Different, yet the same: Getting the Sixth Form Ethos Right Geoff Barton Headteacher, King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds.

Different, yet the same: Getting the Sixth Form Ethos Right

Geoff BartonHeadteacher, King Edward VI School,

Bury St Edmunds

Different, yet the same: Getting the Sixth Form Ethos Right

www.geoffbarton.co.ukTeacher resources: Presentation 76

Opinion, not advice

Us

300+50A-levels

February 2009

9 Unhelpful words

The overall effectiveness of the sixth form is

Ofsted February 2009

outstanding.

The overall effectiveness of the sixth form is

Ofsted February 2009

outstanding.

5 Essential Ingredients

Values

1 Ethos

• Expectations• Dress code• Work ethic• Role-model• Perks: Ed’s Place• Environment.

2 Attainment

• It’s all about the teaching• Consistency of expectations• Induction• Targets• Proportionate intervention.

3 Rigour

• “Would I be happy …?” test• Apprenticeship• Learning, not teaching• Recruit experts• Show excellence.

Be intolerant of mediocrity

4 Participation& leadership

• Committees• Assemblies• JFK ‘service’• Mentoring• Leaders• Debating• Track all this.

5 Wackiness

• Memories• Dressing up• Christmas show• Common room• Visibility & mystery

= recruitment.

Value-added and values-added

A privilege, not a right

Good enough isn’t good enough

Different, yet the same: Getting the Sixth Form Ethos Right

Geoff BartonHeadteacher, King Edward VI School

www.geoffbarton.co.ukTeacher resources: Presentation 76

Post-16 Workshop:Recruitment – Induction - Results

Geoff BartonHeadteacher, King Edward VI School

www.geoffbarton.co.ukTeacher resources: Presentation 76

Workshop = Ideas Exchange

1. Opening rant2. Group discussions3. Q&A3

1. Know your values2. Current students3. Externals – visits/ feel-good factor4. PR – inside and out5. Don’t underestimate the

‘wannabe’ factor

Key ingredients: 1 Recruitment

1. Dependence to independence2. Literacy and resilience: teach

them3. Model: don’t just show4. Initial induction tasks5. Tutor time reinforcement6. Monitor basics – eg file check &

study periods

Key ingredients: 2 Induction

1. It’s about teaching …2. Head of Sixth isn’t a simple ‘pastoral’

role3. Quality doesn’t just happen4. Post-16 teaching is a privilege, not a

right5. Demonstrate excellence6. Have house style on homework, etc7. … and accountability

Key ingredients: 3 Results

1. Opening rant2. Group discussions3. Q&A3

Post-16 Workshop:Recruitment – Induction - Results

Geoff BartonHeadteacher, King Edward VI School

www.geoffbarton.co.ukTeacher resources: Presentation 76