(A) Location & Allocation
Pupils at Bridgemary School in Gosport, Hampshire, will be taught in mixed-age classes from September under the radical initiative to boost standards. For each subject they will be assessed via tests and teacher judgments then allocated to one of five levels, depending on their ability.
(B) Background & Ofsted Assessment
'Children get bored or their behaviour can get challenging if they are not being pushed because the levels within class are too different.'
Mrs. Heron, 50, took over at Bridgemary three years ago. It has 1,100 pupils aged 11 to 16 and is in a deprived urban area. Shortly after her arrival, Bridgemary was classed by schools watchdog Ofsted as having 'serious weaknesses' with most pupils failing to gain five good GCSEs.
Mrs. Heron said the new 'personalised learning' system was aimed at tackling the culture of under-achievement. She added: βWe have got to find a way to change this culture and I am of the opinion that the normal class system does not seem to be working.β
The five levels are access, entry, level one, level two and level three. Access deals with basic numeracy and literacy, while level three is equivalent to A-levels.
The school tested the plan when it transformed traditional tutor groups into mixed age 'learning groups'. Mrs. Heron - described by Ofsted as an 'excellent leader who was driving the school forward' - said no problems had been found with having older and younger children together. The school's plan for a total switch to classes based on ability reflects the resurgence in support for differentiating by ability, which was once condemned as anti-comprehensive.
(C) Educational Opinions & Governance
It is estimated that 60 per cent of secondary schools employ some form of streaming but experts say the level of personalised learning Bridgemary plans is unheard of.
Dr. Faysal Mikdadi, chairman of governors at Bridgemary and an Ofsted inspector, said: βA lot of people will say we are moving away from the comprehensive ideal. I don't think that is true and anyway I could not care less about an ideal. I care about whether these children are achieving their potential.β
The scheme is being monitored by the local authority and Ofsted.