We have had a wonderful Take Over Day today, with over 90 students taking over staff jobs for the day. Students had the opportunity to complete a range of tasks, including supporting in lessons working in the pastoral team and supporting in the main office and catering. The ‘mini’ version of the Senior Leadership Team had the opportunity to bid for funding from the school Business Manager, presenting their ideas in front of an audience. The students had to prioritise their ideas on how school funding should be spent and focus on how they could improve the school. The entire day builds student confidence and provides a unique learning experience, allowing them to learn outside the classroom, work with adults and make decisions.
The students who took part in Take Over Day were asked what they thought of the day. Students stated “It was really good that we got to put our ideas forward, about how to develop the school”. “It was fun to do SLT duties and to see what it is like to teach”. “It was fun to do duty and it feels really cool to be a staff member”.
Here is Netty’s experience as Mrs Paddon’s Mini-Me:
Netty planned her day to be me in PSHEE, and visited several Tutor Groups to give them messages. She supported a Year 7 maths class in P1 and had some fantastic ideas on how to support an EAL student with duel coding and a mini whiteboard. She also helped others with spellings, and awarded merits.
Next Netty and myself visited Newport School to Observe their Year 6 cohort. She watched carefully how the students engaged and looked for potential students who might need additional transition, she visited their teaching rooms and looked into what they are currently learning by looking at their exercise books, and checking out the wall displays. Netty reported her findings to Ms Langford and Mrs Mills in an email, she also added Mr Chapman to this correspondence.
At Breaktime Netty wore my yellow hi vis, and supported the Year 7s in their zone. She suggested to a group some alternative outcomes to lead them to a positive solution. She welcomed Year 7s, and needed to think on her feet as a Year 7 student came to us in tears. She decided the best plan of action.
Next Netty taught a small group of 2 students who needed some support Emotionally. She checked out her notes that we made earlier in the day, and tried to ask some suitable positive questions. Netty admitted she found this tricky, talking to people. HEP modelled it, and by lesson 5, she was completing this task successfully.
Netty had some admin to complete, she wrote up her previous lesson and findings on Provision Maps. She also sent out a Round Robin for an EAL mid term starter
I found the day extremely rewarding, and I hope that Netty enjoyed her day as Mrs Paddon! She said she enjoyed her visit to Newport the most.
