1. Bell Work: Discuss…
How is pushing a sprout up Mount Snowdon with your nose like linear assessment?

2. The “Linear Problem” Session outcomes:
Identify the challenges and opportunities associated with linear assessment.
Share successes between departments.
Generate new ideas to promote student achievement in a linear curriculum.

3. Starter: Round Robin
Take turns to identify any strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats posed by linear assessment.
Start with strengths and move through the SWOT analysis until all ideas are exhausted.
Strengths
Pupils are mature, take exams more seriously than Year 10
Pupils have well developed skills by the end of Year 11
One chance – promotes revision?
Cheaper!
Weaknesses
Students reluctant to regularly review learning
Some students unable to recall content taught some time ago
Opportunities
Can teach course content in any order
Coursework can be taught at any time
Threats
Amount of content
Timing of exams
Lack of resit options

4. Task One: Diamond Ranking
Study the ten ideas listed on the cards.
Rank them according to their possible impact on student achievement.
Note: you must discard one card entirely.
Feedback: which idea is most applicable to your subject area?

5. Task Two: Success stories
Our GCSE and A level results show that we have coped with the change to linear. Strategies implemented by subject leaders and classroom teachers have proven successful.
Stand up, hand up, pair up: what has worked well for the students in your department?

6. Task Three: New ideas
Memory retrieval strategies – quiz quiz trade, flash cards, taboo cards etc.

7. Review: Actions
Consider the ideas we have discussed. What will you do as a result?
Make a list of three action points.