Core Plus

The National Challenge: Core Plus English

• Element 1a: Leading improvement and raising standards in the English department

  Element 1a of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the English department in leading and managing systematic improvements, addressing priorities for ensuring improvements in Key Stage 4 attainment in the shorter term and using consultancy support. The materials provide an improvement process and time line, quality standards which underpin a review structure to track progress and improvement, advice on narrowing the attainment gaps for black minority ethnic (BME) pupils and others in vulnerable groups and a case study illustrating how some of the approaches can be used.

• Element 1b: Leading improvement and raising standards in the English department

  Element 1b of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the English department in the process and practice of identifying and supporting 'pivotal pupils' through Core Plus, focusing on pupils who are close but not secure at the C borderline.

• Element 2a: Planning for progression in English

  Element 2a of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the English department in improving the quality of long-, medium- and short-term planning for English, to improve the pace, challenge and engagement of pupils. It shows how planning for progression through Key Stages 3 and 4 is most effective when matched to pupils' needs and is an essential contribution to ensuring that all pupils achieve expected rates of progress in each key stage.

• Element 2b: Planning for progression in English

  Element 2b of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the English department by providing information on how a tactical approach to planning the GCSE course can ensure that pupils have opportunities to make more progress by linking learning objectives across different components in the course. This six-week improvement process focuses on improving planning and ways to maximise coursework outcomes in the lead up to examinations.

• Element 3a: Improving subject pedagogy and the climate for learning

  Element 3a of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the English department in raising standards by improving the quality of teaching and learning within a climate for learning that promotes progression and independence. By matching teaching approaches to learners' needs, improved teaching will engage all learners and help them achieve expected rates of progress.

• Element 3b: Improving subject pedagogy and the climate for learning for Year 10 and Year 11

  Element 3b of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the English department in reviewing and developing the quality of teaching and learning in GCSE English. It incorporates a six-strand improvement programme and supporting material, and also includes case studies and guidance materials on ways of implementing improvement. 

• Element 4a: Tracking pupils' progress using Assessing Pupils' Progress and the underpinning principles of Assessment for Learning

  Element 4a of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the English department by developing its assessment of pupils' progress in a way that is rigorous, periodic and linked to national standards.

• Element 4b: Improving pupils' attainment at GCSE through assessing and tracking progress

  Element 4b of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the English department in tracking pupils' progress in relation to assessment objectives and grade criteria to ensure that the focus is on progress rather than coverage.

• Element 5a: Intervention and personalisation

  Element 5a of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the English department by showing exemplification of the Secondary National Strategy approach and information on the supporting materials and guidance available from the Secondary Intervention area within this site.

• Element 5b: Implementing Study Plus in Key Stage 4

  Element 5b of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the English department by outlining the main features of Study Plus and the planning and development needed to introduce it.

• Element 6: Tackling variation in pupils' performance in English and mathematics

  Element 6 of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the English department by giving guidance for thorough and robust pupil progress-tracking to reduce in-school subject variation in English and mathematics, and identifying which pupils could benefit from targeted support, encouragement and mentoring in one or both subjects.

The National Challenge: Core Plus mathematics

• Element 1a: Leading improvements and raising standards in mathematics through senior and subject leader partnership

  Element 1a of the Core Plus mathematics section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the mathematics department in creating strategies to get systems and routines focused so that pupils, parents and teachers become involved and contribute to the evidence of impact.

• Element 1b: Leading improvement and raising standards in the mathematics department for pivotal pupils in Year 11

  Element 1b of the Core Plus mathematics section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the mathematics department in strategies that 'fine tune' planning towards grade criteria. This includes rethinking teaching approaches to give pupils memorable learning experiences and developing more active approaches to revision.

• Element 2: Planning for progression in mathematics - Raising expectations by developing sequences of learning in Years 10 and 11

  Element 2 of the Core Plus mathematics section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the mathematics department in creating strategies to improve the scheme of work unit by unit as the department works on a tightly focused cycle of plan-teach review. It includes clear leadership actions to accelerate improvements and gather evidence of impact.

• Element 3: Improving mathematics subject pedagogy and the climate for learning

  Element 3 of the Core Plus mathematics section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the mathematics department and contains case studies describing how teachers have improved the scheme of work by working collaboratively on pedagogy and capturing the associated guidance on unit plans.

• Element 4: Tracking pupils’ progress using Assessing Pupils’ Progress and the underpinning principles of Assessment for Learning

  Element 4 of the Core Plus mathematics section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the mathematics department in creating strategies to help teachers and pupils work together to become more aware of progress and to identify potential obstacles to success. It links closely to guidance on short-term, small group intervention where these obstacles can be tackled.

• Element 5: Intervention and personalisation in mathematics

  Element 5 of the Core Plus mathematics section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the mathematics department and puts emphasis on ensuring that everyday regular mathematics teaching is tightly focused on learning needs. Strategies to tackle potential barriers to success are provided through links to progression maps and online training modules for teachers and teaching assistants.

• Element 6: Securing consistent pupil performance across core subjects and developing Personal Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS) in mathematics

  Element 6 of the Core Plus mathematics section of the National Challenge programme. This element has been written to support the mathematics department and provides guidance and subject specific exemplification of teaching strategies. As well as forming the basis of improved learning in mathematics lessons many of these strategies also work as active revision activities which pupils can employ independently.

The National Challenge: Core Plus science

• Element 1a: Leading improvement and raising standards in science

  Element 1a of the Core Plus science section of the National Challenge programme. This element is designed to assist the senior line manager and the science subject leader (SL) to work together to build sustainable improvement by developing a climate for collaboration and risk-taking.

• Element 1b: Leading improvement and raising standards in science in Years 10 and 11

  Element 1b of the Core Plus science section of the National Challenge programme. This element provides guidance on the role of science subject leaders (SLs) and managers in reviewing pupil data, setting an assessment calendar, improving pedagogy and identifying target groups for intervention, particularly for pupils in Years 10 and 11 who are preparing for modular tests in science and for GCSE final examinations.

• Element 2a: Planning for progression in science: planning cycles

  Element 2a of the Core Plus science section of the National Challenge programme. This element provides support on using the National Strategies (NS) Framework for secondary science to develop more coherent strands of progression to improve the rates of progress of all pupils through paired work and joint planning by teachers.

• Element 2b: Planning for progression in science: using the National Strategies Framework and GCSE grade criteria

  Element 2b of the Core Plus science section of the National Challenge programme. This element provides guidance on the use of the National Strategies (NS) Framework for secondary science to address GCSE grade criteria effectively.

• Element 3a: Improving subject pedagogy and the climate for learning in science

  Element 3a of the Core Plus science section of the National Challenge programme. This element provides guidance on how to improve pedagogy and enrich the learning of pupils in science.

• Element 3b: Improving subject pedagogy and the climate for learning in science in Years 10 and 11

  Element 3b of the Core Plus science section of the National Challenge programme. This element provides guidance on how to help pupils to improve their access and interpretation of data including graphical, tabular and visual representations.

• Element 4a: Improving pupils’ attainment at GCSE through assessing and tracking progress

  Element 4a of the Core Plus science section of the National Challenge programme.

• Element 4b: Tracking pupil progress and setting curricular targets

  Element 4b of the Core Plus science section of the National Challenge programme. This element provides detailed guidance on the tracking of pupils’ progress by securing judgements and setting of curricular targets.

• Element 5a: Intervention and personalisation

  Element 5a of the Core Plus English section of the National Challenge programme. This element supports the development and implementation of an effective intervention plan.

• Element 5b: Intervention and personalisation: addressing misconceptions

  Element 5b of the Core Plus science section of the National Challenge programme. This element provides detailed guidance on planning for progression and consolidation through recognising and addressing pupils’ misconceptions.

• Element 6: Securing consistent pupil performance across core subjects

  Element 6 of the Core Plus science section of the National Challenge programme. This element addresses factors influencing in-school variation in science.

Subject guidance and support for secondary English

Using ICT in mathematics: Resources and guidance for using ICT effectively in mathematics lessons

School Improvement Partners (SIPs) e-newsletter: Summer 2009

• Secondary: Core Plus English and schools beyond the National Challenge constituency

  A briefing for School Improvement Partners (SIPs) on the suite of secondary Core Plus English modules designed to support those schools with a development priority in English, followed by a series of questions SIPs can ask to support and challenge schools.

Using ICT in mathematics: sequences, functions and graphs