Equipping young minds for the future – transforming the learning experience
Kensington Prep School has innovated teaching and learning around new principles of critical thinking, independent exploration and collaborative learning. Teachers were concerned that pupils weren’t developing sufficient skills to succeed in this fast-paced world: they were risk averse liked being spoon-fed and were people pleasers. But the real skills they need in an unpredictable future were different: flexibility, willingness to take risks, ability to work collaboratively and at a deeper level, resilience, reflectiveness and more.
An innovative £2.7m ‘Creating Spaces for Growing Minds’ building project has been completed which has transformed classrooms into creative learning spaces. The new facilities now provide spacious classroom breakout spaces, a high-tech Explore Floor with multi-screens and moveable furniture, a recording studio and an eco-greenhouse.
We wanted to strike a careful balance between ‘toughening’ girls up and retaining their childhood. “We didn’t want to lose young children’s natural curiosity – in fact quite the reverse we wanted to develop the play-based learning of the Early Years throughout the school” says Deputy Head Claire Raines, and Head of the school’s Innovation Team. “Our concern was that our ‘traditional’ classroom design was holding back the teaching and learning needed for future proofed learning.”
The new Explore Floor is perfect for project/immersion work. At the flick of a switch the room can be converted into an immersive experience such as London along the Thames, or a scene from a St Lucia rain forest. The spaces have enabled a new Year 6 entrepreneurial project where pupils are challenged to design and deliver a unique event or experience with the aim of raising funds for charity.
The role of the teacher has also evolved. The school trained teachers to be coaches and new technology was also introduced, encouraging pupils’ independence and IT confidence. The online learning platform ‘Firefly’ is now used throughout the school by pupils, teachers and parents. Girls have iPads for research, flipped classroom learning and presentations.
The school’s transformation was the result of much research looking at the latest thinking from educational experts such as John Hattie, Erica McWilliam, Jane Simister, Carol Dweck and others. INSET days for teachers were devised with an internal ‘learning-to-learn’ programme and teachers have also undertaken a four-day foundation Coaching course with independent coaching experts. The focus of the pupils’ learning approaches now centre on the four areas of critical thinking, persistence, inquisitiveness and collaboration.
The Innovation Team has closely monitored and evaluated the impact of the innovative spaces and teaching and learning on the pupils’ learning. These included qualitative and quantitative evaluations from Year 2, 4 and 6 regarding working in new ways in their learning spaces, also listening carefully to pupil, parent and teacher perspectives.
There has been a significant impact on the girls’ learning experience and achievements allowing much more independence, collaborative learning and problem solving in small groups. The pupils’ say they feel they have more creative freedom too and parents are delighted with the school’s forward-thinking approach.
