Make it Mega

1. Make it Mega Personalising the Curriculum - Vocational Courses Coopers Technology College

2. Re-Thinking the Future Conference November 2000 Coopers Technology College November 2000

3. When we have our new curriculum in place for 2003 the pupils starting with us in year 7 will: • have no recollection of Mrs Thatcher • never have feared nuclear war • not be able to name the members of the Beatles • disbelieve that we thought Star Wars looked real • have never dialled a telephone • think the character ET was made for BT adverts • have never bought a new 45 record • view Princess Diana as an historical figure • have no idea what a betamax video was • have since the age of 6 years old been using a computer daily and have never experienced a time without one Coopers Technology College November 2000

4. Our leadership role WE • must focus on the needs of young people – talk learning not schooling • must strive to create an appetite for learning in all our pupils • need the courage to build personalised and flexible learning arrangements • mustn’t create an illusion of change – moving the boxes around • must consider the new role of our colleagues Coopers Technology College November 2000

5. Confirming the principles • Personalised, flexible & coherent • Not bounded by physical, geographical or temporal space • Accountable to the learner • Rich in information and learning experience • Motivating and welcoming to pupils • Serve the future not the past Coopers Technology College November 2000

6. Our new curriculum statement We recognise that young people do not operate like computers, that children are not blank slates, ability is not something that children have or do not have, but something which can be built on, and learning is a personal, internal process with young people learning in many different ways. The purpose of Coopers is to help young people develop the knowledge, understanding and competences they will require to lead their lives. . Coopers Technology College November 2000

7. Our curriculum strives to create a learning and teaching community that: • enables pupils to direct their own learning towards greater coherence, complexity and success in examinations • motivates and enthuses pupils • increases pupils’ intellectual, social and emotional intelligence in order for them to secure happy and successful lives • enables pupils to manage information and knowledge through ICT • allows individual pupils to follow a personalised programme of study (at KS4 pupils can follow a programme of any number of GCSEs above a baseline of a core 6 GCSEs) • enters pupils for public exams related to readiness rather than age or year group specific Coopers Technology College November 2000

8. Fine aims but what was the curriculum like? Year 10 Curriculum Plan Coopers Technology College

9. Increased Flexibility Programme • Started in September 2002 • Bromley College offered • Double GCSE in Engineering (Level 2) • NVQs in Construction & Hairdressing (L1) • Orpington College offered • Double GCSE in Health & Social Care and Leisure & Tourism • NVQ in Business Administration Coopers Technology College

10. In introducing a vocational provision we aimed to:- • Achieve parity of esteem between Vocational and Academic curriculum. • Ensure vocational courses open to all students - not the least able. • Write a timetable in which students missed no lessons when at college. • Develop Tracks loosely based on SATs levels and points. • Give students the choice not the school Coopers Technology College

11. Vocational Options - 2002 • At Coopers:- Applied Art Applied Business Leisure & Tourism • At Orpington:- Leisure & Tourism (IFP) Health & Social Care (IFP) • At Bromley:- Hairdressing (IFP) (L1) Construction (L1) Coopers Technology College

12. Coopers Technology College

13. Evaluation of Year 1 Coopers Technology College

14. During the last three yearsin Bromley • Bromley provision expanded to include 3 IFP programmes and flexi-schooling • Over 250 places offered at two colleges and various work-placed providers • Twelve schools participate in the programme. Coopers Technology College

15. During the last three years in Coopers • Distinguished between Level 1 and Level 2 courses • Developed ASDAN Award as home-based L1 course • Introduced separate sciences for those achieving 6 in SATs • Timetable the core for L1 & L2 separately • Improved advice & guidance – Tracks and Options discussed for up to six months • Introduced DIDA to replace GNVQ ICT Coopers Technology College

16. During the last three yearsin Coopers Coopers Technology College

17. Track WB Level 1 Coopers Technology College January 2006

18. Track AA Level 1 Coopers Technology College January 2006

19. Track AV Level 2 Coopers Technology College January 2006

20. Track RG Level 2

21. Track TS Level 2+ Coopers Technology College January 2006

22. 4 P’s • Personalise Students value choice. Don’t try to make them fit into predetermined categories • Pupil Voice Allow plenty of time for options. Good advice and guidance is essential • Programmes and Tracks Distinguish between Level 1 and Level 2 courses. Ensure no timetable clashes for maths, English and science. • Plan You won’t get everything right first time. Be prepared to revise your offer. Plan for post-16 when first cohort starts in year 10. Coopers Technology College

23. Discussion • Can the programme be extended by schools offering places to other students in KS4? • Can collaboration happen at Post-16 in the same way? • How can funding be allocated so that KS4 collaboration doesn’t lead to a financial black-hole at post-16? Coopers Technology College

24. Coopers Technology College could not have developed this programme without the help of:- • Jean Norton, Steve Poole and Beverley Johnston • Lianne McCarthy • Robert Gee • Stella Marshall and Peter Davis Coopers Technology College