Friday 25 April 2014

Manchester United Museum with Stretford High School

Tour of Manchester United Stadium
April 25, 2014

2013 World Cup



Retro Trophies

Tips from Jimmy Murphy Below

The tips from Jimmy Murphy


Memorial for players killed in the Munic Disaster

Interesting usage of words...

History of Manchester United

Stretford High School

Stretford High School
April 25, 2014
Manchester, England, UK


Our welcome from the school

Building Expectations

Keisha learning how to 'bump'


Keisha giving it a try


She's a natural


Passing the ball

Keisha playing around with foundation member at school's Head Teacher


Proof for her kids!

Digital music lab

William Hulme's Grammar School

William Hulme's Grammar School
April 24, 2014
Manchester, England, UK

William Hulme's Grammar School is actually no longer a grammar school. It is now run as an independent, open enrollment school. This visit was a little different than the others. The day before our visit, the school was notified that they would be receiving their Ofsted inspection the next day (1/2 days notice is all that is given). Due to this inspection, we were not able to visit classrooms. The Head of Science spent some time explaining the structure of the school and gave us a tour. We also met for 20 minutes with a group of students.

Opening year of the original building



Poster hanging in Career Office

Original school entry

Photo of Queen Elizabeth II


Previous head teachers

Most recent Head Teachers

Manchester Enterprise Academy

Manchester Enterprise Academy
April 24, 2014
Manchester, England, UK

We started our day at Manchester Enterprise Academy. The morning started with a meeting with the Head Teacher and Deputy Head. Three years ago, MEA was on probation and was expecting to be closed within the year, even though they had a brand new building. Over the next 2.5 years, the school and student achievement was turned around. Their first change was to make adjustments to the school culture. Students needed to go to their lessons (students roaming the halls or meeting with adults in the building was a large problem). Some students chose to leave the school, but many of them stayed and adapted to the changes. Their next change was to support teachers in creating dynamic lessons. Teachers were supported through coaching. A light coaching model was used for good teachers and a heavy model was used for those who were struggling, but wanted to get better. Along with that, a focus on hiring looked for teachers who were excited and coachable.

MEA is a free school that has a corporate sponsor (The Manchester Airport) that provides their financial support. In addition to financial support, the school and the airport have a relationship that provides students opportunities for job training and shadowing business leaders. In addition to the airport, the school has a close relationship with the University of Manchester through their mentoring program (Success for Life). Looked after children (those in foster care) meet with former LAC who are currently attending college to plan their futures and participate in life experiences.

Add to blog:
-Observation Form
-Student tracking form

Buildings Common Area

Quote from MEA Ofsted Report

MEA Learning Principles

MEA Expectations

Quote Hanging in hallway

Head Teacher honors student academic success

Pic for students of how small lockers in the UK are!

Teacher's advertise extra support like it's entertainment

After School support schedule

MEA building expectations

More expectations


Career posters made by students

Close-up of a career poster

Evidence of Success 
Real World curriculum connection





Presentation from SpEd Teacher (1of2)

Presentation from SpEd Teacher (2of2)
Building Vision at building entrance

MEA Learning Principles


Wednesday 23 April 2014

The Grange School

The Grange School
Runcorn, England, UK
April 23, 2014

This was our afternoon school visit. We arrived and had lunch with students, staff, and members of the governors board (school board). The Grange School has been around for many years, but is in a new building, with a new form for the first time. The school was previously a campus made up of four different schools. The primary schools were being successful, but the secondary school was not. They decided to apply to become a through school (ages 4-16). They built a new school to house everyone and moved in March 2013. Their current focus is on increasing student achievement by increasing teacher effectiveness. They are having students watch themselves teach and reflect on their practice. They use Iris cameras to video their lessons. For next school year, they will begin an Impact Project that focuses on the Lesson Study.

Student wood project made using graphic design software

St. John Bosco Arts College

First School Visit
April 23, 2014

We started with St. John Bosco Arts College, and all girls school in Liverpool, England, UK. St. John Bosco is part of the ALT Valley Croxteth School District. The biggest challenges for the community are gangs, violence, and the large percentage of generational poverty. For the majority of their students, no one in their house hold has ever worked and for many, no one in two or three generations have ever held a job. The schools goal is to change life's chances & give choices.

St. John Bosco's Ofsted Grades-
2003: Satisfactory
2007: Good
2010: Outstanding
2013: Outstanding
In 2013, St. John Bosco became a teaching school. They work with other schools in the area to increase the achievement of all students.

Themes from St. John Bosco:
-Student goals on cover of all notebooks and inside each student agenda. Goals are continually set and re-set to celebrate growth and push learning.
-Students only are seen by counselor through advice of the Head or Deputy Teacher. Students are never taken out of class to deal with social/emotional issues.
-Levels/Goals of learning are posted for every class and students are aware of where they are at all points.

Seating Area-Front Office St John Bosco

Student Art Display in Hallway

Student Art Display in Hallway

Student Art Display in Hallway

Student Art Display in Hallway

Front of student science journals showing their current level and goals

Student Cafeteria

Painting on walls in Cafeteria 

Painting on walls in Cafeteria

Painting on walls in Cafeteria and Deli Bar

Learning Goals for Cooking Class


Learning Goals for Cooking Class

Year 7 Levels

Year 6 Levels

Quotes on Stairs

Quotes on Stairs

Student Writing Sample-Pink is high quality writing, yellow are areas that need improvement

Student Writing Sample

Front of student's journal

Word choice options

Design a Farm Project-Math

Pythagorian Therom Project-Math 
nth term

nth term

Math Word Wall

Math Project- Create a Board Game


Math Word Tree

Grading Policy for Math

Posters that hang all over the building-Show success of past students