When asked for their opinions on our new curriculum model pupils will invariably state how much they enjoy having 'blocked' learning time. The new model allows pupils to control the pattern of their school day. No longer do they have their learning interrupted by the sound of the bell - no longer do they have to waste valuable learning time by having to pack up their belongings and traipse around school (the teachers come to them).......
A few years ago we introduced our 'super learning' model which was used with our year 11 pupils who needed a more intense period of learning in a particular subject area. I remember the initial negative reaction of many of the pupils and staff when they were told that for 3 days they would be working with their English teacher on developing their understanding of Macbeth. Quite quickly they realised how much more productive and relaxed their learning was. Pupils and staff now ask for 'SuperLearning' and it is a permanent feature of our key stage four provision for all pupils.
Much has been written about the fact that, in a 60 minute lesson, the productive learning time can often be a little as 15 minutes. First the pupils have to find the class, settle down, find their equipment, chat about what happened last night and then they are ready to learn......at the end of the lesson there is a cool down period as well. Allowing pupils to work in blocked time immediately increases the opportunity to achieve productive learning time.
In secondary schools, why do we persist with timetables that really do not suit the learning needs of pupils? After all, primary schools have been doing this for years.....................
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