Through carefully designed tasks interwoven throughout each lesson, we aim to elevate our students’ learning experiences.
AMA, or Academically Most Able, refers to the top 5% of students within each cohort, identified through a comprehensive assessment of Key Stage 2 data and CAT scores. While recognising that progress may not always follow a linear trajectory, we acknowledge the potential for students to excel at various stages of their academic journey. Therefore, we also encourage staff nominations based on subject-specific aptitude.
Our AMA program encompasses a diverse array of strategies tailored to address both cognitive and non-cognitive needs. Our overarching goal is to facilitate an enriched learning experience that enables these students to realise their full potential. While some strategies are readily apparent to students and parents, others involve whole-staff training and school-wide initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall teaching and learning environment.
Each AMA student receives high-quality teaching as a foundational element, supplemented by additional challenges inherent in our rigorous curriculum. Our curriculum design is intentional, ensuring that the needs of our most able students are considered at every stage, from planning to execution and assessment.
Throughout the year, the Senior Leadership Team hosts Parent Engagement Evenings, offering insights to improve student mindsets and providing parents with guidance on supporting their child’s progress at home. We strive to cultivate a culture where students value their education and opportunities, with a commitment to celebrating success across all subject areas whenever possible.
The whole school strategies outlined below are deeply rooted in the PiXL teaching framework, a comprehensive approach that champions excellence in education. At the core of these strategies lie two fundamental principles: “Teaching to the Top” and “Thinking Hard.” These principles form the bedrock of our pedagogical philosophy, guiding our efforts to cultivate an environment where every student can flourish academically and intellectually.
Teaching to the Top: Our commitment to “teaching to the top” ensures that all students, regardless of their starting point, are provided with opportunities to excel. By setting high expectations and offering challenging tasks, we strive to push every student to develop intrinsic motivation and facilitate continuous improvement. Through differentiated instruction and tailored support, we empower each learner to reach their full potential.
Thinking Hard: Central to our pedagogical approach is the concept of “thinking hard.” We believe that learning should be an active process that engages students’ minds and encourages deep cognitive processing. To facilitate this, our lessons incorporate a variety of tasks aimed at promoting critical thinking and enhancing knowledge retention.
- Derive Tasks: These tasks prompt students to interrogate key pieces of information or images by asking probing questions. By encouraging curiosity and inquiry, derive tasks stimulate intellectual curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
- Reduce Tasks: In order to combat cognitive overload and facilitate better retention, reduce tasks challenge students to distil complex concepts into digestible chunks of information. By summarising key knowledge, students develop their ability to extract essential information and synthesise it effectively.
- Connect Tasks: By encouraging students to forge connections between different topics and concepts, connect tasks help to develop students’ schemata and facilitate a more holistic understanding of the subject matter. Through interdisciplinary exploration and cross-curricular connections, students gain a deeper appreciation of the interconnectedness of knowledge.
By integrating these elements into our teaching practice, we strive to create a dynamic learning environment where students are not only challenged to think critically but also empowered to become lifelong learners who are capable of making meaningful connections and engaging with complex ideas. Through the combination of “teaching to the top” and “thinking hard,” we endeavour to unlock the full potential of every student, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Throughout the year, the Senior Leadership Team hosts Parent Engagement Evenings, offering insights to improve student mindsets and providing parents with guidance on supporting their child’s progress at home. We strive to cultivate a culture where students value their education and opportunities, with a commitment to celebrating success across all subject areas whenever possible.
For any further information about AMA provision please contact Mr Dobinson via email (s.dobinson@cansfield.wigan.sch.uk) or the school phone number (01942 727391).
