New Line Learning
Encyclopedia
New Line Learning are learning concept schools used in south Maidstone
, Kent
, England
. It consists of two secondary schools in South Maidstone who are governed under one body to improve standards for children and create greater consistency in the quality of provision through a collective approach to education.
is mainly provided through individual self-managing schools within the context of the National Curriculum, influence from Local Authorities and national regulation through OFSTED
. Despite this regulation, education standards vary markedly according to the success or otherwise of individual schools and even departments within schools.
The schools have re-branded themselves as ‘New Line Learning’ to reflect a novel approach to secondary education
characterised by a set of values that are founded in the new Academies programme and research evidence about how children learn and what sets appropriate conditions for learning. As a start, the schools' new logo has been designed in consultation with the students and reflects the new direction in their education. Replacing the old logo with the new one is a first sign of change. Other changes will be the GCSE results.
The purpose of the UK Government's Academies programme is to raise standards in education in England and it is not confined to schools with low attainment although many new Academies have been in that category. Successful schools are expected to innovate and provide leadership through the Academies programme because they are often in the best position to do so. The majority of CTCs have become Academies . because they are expected to innovate particularly in the fields of ICT, enterprise and work related learning. The Cornwallis Academy achieved 76% in the 5 A*-C performance indicator which is above both Kent and National figures. Its performance including maths and English is at about the Kent and national averages and similar to performance in previous years before it became an Academy. The New Line Learning initiative is therefore in keeping with its Academy status but it is too early to tell whether the new approach will further raise standards or enable the success to continue at the New Line Learning Schools. The purpose of the Academies programme is at least in part to try new things to see what works.
In order to find the best education practice, New Line Learning's Executive Headteacher Dr Chris Gerry regularly travels abroad taking part in education research in some of the top universities and getting research evidence on which to base New Line Learning development.
and change management
. Enjoyment comes from success and the project is designed to enable all young people to be successful and fulfilled through sharing resources and talents across the three schools. This requires an expectation of growing maturity from the students and co-operation from members of the local community. In line with the Academies remit, all three schools share a common curriculum that is extensively supported by information and communication technology.
The research evidence on the benefits of ICT to schools is generally positive but the rapid changes in technology and how it is employed in the classroom make up to date data with robust conclusions more difficult than in other fields. Given that resources such as Wikipedia are becoming increasingly sophisticated sources of information but with the downside of many more possibilities for mis-information, it seems inevitable that technology will become an increasing part of general education not least because children have to learn to deal with access to massively increasing quantities of information. This is no different from the printing press enabling books to become mainstream parts of learning. New Line Learning is collecting evidence about how high investment in ICT affects learning as part of its core provision.
Some of the approaches and innovations are:
with the intention of establishing them as the foundation for the corporate ethos of the three federated schools. The New Line Learning federation has one governing body for The Cornwallis School, Senacre School and Oldborough Manor School, (also previously known as Oldborough Manor Community College and Oldborough Manor Community School).
are at the heart of the education programme. This is based on the belief that the traditional academic development that is characteristic of most education institutions is only one of the multiple intelligences that need developing in a school. There are common pastoral programmes and procedures plus a common set of values across the federation to support this. New Line Learning is working with Yale University
and University College London
to develop pupils’ emotional maturity through its emotional intelligence
programmes.
Another key characteristic is the development of information technology as a support for learning. Internet based methods are used to poll student perceptions of lessons so that planning can be based on direct feedback from these clients. There is a specific priority for using empirical research evidence as a basis for planning the provision.
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It consists of two secondary schools in South Maidstone who are governed under one body to improve standards for children and create greater consistency in the quality of provision through a collective approach to education.
Overview
The system of education in EnglandEducation in England
Education in England is overseen by the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Local authorities take responsibility for implementing policy for public education and state schools at a regional level....
is mainly provided through individual self-managing schools within the context of the National Curriculum, influence from Local Authorities and national regulation through OFSTED
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
. Despite this regulation, education standards vary markedly according to the success or otherwise of individual schools and even departments within schools.
The schools have re-branded themselves as ‘New Line Learning’ to reflect a novel approach to secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
characterised by a set of values that are founded in the new Academies programme and research evidence about how children learn and what sets appropriate conditions for learning. As a start, the schools' new logo has been designed in consultation with the students and reflects the new direction in their education. Replacing the old logo with the new one is a first sign of change. Other changes will be the GCSE results.
The purpose of the UK Government's Academies programme is to raise standards in education in England and it is not confined to schools with low attainment although many new Academies have been in that category. Successful schools are expected to innovate and provide leadership through the Academies programme because they are often in the best position to do so. The majority of CTCs have become Academies . because they are expected to innovate particularly in the fields of ICT, enterprise and work related learning. The Cornwallis Academy achieved 76% in the 5 A*-C performance indicator which is above both Kent and National figures. Its performance including maths and English is at about the Kent and national averages and similar to performance in previous years before it became an Academy. The New Line Learning initiative is therefore in keeping with its Academy status but it is too early to tell whether the new approach will further raise standards or enable the success to continue at the New Line Learning Schools. The purpose of the Academies programme is at least in part to try new things to see what works.
In order to find the best education practice, New Line Learning's Executive Headteacher Dr Chris Gerry regularly travels abroad taking part in education research in some of the top universities and getting research evidence on which to base New Line Learning development.
Approach
The approach is based on a simple rationale. Children who enjoy school do better than those who don't. Increasing the proportion of children who enjoy school will support raised standards.The research basis for the changes includes work on emotional intelligenceEmotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a skill or ability in the case of the trait EI model, a self-perceived ability to identify, assess, and control the emotions of oneself, of others, and of groups. Various models and definitions have been proposed of which the ability and trait EI models are the most...
and change management
Change management
Change management is a structured approach to shifting/transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations from a current state to a desired future state. It is an organizational process aimed at helping employees to accept and embrace changes in their current business environment....
. Enjoyment comes from success and the project is designed to enable all young people to be successful and fulfilled through sharing resources and talents across the three schools. This requires an expectation of growing maturity from the students and co-operation from members of the local community. In line with the Academies remit, all three schools share a common curriculum that is extensively supported by information and communication technology.
The research evidence on the benefits of ICT to schools is generally positive but the rapid changes in technology and how it is employed in the classroom make up to date data with robust conclusions more difficult than in other fields. Given that resources such as Wikipedia are becoming increasingly sophisticated sources of information but with the downside of many more possibilities for mis-information, it seems inevitable that technology will become an increasing part of general education not least because children have to learn to deal with access to massively increasing quantities of information. This is no different from the printing press enabling books to become mainstream parts of learning. New Line Learning is collecting evidence about how high investment in ICT affects learning as part of its core provision.
Some of the approaches and innovations are:
- All Year 7 pupils are to be equipped with portable computers to aid their learning
- An integrated Humanities course in years 7 and 8 aimed at teaching pupils how to learn and study independently
- Key Stage 3Key Stage 3Key Stage 3 is the legal term for the three years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9, when pupils are aged between 11 and 14...
completed in two years instead of the normal 3, with National Curriculum assessmentNational Curriculum assessmentNational Curriculum assessments are a series of educational assessments, colloquially known as Sats or SATs, used to assess the attainment of children attending maintained schools in England...
tests (SATs) being taken in Year 8 instead of Year 9 - Key Stage 4Key Stage 4Key Stage 4 is the legal term for the two years of school education which incorporate GCSEs, and other exams, in maintained schools in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland—normally known as Year 10 and Year 11 in England and Wales, and Year 11 and Year 12 in Northern Ireland, when pupils are...
commencing in Year 9 with GCSE examinations taken in Year 10 - Early entry into the Sixth FormSixth formIn the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
in Year 11 - Reporting to parents on each pupil’s progress every 7 weeks
- Encouraging pupils to have a voice, which contributes to the direction of the schools with students even having a say in the new name and look of the new schools
- Modern curriculumCurriculumSee also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
with an emphasis on project based learning, IT enabled learning and vocational courses. - Students are allowed to listen to music in most lessons, which can be chosen by the teacher.
Governance
New Line Learning is based on a set of core values. These are honesty, respect and care for others. The core values have been established through discussion with members of the organisation and approval by the school governorsSchool governors
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, school governors are members of a school's Governing Body. In state schools they have responsibility for raising school standards through their three key roles of setting strategic direction, ensuring accountability and acting as a critical friend...
with the intention of establishing them as the foundation for the corporate ethos of the three federated schools. The New Line Learning federation has one governing body for The Cornwallis School, Senacre School and Oldborough Manor School, (also previously known as Oldborough Manor Community College and Oldborough Manor Community School).
Key characteristics
The principles of emotional intelligenceEmotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a skill or ability in the case of the trait EI model, a self-perceived ability to identify, assess, and control the emotions of oneself, of others, and of groups. Various models and definitions have been proposed of which the ability and trait EI models are the most...
are at the heart of the education programme. This is based on the belief that the traditional academic development that is characteristic of most education institutions is only one of the multiple intelligences that need developing in a school. There are common pastoral programmes and procedures plus a common set of values across the federation to support this. New Line Learning is working with Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
to develop pupils’ emotional maturity through its emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a skill or ability in the case of the trait EI model, a self-perceived ability to identify, assess, and control the emotions of oneself, of others, and of groups. Various models and definitions have been proposed of which the ability and trait EI models are the most...
programmes.
Another key characteristic is the development of information technology as a support for learning. Internet based methods are used to poll student perceptions of lessons so that planning can be based on direct feedback from these clients. There is a specific priority for using empirical research evidence as a basis for planning the provision.