Applied learning at Harriers

At Harriers Banbury Academy, we follow the Aspirations No Limits curriculum model. Our curriculum ensures that ALL learning and acquisition of knowledge is applied in an authentic and purposeful way. This provides our pupils with the opportunity to develop their ‘power skills’ and make links to employability.

Through applied learning, we want our children to be confident, independent learners who understand the purpose behind their learning. We want their learning to be relevant and to help develop the skills they will need to be successful throughout their life.

When acquiring new knowledge and skills, pupils will be given the opportunity to apply their learning in authentic and purposeful ways through exploring Driving Questions. This may be through written work, presentation, reasoning, justification, problem solving, investigation, the creation of digital products, discussion or debate, as examples.

At Harriers Banbury Academy, applied learning is planned in a variety of ways.

PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING

This is where pupils work on real-life problems or scenarios; develop solutions through research and think critically.

EXAMPLE: YEAR 4

Driving Questions: How can we use our knowledge of electricity and circuits to solve a problem?

Our pupils in Year 4 have been learning all about electricity, including what jobs need this skill. They had to work together to problem solve using their knowledge of electricity to identify problems with their circuits.

EXAMPLE: YEAR 1

Driving Question: How can we help others to solve problems?

In year 1, pupils learn all about people that help them and the various jobs in the community that do this. They then use these skills to identify a problem and work collaboratively to address this in order to help others. This links with various curriculum areas including historical figures.

EXAMPLE: YEAR 2

Driving Question: How can I use my knowledge to improve the habitat of an animal?

Pupils in year 2 spend time learning all about animals and their habitats. They then have the opportunity to put this learning into practice through designing and then improving an adapted habitat for a chosen animal. They have to think critically about the problems that they may face and work together to overcome these.

At Harriers Banbury Academy pupils also have the opportunity to apply their problem solving skills in other areas throughout the school:

• The Safety Council – Pupils in the safety council toured the school and identified problems that were arising. They worked collaboratively to create a video to present to the whole school identifying these problems and how to fix them.
• The Aspirations Council – Pupils seek feedback from their classes, identify problems and then worked together to produce a presentation to share their concerns and actions to improve this. They also attended a local student voice event to represent Harriers.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING:

At Harriers, we offer many trips and visitors to really allow all of our child to partake in these real life experiences. This is where pupils participate in activities like experiments, simulations and fieldwork.

Some examples from our curriculum are:

Year 5: How do rivers and canals create and enhance settlements?

Pupils conduct a local walk to explore the canal, looking at the key features they have learnt about in lessons. This enables them to have a better understanding of settlements and locations to water in preparation for them creating their own settlement.

Year 3: Where in the UK would you encourage others to visit and why?

Often, some of our disadvantaged pupils have not ventured out of Banbury before meaning that their experience of being able to complete this project was fairly limited. Through a trip to the beach, children get to understand different locations and features of these places to have a broader experience and understanding.

Harriers students mastered navigation skills and developed independence and resilience during their 2-day residency trip.

Year 6: residential

Our year 6 pupils have the opportunity to spend 2 nights away from home with a focus on caring for themselves, navigating around an area and starting a fire. Many of them have not stayed away from home before and this enables them to develop skills such as independence and resilience in a safe environment.

Year 6: Trip to Kings Sutton

Our pupils learn about towns, villages and cities within their topic learning. Many of our children had not been to a village before, or on a train, so they all had the opportunity to apply their learning to real life.

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING:

The pupils undertake projects that require applying their knowledge and skills to produce a tangible outcome. The curriculum is designed around a driving question, that shapes or leads the learning focus and has a clear outcome. Curriculum subjects that are relevant and enhance the learning are interwoven and some subjects are taught separately.

Some examples from our curriculum are:

Nursery: What makes a great game?

Our nursery pupils work together to plan and create a game. They then spend time evaluating each other’s games.

Year 3: How can we demonstrate the importance of death to the Ancient Egyptians?

Throughout this project, pupils had to work together to apply their knowledge of the Ancient Egyptians to collaboratively create a Horrible Histories style presentation.

Year 4: How can we promote a trip to our chosen European destination?

The outcome for pupils here is that they develop a sales pitch around their focused destination. Children must focus on their communication skills in order to successfully promote their destination trip.

WORK-BASED LEARNING:

This is where pupils gain experience in a real-world professional setting.

Year 2 visit to the Gym: Pupils visit a local gym and see the role of various staff within a gym. They learn about what happens at a gym and how they can work her to keep others healthy.

Year 6 visit to Horton Hospital: Pupils visited the local hospital to receive training in first aid through the I.M.P.S programme for schools. They were able to see a wide range of careers that are available within the NHS.

We have also heard career talks from, but not limited to: scientists, Olympians, musicians, firefighters, artists, dentists, writers.

SERVICE LEARNING:

This combines community service and academic learning, emphasising being part of a community and caring for others.

• Santa fun run: Pupils work together to raise money for a local charity through participating in a charity run. They have the chance to raise money for this beforehand.
• VE day celebrations: Pupils represent the school at the local VE day celebrations in town.
• Planting in the Park: Developing public spaces in the local community.
• Charity work – student led: Students bring initiatives to staff and have the opportunity to run events in school.
• Remembrance Parade: The head pupils and staff participate in the local community remembrance day parade.
• Children Singing for Children: Supports many charities in the local area and abroad.