Preparing for 2017 A level exam specs CPD with Andy Homden, Consilium Education

First of all, when I'm going to a continued professional development session I like to have a bit of notice so I can work out how to get the maximum impact from the experience so when I asked asked on Tuesday whether I wanted to go to two, two and a half hour session on Thursday and Friday of this week I felt really wrong footed. I initially said I couldn't go because of working with the BTEC students. I reflected on this over night and changed my mind about this.

This was one of these sessions where there must have been some miscommunication with someone at some stage because I was told that it was going to cover areas to improve extended writing in the curriculum  however, it turned out to be about preparing ourselves and our subjects for the new two year continuous A level programmes which are starting to roll out.

It's a new way of thinking for me, baring in mind that I have never, as a teacher or a student, been involved in a linear way of working. Attending this CPD course has made me realise that our college and the new system has some strengths already which will be heightened with the new system as well as some challenges to over come.

Strengths already present include the students we teach. Out students already have a strong drive to succeed. They are keen to do well and are prepared to do with work required in order to achieve the grades that they need. For some they need time to develop in order to achieve their best. While some arrive at the start of year twelve with the skills required to do their best, generally they need time to develop and grow and the new exam structure gives them this time and space.


Challenges to overcome include the AS exams not counting towards overall grades
On first inspection the decoupling of the AS and A2 looks terrifying. It is going to be a high stakes exam at the end. This certainly would not have suited me as a student because I wouldn't have been able to handle the stress (this worries me as the teacher actually) but this does mean that they are not limited by grade which they have developed as they go along. They will be judge right at the end of the process when they are at their absolute best. Or that's the theory at least.

It's going to be an interesting experience moving across which will require a lot of changes. There is going to be a substantial learning curve and this is inevitably going to have an impact on outcomes and high grades. Currently we are operating within a framework where we can predict with certainty what will be on each exam paper and can coach students for each one. We won't be able to do that anymore and students will be forced to think for themselves.

It is certain to be a challenge but I really and truly believe that our students will be better and stronger for the experience.

Pumpkin harvest

This year we were given some pumpkin plants, when I planted them it wasn't really something that particularly interested me as I don't like the way they look or the way they taste. As I wasn't that interested I didn't really do much research on how to look after them so where I planted them was completely unsuitable.

The pumpkin sprawled at least twelve feet from where it was originally planted

Despite all of this we produced two beautiful big fruit on the most unbelievable sprawling vines which tumbled over the side of the raised beds and along the lawn.

I'll certainly plant them next year but I'll think a little longer about where I'm going to plant them.

Holiday part 3 - My birthday

I have never been away from home for my birthday before, I was a bit worried that I would feel a bit sad not being with my family or friends. It was a different sort of day but really enjoyable. We spent the day at Jardines de Alfabia which is a house and garden near to Soller. It is a real relaxing remedy to the noise and businesses of tourist areas of the island which I find quite overwhelming. 

A visit Restaurante Grill Manolo's is always fantastic which is why I chose here to eat an evening meal here on my birthday because it is always excellent but Manuel and his team really surpassed themselves. This was out first visit for twelve months and I was amazed that when we went to book the table Manuel remembered us. 

I suspect a little birdie back in the UK must has contacted Manuel to and told him it was my birthday because when we arrived for the meal there were specially prepared non-alcoholic cocktails (I don't drink and this was a real novelty for me). The food was excellent, as was the service. Manolo's still maintains its lovely relaxed atmosphere perfect for sitting and whiling away the evening. 

At the end of the evening Manuel brought out a special dessert of strawberries with chocolate ice cream which is my absolute favourite and it's not on the menu. I was completely overwhelmed how thoughtful the everything was, the restaurant was busy and yet Manuel's team still managed to make me feel really special and very well looked after. Manuel also refused to allow us to pay for any of these special little extras. 

I can't recommend Restaurante Grill Manolo's highly enough and I can't wait until I can go back again.

Just in case you want to know more you can read the full review and others here:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g562815-d6208935-r291705769-Restaurante_Grill_Manolo_s-Santa_Ponsa_Calvia_Majorca_Balearic_Islands.html#

Holiday part 2

Santa Ponsa

Sineu

Holiday part 1 - settling in

This year has been very long and very short at the same time. Either way, I’ve got to that stage of feeling tired through and  through.  I feel exhausted physically and mentally and I get the impression Tom feels the same. I also feel that because I was on jury service when the students left for the summer I didn’t experience that end of term jubilation so it almost feels like I just stopped going to work rather than breaking up for the summer. I honestly did expect a phone call that first day to ask me why I hadn’t come to work.

All things considered, it’s time for holiday and once again we’ve come to my grandparent’s apartment in Santa Ponsa, Majorca. I think the reasons for coming are pretty obvious when you see the view from the apartment.

We had a pretty late flight out yesterday and we didn’t get to bed until 2am, which I know for most visitors like us, is the earliest they’ll be getting in, but that is pretty extreme for us. I know it’s a party island, but that’s not our style at all. We’re here for rest and relaxation which is why we spent most of today asleep. I think it’s really what I needed because, for the first time in weeks and weeks, I’m sitting on the sofa and I don’t feel like I’m about to fall asleep. 

New role, new classroom

A few busy days.

Firstly, I applied for a promotion which I was given so I'm now subject coordinator for law so I have more responsibility for how the subject is run which is exciting and terrifying at the same time. Not entirely sure the exact ins and outs, but I'm going to find out soon enough.

I've also had to move classrooms, it's essentially the same rooms with exactly the same dimensions but a few rooms down the corridor.

Having spent a while looking at different classroom layout and the 'L's do seem to be most successful. They facilitate easy group work and pair work whilst ensuring that no one has their back to anyone and I have a aisle to march up and down. It also feels far less formal than rows of desks or snakes which go all the way around the room  but a lot less junior school than having big groups of three or more tables. I'd really give the 'L's' a go if you're looking for the best of both worlds.

I've never had my own room that I've put together from scratch, I inherited most of the stuff in the previous law room so I had fun putting my own mark on this one. The only thing I've really had to concentrate on is not packing it completely full, hence the big gap which the legal society will hopefully be filling for me. 

So lots of change, hopefully onwards and upwards. 

July in the garden