Pleasing Ofsted with homework

What is the simplest way of improving
the school’s Ofsted report?

If there is an issue that every Ofsted inspector is almost certain to look at in detail, it is homework.

This means they do not just check the homework set, but also how many children completed it, when it was marked, the engagement with parents, the way in which the marks given were used to direct further teaching…

As a result, a growing number of schools have decided to use homework as the key leverage point when focussing on raising their Ofsted report.

But of course, getting everyone to put in the maximum effort to complete their homework every time can be complex and difficult. And that is why our online program, Show My Homework, exists.

And indeed it is fair to say that a large number of schools have used Show My Homework as a prime mechanism for raising their Ofsted report to Outstanding.  This has been managed in two ways:

First, Show My Homework allows all colleagues to set and monitor homework quickly and effectively in a way that all children and parents can see.

Second, the service presents the record of all the homework set and gathers the marks and comments generated in one place.  This makes it easy for the inspector to see the homework set, the work done, the marks obtained, and the resultant analysis.

In both cases everyone (children, inspectors, you, your colleagues, and the parents) can see exactly what has been set. There are no more excuses for not knowing what the homework was.

Another reason that the program works so well is that the online system comes complete with a translation module ensuring that all homework is replicated in the students’ (and their parents’) own language.

Of course, we know that changing the way homework is set, recorded, and marked is a big decision.  So what most schools do is start with a totally free, without obligation, school demonstration or visit.

For more information please visit our website or if you would like to book in a free demo where you can benefit from Show My Homework free for KS1, please click here.

Alternatively you can email us at louise@showmyhomework.co.uk.

Watch MFL Lessons with OFSTED feedback

MFL LESSON OBSERVATION PACK
Mediamerge have released a pack of four professionally filmed modern foreign language lessons that might be of interest to you.

These professionally filmed lessons allow you to:

  • See other teachers in action
  • Understand what Ofsted are looking for
  • Deliver staff training

Lesson packs include:

  • Professionally filmed and edited lessons
  • Filmed teacher introduction and reflective feedback
  • Lesson plans
  • Written feedback and judgement based on Ofsted criteria
  • Evaluation forms and question prompts to use in INSET sessions

In a recent survey, over 90% of schools said that they would recommend Mediamerge observation training resources to colleagues.

This pack can be purchased from just £179

Lessons in this pack are:

Year 7 French
Topic: Using à accurately
In this lesson students learn to be able to use à accurately. The context of the lesson is talking about places in town. The lesson is made up of listening, speaking and reading activities. Finally, students assess each other’s learning using flash cards.

Year 7 Spanish
Topic: Activities and percentages
In this lesson students learn to say how often they do an activity, understand sentences about free time and produce sentences of their own.

Year 9 French
Topic: Names for body parts
In this lesson students revise the verb ‘avoir’ and learn parts of the body in order to say if they hurt. Behaviour in this lower ability group is carefully managed by the teacher and all students are encouraged to participate and work together. Finally pupils complete a match up exercise of newly learnt vocabulary.

Year 10 Spanish 
Topic: Talking about going on holiday
In this fast-paced lesson, students learn how to talk about going on holiday. This is the first lesson of a new unit of work. Vocabulary for questioning is being revisited using a combination of activities. Students will be able to say/write about where they normally go on holiday.

How to Order

Product information
MFL Observation Pack HH
DVD Version: £179 / Network Version: £279

Online: Order by requesting an invoice or credit card via our website

Fax/Email: Email info@mediamerge.co.uk or fax 01223 750706 with purchase orders

By post: Mediamerge Ltd, Orwell House, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0PP

Over the phone: Call us on 01223 750 705

If you have any questions please contact us.

Kind regards,

Andrej Dethlefsen
Director
Mediamerge Limited

p.s. Have a look at our news page for free articles and our latest resources.

Le Tour De France in Your school 2016

Enjoy   Listen   Speak    Learn
LE TOUR DE FRANCE
French Theatre in Your School in 2016.


Enjoy

Positive French for Year 7, 8 and 9 French students. A live French theatre performance in your school will encourage students to enjoy learning French. They will love the humour while watching the energetic and visual tale of the trials and tribulations of George and Chantalle on their quest for their dreams.

Listen
Listening becomes easy when the actions are linked to the words. Students can recognise similar words in the English language and French words they have been taught in the classroom. Repetition of keywords and actions results in a selection of mental triggers that help move the phrases from their short term into their long term memory.

Speak
When students are encouraged to interact with the characters in French, students can overcome their shyness, actively joining in with the performance and feeling more confident when returning to the classroom.

Learn
The performance GRABS the attention of the students’ minds so much that they are more willing to learn French and are amazed how cool French is (even the Year 9’s!).

This is achieved via the highly visual nature of the performance, involving mime, music and circus skills.

(Inspired by discussion and comments from two students, aged 10 and 15, in two different North Yorkshire schools , one year after a performance of Bon Voyage.)

For more information contact:
education@flyingtheatre.com                www.flyingtheatre.com

The Flying Theatre Company,   The Old Vicarage ,  Ainthorpe, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 2LB.  Tel:  01287 669156