Becoming Architects of a Better World

Following the publication of the Inquiry into the Loss of Love of Learning, Growing Great Schools Worldwide decided to investigate what is happening in 12 schools where children actually DO love learning. To say we were blown away by what we saw and heard in our visit to Sinclair School this week is an under-statement. Confident, articulate kids; respectful, friendly behaviour; teachers who work and learn together; strong caring leadership; high expectations and constant modelling of these. We will be writing about all the schools at length in due course, but in the meantime here are a couple of quotes from children and teachers.

First the children:

“I really think that the learning here is amazing, because not only do we learn but we have fun doing it: Every day there is a new thing to discover”
“My school makes me feel I belong here because every person I talk to is always kind..I like art because I really like drawing, science because I like doing experiments and maths because I like challenging myself”
“What I love about the learning is I learn the same thing every year but in more detail in our spiralling curriculum”
“…all the learning…links back to being architects of a better world… it makes people work harder because it feels they are achieving something really special”

And now teachers:

“We build a community where we care for the whole child, not just what they can do in a test but how they feel, think and who they are. When they walk into our care we make sure they are safe, warm and welcome. That way they are ready to learn.”
“As teachers we make connections with the children and have an in-depth knowledge of them…the school has created an environment where children feel safe and engaged in their learning…the leadership team is inspirational.”
“From the very start of their time here, the children have the purpose of all that they learn shared with them. They are informed about how they will become Architects of a Better World and this gives them a real desire to learn, to better themselves, to be the best they can be. Learning behaviours and engagement in learning are outstanding across the school – children at Sinclair really do want to learn:

This is not a priviliged community – about a third of pupils are on pupil premium/ free school meals and each class has around 30 pupils.
Sinclair is one of five schools in the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools in Southampton – all following the same philosophy of learning and teaching.

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Read more about the Love of Learning Project here.

The other schools we have visited for the project so far are: