progress and personal development.
Assistant Producer Katie Gormley said: “We were very keen to come to the South West to work with Merchants’ Academy on this particular project. We have been able to capture some interesting footage that shows how teachers at this Academy use some very effective teaching strategies that get students to reflect on their own learning.”
The Academy, who received praise for improving its standards of teaching and learning in a recent Ofsted visit, was recommended for the programme by ex QCA Head and celebrated education guru Mick Waters.
Academy Principal Stephen Kings said: “It is a great privilege to have been recommended to take part in this programme. Merchants’ Academy has come such a long way since opening in September 2008, and standards are constantly being driven up all the time.
“The recent Ofsted visit recognised that there is some outstanding teaching going on around the school, and I am very proud that we have the chance to share some of our best practice with other teachers across the country.”
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