Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning at Denefield is based on what the best research suggests are the optimal techniques to help students learn and remember more.  

The vast majority of lessons start with a silent and solo activity which allows students to settle quickly into the classroom environment and recall some of the core concepts that they will need to be successful in that subject. Teachers are clear with students about what they are learning and deliver carefully sequenced, chunked explanations – with targeted questioning to make sure that the message received is the same as the one they delivered.

Before students have a go at tasks, Denefield teachers model what students have to do and then the teacher and the students have a go at one together, before the students engage in deliberate practice independently. Teachers will scaffold independent practice so that tasks are accessible to learners. This phase is often the silent part of the lesson, so students can give all their attention to the complex things they are learning. Denefield teachers walk the room – checking how students are doing and adjusting their input and next steps to take into account how well everyone is learning.  

Students at Denefield are assessed on the things they are taught – mainly knowledge at Key Stage 3 and knowledge and application of knowledge at Key Stages 4 and 5. At Denefield, teachers use the performance on assessments to track how individuals are doing, to tweak the curriculum for next time and to inform teachers about where the gaps are so that they can be filled.  

Information about how students are performing in lessons is communicated day-by-day via ClassCharts, through school reports and at Parents’ Evening.  

If you would like to discuss any aspects of Teaching, Learning Curriculum and Assessment, please contact our Deputy Headteacher in charge of Quality of Education, Mrs S McHugh via smh@denefield.org.uk.