Learning and Teaching Policy

Learning and Teaching

Rationale

The main priority for any school is to achieve the highest possible standard of learning and teaching in every lesson in every classroom. Consequently, it is very important that the quality of learning and teaching is regularly monitored in a systematic way. The purpose of such a review process is to bring about improvement. Even the best, most experienced teacher can learn and develop new ways to be even more effective.

Several sources of information have been important in the development of this policy. These sources include : -

Previous Harris Academy learning and teaching policy.
HMIe documents e.g. How Good Is Our School, HMIe self evaluation series and HMIe report on Harris Academy (June 2004).
Investors In People.
Dundee City Council Guidelines for Professional Support.
Feedback from staff in-service days.
GTC documentation e.g. The Standard for Full Registration.

Aims

The aims of this policy are consistent with the school aims which are :

To ensure that all pupils fulfil their potential academically, personally, socially and vocationally.
To create a disciplined and caring environment in which all members of the school community can work happily and effectively.
To maintain good links and relationships with parents and with the community out with the school.
To foster in pupils positive attitudes towards others and towards the school, and to inculcate good habits of dress, conduct, attendance and punctuality.

Additional aims which are specific to this document are:

To ensure that all staff are familiar with the quality indicators relating to learning and teaching set out in “How Good Is Our School”.
To achieve the standard set by the quality indicators in every lesson as far as is practically possible.
To identify the roles and responsibilities of all of those involved in the learning and teaching process.
To provide a practical guide to strategies which are likely to promote effective learning and teaching.
To foster an ethos within the staff of open and honest reflection on their practice – in the spirit that everyone can improve.
To provide a manageable procedure to allow principal teachers and the senior management team to carry out their responsibilities for quality assurance effectively in a supportive, non-threatening and positive way.
To establish a procedure to identify good practice and staff development opportunities in the school and elsewhere with a view to improving learning and teaching throughout the school.