Raising achievement through competition

Date

Raising Achievement through Competition

Outcomes

✤ Improve motivation of target groups in classes.

✤ Develop whole school house system which is embedded in all departments.

Three approaches to competition

1. Engage in contests with each otherFor example, learners compete in a monthly numeracy league, with

correct answers to sums contributing points to an overall score.

2. Overcome challengesFor example, during a science class, learners work in teams to see which

team can build the most effective electrical circuit.

3. Contend for recognition and rewardsFor example, at the end of a unit of work, learners submit pieces of

writing that are judged against different categories and levels of award.

Examples from PE

✤ GYMNASTICS - routine where other students are judges, students come up with own criteria for assessment

✤ FOOTBALL - who can demonstrate the most different ways of turning with the ball?

✤ ATHLETICS - event standards linked to gold, silver and bronze awards.

Example’s from PE✤ TRAMPOLINING - which team can list the main

safety aspects the quickest?

✤ GCSE - correctly label muscles on a body the quickest.

✤ SPORT EDUCATION – students in class affiliated to a team with different jobs (coach, reporter, statistician, manager, umpire, etc.). Teacher awards points to each job lesson by lesson / termly team prize.

Using competition as a teaching method✤ The principles of sports competition can be

applied to learning across the curriculum.

✤ Just as competition is only one method used to support learning in PE and sport, it can also be used as a teaching method in other subjects.

✤ As with any teaching method, it needs to be used with discernment – to suit learning objectives, learning plans, logistics and, above all, the learners.

Make sure that competition is used appropriately to support learning

• For example, one school set up a reading league for boys to tackle an issue with boys’ literacy.

• The boys were given points for each book they read at home, with books on sport as prizes.

• School library books were allocated points according to their level of difficulty; bonus points were granted to books sourced from home or the public library.

• Parents were fully involved, with the boys taking home a copy of the league table and their position at the end of each week.

Competition in your department

Fill in the table with:

✤ What do you already do?

✤ What could you do that would link with topics covered / tasks set?

House System

✤ What is the house system?

✤ What does it mean to you?

✤ How can it help students develop?

Aim

✤ Develop a healthy level of competition and camarderie among students

✤ Helps students to invest in the life and ethos of LLS

✤ Foster teamwork and networking across age ranges and gives a sense of identity and belonging

How?

✤ Develop a variety competitions at all levels across the curriculum and outside of the curriculum that are inclusive, engaging and constructive.

✤ How could your department help to develop the whole school house system?

House Competition

Pick a task from your subject:

✤ What would you award house points for? And why???

✤ How could you integrate house competitions in your curriculum area both within lessons and also in extra-curricular clubs or events?

Activity ideas…✤ Masterchef/ bake off

✤ Dragons den/ enterprize activities/ the apprentice

✤ University challenge/ maths challenge/ quiz/game shows

✤ Service i.e. charity events/ setting up or helping with extra-curricular clubs

✤ Debating society/film/book club (reviews)

✤ Gaming

✤ Performing arts/ BGT/ Music festival/ got to dance/ strictly/ shows etc

✤ Sports competitions

✤ OAA/ teambuilding etc

✤ Art and design- design house badge/logo for planners and displays / make sculptures from recycled things ie bottles