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Good Practice Case Study

Rickmansworth School

School No: 690

GATE Cross Curricular Classes

GATE (Gifted Able & Talented Eduation) Classes aim to investigate a shared theme through a cross-curricular approach.  Courses pair an academic subject with a practical subject.  Students identified by both subject areas are invited to take part.  The final outcomes are presented and evaluated by students in a ‘Shared Learning Event’.

Aims

These courses encourage cross-curricular thinking and the development of multiple intelligences by pairing a practical and theoretical subject in an investigation of a shared theme.  Students from both subject areas are invited to participate; as such, some learners are more able in one area than the other, resulting in a deeper level of cooperative learning.  Sharing of pedagogical approaches and subject perspectives provides a unique learning experience for staff as well.  A number of departments have used the classes as a spring board or pilot for major curriculum developments. 

Lastly, to engage students in higher order thinking skills in a meaningful way and to make the most of the shared theme, GATE Classes culminate in a “Shared Learning Event” in which each group shares their learning outcomes with other participating groups. Because all the courses have learned around the same topic, students begin to make wider connections between their experience of the theme and that of others.  The event is also an opportunity to engage pupils in an evaluation the of their learning and the GATE Classes generally.

China, 2007-8  (Pilot Year)

Mrs Staerck and Mrs Jessett worked with year 9 Food Technology and Geography students to investigate the historical and geographical factors which have influenced regionality of Chinese cuisine.  Their exploration started with a trip to China Town in Central London; an excursion shared with the year 9 ICT and English group.  In this group, Mr Needlestone and Mr MacLeod worked with students to create films about various issues facing China in the past, present and future.  The students also took part in a live webchat with a teacher in China as part of the course.  Some highly imaginative and thought-provoking writing accompanied the students’ films.  Finally, Miss Clements and Mrs Chignell brought together Religious Studies and Art in an eye-opening look at Chinese rituals and symbols.  The year 8 group then focused on creating their own Chinese dragon imagery onto textiles.

The GATE Classes were rounded off with a ‘Shared Learning Event’, in which students were taken off timetable so that all three groups could present their key learning and outcomes to each other in the school library.  The varied perspectives on the core theme came together very successfully, sparking off interesting contrasts and comparisons.  Students rounded off the afternoon with a discussion and evaluation of the GATE scheme, each others presentations and the Shared Learning Day itself.

‘Metamorphosis’, 2008-9

Following the success of ‘China’, departmental representatives agreed that the 2008-9 GATE Classes would be taught on the theme of ‘Metamorphosis’.  Mrs Staerck and Mrs Jessett worked with year 9 Food Technology and Geography students to investigate the social, political and environmental factors which impact food production, especially focusing on economic forces. 

Mrs Stacey and Mrs Wilshaw created solar powered cars with DT and Science students in Year 8.  The class explored how energy is transformed into speed and maximised through good design.  Year 9 Maths and ICT pupils explored the creative potential of mathematical formulae, using them to create grow elaborate patterns with the help of Mr Needlestone and Mr Foster. 

Art and History students in Year 9 explored political revolution through their work on Che Guevara.  Mrs West and Miss Rouse led the class on a journey through the political figure’s life, which the students translated into elaborate scrapbook pages. 

The transformation from caterpillar to butterfly served as the inspiration for a wide ranging collaboration between Year 8 & 9 pupils in Science, Music and Dance!  The group learned about the biological process and used this stimulus to create a piece of minimalist music, before finally choreographing a dance and movement performance to bring it all together. 

Mrs Zebaida and Miss O’Reilly collaborated with English and Drama pupils to explore Kafka’s and Berkoff’s versions of the story ‘Metamorphosis.’  The pupils examined the themes of alienation and dehumanisation in the piece, before using the same themes to create their own scripts and performances.

Following the conclusion of the GATE Classes, participants created videos, slide shows, presentation boards and demonstrations for family, friends, peers and faculty.  The format of the 2008-9 ‘Shared Learning Event’ was a large exhibition and prize-giving ceremony run by the students.