We are delighted to share the news that our online learning programme has been recognised by Microsoft as sector-leading. Since the Trinity Term, we have been working in partnership with Microsoft and our IT consultants to produce a bespoke online programme that allows us to continue doing what we love: teach.
The start of the Lent Term and the announcement of Lockdown 2.0 has provided us with the opportunity to ‘go again’ and ‘build better’. Our adoption of a School-wide blended learning approach at the start of this academic year has meant that we have already been using Teams to support pupils’ learning and the transition back to this programme was straight-forward.
The new circumstances enable us to work more exclusively via our Teams platform that allows all pupils to learn in real time (synchronous) or a times of their choosing (asynchronous). Live lessons, learning feedback and guidance, pastoral support, clubs and social opportunities are all part of full and comprehensive curriculum that is helping us to bring the ‘magic’ of classroom practice and school to life online.
This week our Teams staff training has focused on new pedagogical tools: Breakout Rooms and synchronous learning spaces. The Breakout Rooms are proving very popular with teachers and they are using them to coordinate learning in smaller groups. Synchronous writing spaces are also proving popular with Upper Years pupils who are benefiting from receiving live feedback and guidance as they write.
Despite the challenges we are all facing, this time remains an exciting one for us a School as we continue to learn and practise new ways to support pupils’ online learning. There is no doubt, however, that the continued support of ECS families is paramount. Creating a programme that is meaningful and manageable continues to be our main aim and we thoroughly enjoy working with you to achieve this.
Thank you and I look forward to sharing more updates as we continue to learn and make our way through the term.
Mr Andy Bartlett
Senior Deputy Head
