1. Signature Project 2014/15 Lisnagarvey High School
Fiona Smyth

2. Aim of Signature project
Intervention
Additional support
Small class sizes
C grade

3. Decision making… Selection process
Departmental meetings are held – involving the Signature Teacher
Tracking data is analysed
Potential intervention strategies are exchanged with the Signature teacher
Pupil chat
Parental involvement

4. The classes...
Selection
Two core Signature classes – selected from Years 11 and Year 12
11A3 - 9 pupils
12A3 – 13 pupils
Predicted grades – C/D boundary, D/E and E GCSE English grades

5. The others... Signature Format:
Extraction classes (‘Extra English’) - Pupils are extracted from non-exam subjects (PE, LLW, and RE) to attend Signature English classes.
Team teaching - Class teachers liaise with the Signature teacher, allowing the Signature teacher to focus on teaching small groups of 7 – 10 pupils.

6. The bigger picture... Years 8, 9 and 10 Pupils currently achieving:
Sustained support for small groups of set pupils
Rotational support for pupils in specific classes
Years 8, 9 and 10
Pupils currently achieving:
KS3 levels of 3/4 and 4 in the core curriculum areas of Reading, Writing and Talking and Listening
Low level 5 in the core curriculum areas of Reading, Writing and Talking and Listening
Years 11 and 12
Booster classes, Controlled Assessment repeats, Exam repeat classes, Speaking and Listening assessments

7. “There is no way you are getting me to do extra English!!”

8. “I hate English!”

9. Digging deeper...
“I didn’t feel confident enough to give my answers, when in the bigger class.”

10. Digging deeper...
“I am crap at English – so I just don’t bother doing the work.”

11. Digging deeper...
“I am stupid!!”

12. You CAN do it... Persistent praise Shared praise – teachers/parents
Reward system
Constructive criticism – positive remarks
Target setting – personal trackers
High expectations of what pupils can achieve

13. Signature intervention strategies
Collaborative learning – paired writing/group writing/debates/drama/‘think, pair, share’/carousel/team challenges
Group/pair marking - sample exam responses/Controlled assessments/Video clips of sample speaking and listening assessments, using a simplified version of the CCEA mark scheme.
Peer/self assessment
‘Personal progress trackers’
Personalised lessons using resources specific to the learner/s

14. Signature intervention strategies
Acronyms/visuals – AFOREST/Functional Writing Sandwich
Framed questions/writing frames
Paired writing
Pupil ‘meetings’ – discuss assessed response/clarify targets for improvement
Parental involvement
Booster club – ‘drop in’ classes/compulsory classes

15. Signature intervention strategies
Shared practice
Whole class writing
Pupil audits – ‘Have your say’

16. Improving Learning EVIDENCE BASE Baseline
What do we know about the pupil?
EVALUATE OUTCOMES AND IMPACT
EVIDENCE BASE
SET TARGETS and Plan
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
MONITOR PROGRESS
MAKE CHANGES
Implement-Teach 16

17. Success!!
Selection
Two core Signature classes – selected from Years 11 and Year 12
11A3 - 9 pupils - 4 pupils moved up a class
12A pupils – 12 pupils achieved ‘C’ grade in GCSE English
Predicted grades – C/D boundary, D/E and E GCSE English grades

18. Success!!
“Signature proved a very beneficial element within our departmental strategy, first and foremost for the pupils, but also for the department and the school community as a whole. It enhanced our ability to really cater for the individual needs of pupils. Furthermore, the department functioned in an even more dynamic, proactive and purposeful way. The project would also work really well for pupils at Key Stages 2 and 3 as this would provide earlier intervention, thus paving the way for success at Key Stage 4. The results of the pupils involved speak for themselves!”
Mrs Murray – Head of English, Lisnagarvey High School

19. Signature Project – Lisnagarvey High School
The Signature Project equipped pupils with the belief that they can reach their learning potential, With high expectations, the necessary support and opportunities, and a caring classroom...they can!!
Thanks for listening!