Page 8 - Pegasus Academy Prospectus

Transition:

settling in and getting set up for life

We ensure that the transition from primary to and digital literacy – the foundations for highly effective We place a lot of emphasis on Collaborative Learning. Learners will usually
secondary school is as smooth as possible and an learning in future years. be seated in groups rather than rows, and ideas, thoughts and opinions
exciting and happy experience for your child.
We place a lot of emphasis on Collaborative Learning. Learners will be discussed in a structured way followed across all lessons.
During May and June, we will contact your child’s primary will usually be seated in groups rather than rows, and ideas,
school to learn all about their academic progress so far. Our thoughts and opinions will be discussed in a structured way
staff then go out to all of our main feeder schools to say ‘hello’ followed across all lessons. This ensures that learning is active
to the learners, talk to their teachers and learn all about them and thought-provoking. It also ensures that all learners are
and their abilities and needs. Any extra support that is needed engaged in the learning process and not just a few who might
will be noted so that it can be in place when your child comes be asked questions by the teacher.
to us. SEND staff will also make contact where appropriate.
The impact of collaborative approaches on learning is
Then, in July, all new learners will come to a block of taster consistently positive. Learners sit in mixed-ability groups of
days, when they will attend lessons, make new friends, get to four and work together to solve problems and work out
know their teachers, get used to the behaviour and rewards answers. Effective Collaborative Learning requires much more
system, and begin to feel at home in the academy. There will than just sitting pupils together and asking them to work in a
also be a meeting for all new parents and carers which you are group; the lesson is carefully structured by the teacher, with
strongly encouraged to attend. well-designed tasks that lead to the greatest learning gains.
Approaches which promote talk and interaction between
Pastoral support is one of our strengths. Every learner who learners are particularly important. Learners gain hugely from
joins us will clearly know who to talk to if they have things on the other children who work with them, as well as from the
their mind. That support is with them throughout their school teacher, who is constantly involved.
career.
Collaborative Learning is just one of the factors that
Years 7 and 8 contributes to our emphasis on communication skills. In the
classrooms, the learners have to constantly communicate with
In Years 7 and 8, learners benefit from an engaging curriculum each other and the teacher; we ensure that there are many
which is competency based. It’s deliberately not too big a other communication challenges to develop their abilities, from
change from primary school teaching, so that learners can use poetry recitals to student leadership and mentoring roles at
methods that they already understand to start tackling new every level of the academy.
subjects. There is a particular emphasis on literacy, numeracy

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