Module: EDU4005-20 Introduction to Secondary Schools

Level: 4

Credit Value: 40

Module Tutor: Ashley Ogborn

Module Tutor Contact Details: A.Ogborn@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module introduces you to secondary schools in England; their composition, organisation and the contexts in which they work.

The module provides you with opportunities to discuss your own experience as a learner in and observer of secondary schools. These discussions will inform the seminars. You will explore recent developments affecting secondary schools such as Transition, How SEND is implemented and assessment for progression for learning also a key component being how Technology Enhanced Learning is woven through the curriculum.

A special feature of this module is the opportunity to observe and experience what happens in Secondary schools for one day a week during ten weeks of the module usually beginning in late January/early February. N.B. You must be in possession of a current DBS certificate in order to take this module. Placements are organised by the Institute for Education Partnership Office. You should be prepared to travel up to one hour by public transport to reach your assigned school where you will be encouraged to take an active role in the life of the classroom working alongside teachers and pupils. Observation, recording and reflection skills are taught in the seminars to enable you to benefit fully from these visits.

The module will enable you to synthesis knowledge gained from a wide range of reading including academic texts, school policies and government documents, theoretical understandings of school processes and activities and your own observations of and reflections on life in schools.

2.Outline syllabus

The module is divided into three themes: these themes are used to structure the seminar sessions and your school placement experience.

Theme 1. Observing the secondary classroom

In this theme we look critically at the way schools and classrooms are organised. We also explore different ways of finding out about secondary education, including observation and other data collection in schools, using literary sources, the internet, video and mass media resources. Discussion of our own experiences as learners and observers will inform the seminars. You will be given focus tasks to observe and feed back to the group on selected themes.

Promoting and managing good behaviour

Progress and attainment of all children and young people

Barriers to learning and use of effective strategies to overcome these

Closing the gap

Theme 2. Assessment

This will support your professional knowledge and understanding of aspects of continuous assessment and its direct impact on pupil progress through planning a series of lessons during in the form of a scheme of learning.  It will enable you to investigate chosen aspects of assessment through linking your developing understanding in the classroom with ideas from relevant academic literature.  It will also support you in understanding how schools use pupil data to support grade predictions and target setting linked to expectations in performance and progress

Theme 3. SEN/D

Finally we examine notions of inclusion and equality of opportunity in schools.  We look at the increasing range of responsibilities of the school and the challenges facing schools seeking to provide an inclusive education. It is intended to highlight the importance of the inclusion of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Education policy seeks to put Inclusion at the heart of good practice in schools. It will enable you to an overview of the focus area of SEND.

3.Teaching and learning activities

Teaching on the module consists of seminars, tutorials, practical activities and directed tasks in a Secondary school.

The seminars will provide you with the key ideas and theories necessary to understand the contexts and issues related to Secondary schools in England. They will also provide you with opportunities to discuss your reading of set texts and the observations you bring from your placement experience. You will be provided with opportunities and skills needed to prepare effectively for and reflect upon your placement.

Tutorials are offered to support you in the assessment tasks in the module. During tutorials you will be able to discuss assignment feedback and respond to assessments formatively.

Occasionally, seminars may adopt a workshop style rather than a traditional seminar in order to enable you to make the most of resources e.g. guest speakers, visiting headteachers or library workshops.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Wiki (2000 words equivalent)

• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: 2000 word written assignment

• % Weighting: 50%