Stage not age teaching method a success

ST ANNE'S SCHOOL has introduced an innovative teaching method which allows gifted youngsters to smash their year group's learning barriers.

Head teacher Mike Gaunt (pictured) devised the 'twinning' style of learning shortly after taking the reins at the school in January 2008.

The approach involves teaching youngsters across two year groups, according to their ability, rather than age.

The guinea pigs at St Anne's were 2009's Year 6 and 7 pupils but the scheme has since been taken up by children in Years 4, 5, 8 and 9.

Mr Gaunt explained the system.

'We call it twinning the curriculum. We're only a little school, with 20 children or less to a class, and each class has a fairly even spread of ability.

'With this in mind, the teaching cannot be as targeted unless the spread of ability is reduced.

'We still have separate year groups but the children are organised according to level.

'Basically we have an upper and lower group, with the emphasis on stage, not age.

'Children are still part of their peer group but are being twinned for the core curriculum subjects.

'The system was tested with mathematics last year and it's proved to be really quite effective, both in motivating children and meeting their needs more effectively.

'Since then we've tried it with science and English, so we're now at the stage where the core curriculum is being taught in line with a child's ability.

'It means gifted Year 6 children are now taught at a level which suits them for two years.

'They are allowed to go on to the next level if they are able to move up.'

Twinning was rolled out across the board at St Anne's primary and secondary levels last September.

'We now have three twinned curriculums,' said Mr Gaunt.

'Some Year 3 children have even been moved up in certain subjects.

'This is the first year we're doing it properly and we're only a term-and-a-half in.

'I would imagine that by the end of this year we will be able to look at results and compare with previous years.

'Obviously, a lot depends on the year group's ability but I would expect the benefits and consistencies to come through within a few years.

'We're hopeful but it will take time.'

Mr Gaunt outlined the main benefits of the system.

'We have opened the achievement door.

'We're saying if you can walk through the door, walk through the door.

'At the same time, youngsters who struggle are given a great deal more time and allowed to learn at their own pace.

'The main aim is to personalise the curriculum and allow children to fly, if they're capable of flying. For instance, the traditional ceiling for Year 6 children is level five but some are achieving level six – they have smashed through their year group's ceiling.'

Mr Gaunt is confident the ground-breaking system will prove popular.

'Stage not age is really quite rare; it is done elsewhere but is not widespread.

'I expect it to catch on and don't really understand why it hasn't been done before. It seems obvious – we're teaching children, not year groups. If a child can achieve, where's the logic in saying you can't take a GCSE exam until Year 11?

'We're not talking Ruth Lawrence here and going to Oxford at 12. However, if they're capable in Year 9, then go for it.

'There's nothing to lose and everything to gain.'