New Line Learning
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New Line Learning is a new concept in learning being pioneered in a federation of schools in South Maidstone, Kent, England.
Most people today shop in supermarkets because they provide a wide range of choice and quality products under one roof. Education in England, on the other hand, is still mainly provided by individual schools that run themselves and this results in education standards that vary according to the success or otherwise of individual schools.
Three secondary schools in South Maidstone have joined together under one governing body with the intention of providing greater educational choice and improved standards for all children in their care. They aim to achieve greater consistency in the quality of provision through a collective approach to education.
The schools have re-branded themselves as ‘New Line Learning’ to reflect a fresh approach to secondary education. The logo has been designed in consultation with the students across the schools and reflects the new direction in their education. Replacing the old logo with the new one is a first sign of the changes. Inevitably some members of the community have accepted change a lot more readily than others.
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[edit] Approach
The approach is based on a simple rationale. Children that enjoy school do better than those that don't. Increasing the proportion of children that enjoy school will support raised standards. The research basis for the changes includes work on emotional intelligence and change management. Enjoyment comes from success and the project is designed to enable all young people to be successful and fulfilled through sharing resources and talents across the three schools. This requires an expectation of growing maturity from the students and co-operation from members of the local community. All three schools share a common curriculum that is extensively supported by information and communication technology.
-- all Year 7 pupils are to be equipped with portable computers to aid their learning
-- an integrated Humanities course in years 7 and 8 aimed at teaching pupils how to learn and study independently
-- Key Stage 3 completed in two years instead of the normal 3, with National Curriculum assessment tests (SATs) being taken in Year 8 instead of Year 9
-- Key Stage 4 commencing in Year 9 with GCSE examinations taken in Year 10
-- early entry into the Sixth Form in Year 11
-- reporting to parents on each pupil’s progress every 7 weeks
-- encouraging pupils to have a voice, which contributes to the direction of the schools
-- a modern curriculum with an emphasis on project based learning, IT enabled learning and vocational courses.
-- students can now listen to music in most lessons, which can be chosen by the tutor.
[edit] Governance
New Line Learning is based on a set of core values. These are honesty, respect and care for others. The core values have been established through discussion with members of the organisation and approval by the school governors with the intention of establishing them as the foundation for the corporate ethos of the three federated schools. The New Line Learning federation has one governing body for The Cornwallis School, Senacre School and Oldbough Manor School.
[edit] Key characteristics
The principles of emotional intelligence are at the heart of the education programme. This is based on the belief that the traditional academic development that is characteristic of most education institutions is only one of the multiple intelligences that need developing in a school. There are common pastoral programmes and procedures plus a common set of values across the federation to support this. New Line Learning is working with Yale University and University College London to develop pupils’ emotional maturity through its emotional intelligence programmes.
Another key characteristic is the development of information technology as a support for learning. Internet based methods are used to poll student perceptions of lessons so that planning can be based on direct feedback from these clients. There is a specific priority for using empirical research evidence as a basis for planning the provision.
[edit] Notes
The lead school in New Line Learning is The Cornwallis School a specialist Technology College and a member of the Specialist Schools programme supported by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.
