P4C / G&T Garfield
Name of School: Garfield Primary School Contact person: Nicola Kadem - Nicola@garfield.enfield.sch.uk
Describe how your proposed project is innovative and explain how it ensures the development of excellence?
The project is innovative as it focuses on developing children’s thinking and questioning skills. We firmly believe that these skills are “life” skills and are transferable in all aspects of the curriculum. We have seen already at Garfield with our small pilot project, that P4C has supported with raising the standard of teaching and learning (as evidenced in our detailed school self evaluation systems and our improved SAT’s results)
Describe how your proposed project is innovative and explain how it ensures the development of excellence?
The project is innovative as it focuses on developing children’s thinking and questioning skills. We firmly believe that these skills are “life” skills and are transferable in all aspects of the curriculum. We have seen already at Garfield with our small pilot project, that P4C has supported with raising the standard of teaching and learning (as evidenced in our detailed school self evaluation systems and our improved SAT’s results)
What is the time frame/plan of action for your project?
We aim to start in Autumn 2008. We would like to draw on the support of Will Ord (who we have already used as an Inset Provider) and John Palliser (to support further training staff in P4C). We would like either John or Will to act as an advisor to support the development of our curriculum and ensure that high quality P4 C was being taught at an appropriate level of challenge from Reception to year 6. This further training and support would take place over the spring and summer terms 2009, where staff will become SAPHERE level 2 trained professionals. We will purchase further high quality teaching resources to support staff in the autumn term. In Summer 2009 we would use pupil and staff questionnaires and observations of the P4 C lessons to act as developmental evidence. In Summer 09 we aim to start a P4C / debate lunchtime club.
What are your process of evidence collection and evaluation to measure impact (methodology)?
We would record SAT’s results and Teacher Assessment data for a focus phase group, including detailed progress analysis. In addition, we will keep samples of pupil’s work and, where possible, some photographic / aural recordings in order to assess children’s progress. We would also gain evidence from questionnaires and observations of the P4 C lessons.
What outcomes are you expecting – how could these be demonstrated/shared?
Our outcomes will be: a weekly P4C session in every class from Reception to year 6; all teaching staff will have Level 2 SAPHERE qualification in P4C; the P4C principles are carried out throughout the curriculum; to have shared best practice with our partner school; to have visited other school where P4C is firmly embedded; to have shared best practice on the designated website.
