Music for all

At Bishop Gore, we recognise how important music is. The benefits of performing are well known. However, the wider impact on learning in other subjects is also something that taking part in such an activity brings.

Recently, our amazingly talented peripatetic music staff, together with some of our pupils and staff, performed a taster concert for our new year 7 pupils.

 

Music Showcase At Bishop Gore from Ryan Davies on Vimeo.

No charge is made for music tuition at Bishop Gore; all we ask for in return is a commitment to participating in the numerous performing arts activities which take place throughout the year. This is a small 'price' to pay for first class tuition, access to fun and enjoyable activities and also the 'spin off' in terms of the impact it makes on other subjects and learning.

The importance of music should not be under-estimated!

 

Posted with Blogsy

i-Assembly

Today we held the first of out i-assemblies with our sixth form pupils. Our year 13 pupils have all been issued with their own ipad which they are expected to use to help with their learning at school and at home.

The i-assemblies give our pupils the opportunity to have a say in how the use of iPads is developed in school. The assembly is led by the pupils, who present their suggestions to be considered by a panel of staff.

Here is a short video of today's assembly-

Year 13 I-assembly from Ryan Davies on Vimeo.

Some of the ideas put forward today include having the YouTube app installed, allowing music to be downloaded and allowing pupils to download apps themselves through their own iTunes account. There is certainly a lot to think about. It is so good to see our pupils taking control of their learning.

 

Posted with Blogsy

New year and a new start.....

It is great to see so many pupils returning to our sixth form. All sixth form pupils have been faced with quite a few changes on their return....

Last year, after meeting with our senior prefects, it was decided to do something that would get the sixth from noticed around the school and in the wider community. One simple idea was to relaunch the school sixth form uniform. The sixth form tie (which was worn a number of years ago) has been resurrected, with all pupils now wearing black trousers/skirts and a white shirt. It is amazing how you can plan many complicated initiatives in order to make some kind of impact in a school but it is often the simple things that make the biggest difference - the sixth form uniform is a good example of this.

Another major change to our sixth form provision has been providing all of our year 13 pupils with an iPad. The intention is that they use this in all aspects of their studies as they build up to their final examinations in June. On Monday 23rd September we shall be holding our first of our regular monthly i-assemblies with our sixth form pupils. This will give our pupils the chance to present their throughts on the apps they are using at the moment and the apps they would like to use. If their argument is convincing enough, the changes they propose will be made. This is their opportunity to influence how digital technology can impact on their learning.

Exciting times!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Happy New Year!

At the start of another academic year, there is so much for us to look forward to. We are very pleased with the results which were published in August and are now working hard to ensure we improve on these still further this year.

Over the past few months we have invested heavily in ensuring that our pupils and staff have access to the technology that will enable us to provide the outstanding learning opportunities which we aspire to. We are all really excited about the fact that pupils and staff will now have access to iPads and a whole school wireless network and know this will make a real impact on learning.

What is important is the fact that we recognise that these developments will only make the desired impact if they are used as a tool alongside the many other learning and teaching strategies which we have in place. Used effectively, they will make a huge impact - but not on their own.

Our year 13 pupils will be the first year group to have 1:1 access to iPads throughout the school day. It will be very interesting to see the impact this will make on their learning and how they will quite quickly become 'digital leaders' for the rest of the school.

This year promises so much already!

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

What a year!

Here is a short video which was used in our last assembly. The images are taken from our Twitter feed.

Have a safe and happy holiday.

End Of Term Video from Ryan Davies on Vimeo.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Developing our vision for ilearning

The impact of iPad technology as a learning and teaching tool is one that is recognised as being important to the whole school community. Using iPads will help us to deliver our aim to offer highly personalised learning experiences to all pupils. It is a tool that will help drive learning, but it is not the only tool available to pupils, teachers and parents and carers. The iPad at Bishop Gore will be as important as the pencil case was in previous years.

An i-day in the life of a Bishop Gore pupil:

Digital leaders are sent from their form base to a year office to collect the iPad boxes which are then distributed to pupils during form time. Pupils log-on, check their gmail for feedback and instructions. They share notes using Notability taken during lessons yesterday with a pupil who was absent. The teacher marks the register with the iPad and then displays the daily bulletin on the screen.

During their first lesson, the class teacher undertakes an experiment which many of the pupils choose to record. They later edit and annotate the video using iMovie and share it with the teacher, who gives them feedback on their work. Pupils share their movies with the whole class by linking to the Apple TV box. Some of the pupils have taken photographs of the experiment which they manipulate using Skitch. The teacher thinks it is really important to highlight this work to parents and carers and messages them with this information.

During their next lesson, the teacher allows the pupils to work on their project. The pupils are using Book Creator to create an interactive multi-media project. Some of the pupils have asked for additional input as they are finding a concept difficult. The teacher has recorded an explanation using ShowMe which she shares with the class. Some of the class watch this in their own time.

As part of the next lesson, the pupils have been asked to read and make notes on their set text. They are using ibooks and the annotation facility within this. The teacher wishes to check that the pupils have annotated their work correctly – pupils search for their annotations and email them to the teacher as one document. Pupils have to work through the next chapter for homework, they put this in to their calendar – which allows their parents and carers to see this at home as well.

On entering their next lesson, the pupils notice a series of new displays around the room. The teacher tells them that their lesson is going to be delivered using the displays and tells them where to start – which they do by scanning a QR code using QR reader with their iPad. The QR code directs them to a website and instructions for further activities follow. They are asked to scan a particular display using Aurasma which in term takes them to a series of short video clips which enhance the display. Pupils are making notes using Notability which they will use later when completing their homework (they use their dictionary app to check their spelling). As part of their research, pupils use BBC News to investigate a relevant article on the topic.

At the end of the day, digital leaders collect the iPads and return the boxes to the year office where they are recharged ready for the next day.

At home, parents and carers access the Google accounts of the pupils and can see all of the work that has been uploaded during the day. They quickly check the calendar and tasks for any homework and messages from teachers.

Some of the class teachers have asked pupils to share their work – which they then annotate using Notability and send back to the pupils.

And this is only the beginning…………………………..

Posted with Blogsy

Review Day the digital way

As we approach the final two weeks of the academic year, there are a number of events which are due to take place in this final , busy period. One of the key events is our Review Day, which is taking place next Thursday (11th July). This is a day for the pupils, parents and carers of years 7, 8 and 10 to review learning targets and set further targets for the next few months (y9 and sixth form pupils have a normal timetable that day).

Review Day has made a big impact at Bishop Gore. The fact that the form tutor is able to pull together so much data on each pupil and present this is the form of learning targets during the meeting, means that pupils and parents and carers are able to get a clear and concise overview of learning progress across all areas. It is really interesting to note that the attendance at Review Day is always over 85% whilst attendance in our traditional parents evenings is around 40%.

Whilst our Review Day model has been very successful, it certainly puts a strain on resources - especially paper. We use reams of paper to print out the data required for the day. In addition to this, letters, target sheets, appointment lists and so on are all are printed on paper.

Using technology would significantly reduce the amount of paper and provide an even better quality experience for pupils, parents and carers. For example:

Review Day appointments could be made and confirmed online

Data could be shared during the meeting using a tablet - meaning it is up-to-date and allows access to a wider range of data

Targets sheets can be completed using a tablet and then emailed to parents and carers, pupils and other teachers

Technology will never replace the personal contact that is so important in education, but it can help to make a more effective and efficient experience for all.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy