The South Dartmoor Leading Practice Trust
Developing the use of new technology to transform practice in
the curriculum and raising standards through data applications to
enable personalised options.
This Single School Trust opened in September 2007. South
Dartmoor Community College is an 11-18, co-educational
comprehensive school with 1650 on roll and situated within the
Dartmoor National Park, serving a wide rural area of over 350
square miles.
Partners: - Capita Children’s Services, E & J W
Glendinning Ltd, TLO Ltd, Exeter University.
The school was working with the partners previously but not in the
progressive and developmental way that the School and Trust now
work. For example, two members of staff are now working
across both institutions (University and school). Teachers
from Science and Mathematics have been given dedicated time to
develop research projects with the University. Parents are trained
by Capita on the SIMS Learning Gateway to access their
son/daughter’s records to improve their support in their
offspring’s education. The Development of ICT provision: The VLE
and the Learning Gateway are enhancing opportunities for home and
independent learning.
Examples of Trust impact include:
- Publication of the first edition of Educational Research in
Classrooms, a South Dartmoor Community College publication, in
collaboration with Trust partners. Written by teachers for
teachers, filled with varied and stimulating articles on what
happens in classrooms. The teachers have used systematic methods of
enquiry and analysis to inform their practice. This is professional
development at its best.
- Technology: Taking the school into the home
electronically (Capita). This uses the Learning Gateway which
ensures that parents present and future are able to take the school
into the home.
“It enables me to keep as informed as I was when my son was in
primary school so the transition issues are reduced.” (Parent
comment)
- The Science research covers the gender aspects of students
taking Science to offer insights into the barriers which prevent
take up – male bias in 'A' level choices.
- The Mathematics project focussing on pedagogy at KS3 and its
investigations lead to adaptations needed to teach the new
curriculum.
- Students are reporting on teachers’ lessons in respect of the
learning environment and in SDCC there is now a culture of pupils
as independent learners.
Plans for the future include increasing the use of technology to
change pedagogy and use AST’s to lead in using digital
imaging. Ensure that 100% of parents are able to access the
website on a regular basis and online reporting by September
2010.
“It is about collaboration across the school community rather
than focusing on collaboration between schools. This stronger
partnership with all stakeholders combined with making parents
central to raising standard leads to real improvements”
(Ray Tarleton, Principal, South Dartmoor Community
College)