School in Focus - celebrating success in schools

School in Focus celebrates innovative ways in which schools are responding to the unique needs of their pupils, staff, parents and communities. These features are full of stimulating and exciting ideas.

Primary Knowle C of E Primary Under 'play leader' Harry's watchful eye, 16 children are playing a very active game of 'box hockey' within the confines of a 7ft square octagon-shaped frame. Plastic hockey sticks clash as the children battle for control of the puck and when a scrappy goal is scored, everybody looks up to Harry from Year 6 to see whether it is allowed and what the score will be. "We [play leaders] get to referee the games and make the decisions," says Harry proudly. He explains how he also has to watch for any misbehaviour or too much aggression. The first incident is given a warning but a second is recorded in the play leaders' book. (Positive comments are also recorded and rewarded if children are being particularly co-operative.) Inside, play leaders Issy and Jonny are running a papier-mâché activity for Year 4s. Other indoor play might include making spoon puppets or masks or following challenges, such as building the tallest possible towers from marshmallows and dry spaghetti. Challenges are run as mini-competitions with house points rewarded to the winning team.

Secondary King Edward VI School As the headteacher of a 13-19 upper school, parent interaction is a particular concern for Geoff Barton. "We get our pupils at around the time when, statistically, parents tend to step back from their children's education. This often results in a dip in motivation."   The challenge for Geoff and his staff at King Edward VI School, in Bury St Edmunds, has been to find a way of getting parents involved in the school life, "not in the traditional way of organising jumble sales, but in a more engaging way that encourages them to support their child's learning, and by that we mean all-round development, not just exam results."