Maximising progress in writing through Lesson Study – Suffolk Project

Maximising progress in writing through Lesson Study – The Lowestoft Project

As part of a school-led action research project, groups of primary schools across Suffolk have identified  priority areas to develop. Lowestoft Network identified writing as their priority area.  With support from Suffolk’s Learning and Improvement Service, it was decided to use a Lesson Study approach as a means of collaborative planning, teaching, observing & reflecting on learning in order to maximise progress.

34 teachers from eighteen Lowestoft Primary schools are involved in the project, which started  in March with a 2 day training programme. The first day was designed to re-visit effective strategies for teaching writing and involved the teachers only. The following day was attended by the teachers together with their head teachers  and focused on Lesson Study – the rationale, the benefits and the process.

The teachers were grouped into threes or fours, according to the year groups they taught  and together planned their first lessons. The expectation was that they would work across their schools and would complete their first Lesson Study cycle by mid-April. In order to evaluate the success of the project all case pupils were to be assessed at the beginning and end of the project – using APP data

The group met in April and the interim feedback has been very positive. All groups had completed their first cycle and all considered they had learnt from the experience. Comments included :

• I found visiting another school, experiencing the teaching of writing in a different classroom and having time to discuss planning, teaching strategies and the needs of the case pupils helpful
• Collaborative planning, teaching and learning – we so rarely have an opportunity to do this – I learnt so much
• It was very revealing observing the case pupils in such detail
• The pupil interview provided an opportunity to get feedback from the pupils – good to involve them in their learning
• The lessons have had a positive impact on encouraging pupils to write more independently
• I received positive feedback and encouragement from other teachers

The teachers are continuing with their second and third cycles and a further meeting is planned for June when all the teachers and head teachers will meet to consider the successes, areas for further development and how Lesson Study can be sustained in their schools..

A group of teachers and a head teacher will present their findings at the National Lesson Study Conference in London on 29^th June. Further details can be found on the website.

Gill Jordan