At St. Robert's we have started to implement an ‘Enquiry Based Topics’ approach to how we teach our class topics. What is Enquiry Based Topics? Our enquiry approach is designed to make the exploration of the curriculum an active process of investigation. Enquiry based topics are exciting and interesting, however, teachers are aware of the need to keep the curriculum at the centre and keep ensuring consideration of: what are the pupils learning? What is the context doing to challenge them? And what is it doing beyond our normal classroom activity? Some lessons for particular areas of learning will still be taught discretely on a daily and weekly basis. |
Enquiry based topics change how a classroom feels, how it operates and how the pupils approach their work. But the classroom doesn’t become something entirely different; classrooms are still recognisably classrooms, they still involve the basis of the daily routine and lessons where pupils are recording high standards of work.
The biggest difference, noticed, are the relationships between adults and pupils, and the levels of engagement pupils have in their own learning.
Classrooms have a buzz about them, a sense of business and purpose, urgency and direction. Pupils work is meaningful and important, it connects with things they’ve done in the past, and it feels authentic and real to them.
The biggest difference, noticed, are the relationships between adults and pupils, and the levels of engagement pupils have in their own learning.
Classrooms have a buzz about them, a sense of business and purpose, urgency and direction. Pupils work is meaningful and important, it connects with things they’ve done in the past, and it feels authentic and real to them.
Why take an enquiry based approach to learning?
In readiness for the new curriculum 2020, we are ensuring our pupils are provided with opportunities to be; Ambitious, Capable Learners, Enterprising, Creative Contributors, Ethical, Informed Citizens and Healthy, Confident Individuals. This is all achieved through enquiry based topics as:
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How enquiry based learning works:
In each topic pupils are posed with a ‘What if…?’ question to investigate throughout the term. Pupils are provided with a client and a commission; this engages our pupils in purposeful and contextualised learning experiences. Teachers provide this initial stimulus experience to help pupils connect with the content and skills of the topic. These can take many forms, e.g. a visit from a character, finding a message in a bottle, a video diary excerpt, strange foot prints in the classroom etc. Pupils then undertake a variety of topic activities, they are immersed in the topic focus and commission to develop the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills through quality differentiation and focused learning tasks and experiences. Throughout the topic the learning journey is explicitly shared with pupils in order to ensure they connect to the big picture of their learning, i.e. knowing what to expect. Each class has an Enquiry Working Wall display that includes a representation of the learning journey, this is referred to and added to as the unit of work progresses. To bring each topic to a close, pupils participate in a learner forum. This focuses on what has been learnt and how it has been learnt; we want pupils to become reflective learners. This allows them the opportunity to express and evaluate their knowledge, understanding and skills of the topic in a variety of memorable forms e.g. parent workshops with pupils, using a variety of media and technology, enrichment sessions. |
Active planning input from the pupils is integral to enquiry based topics; we want them to feel that they are able to drive part of their learning journey. This is essential to ensure that the curriculum meets the ongoing varied needs and interests of the pupils. Pupil voice is used throughout the topic to steer learning by asking pupils to pose questions that they want to know more about. Teachers refer to pupils ideas and questions throughout the topic so that pupils can see that their contributions are valued and their questions drive their learning.
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Every term, parents will receive an Enquiry Based Topic over view of learning. This will tell you the ‘What if....?’ question the pupils are basing their learning on. It will provide you with a brief overview of activities that pupils will undertake, but due to the nature of Enquiry Based Topics this will change and take lead from the pupils as the topic progresses.
We are excited to see how enquiry based topics continue to develop and grow at St. Roberts
Please click on our 'What If...? questions below for the Enquiry Based Topic overviews of learning for 2019-2020.
Autumn Term 2019
What if a Tiger came to your house for tea? Summer Term 2020 |
Autumn Term 2019
What if we could create our own superhero character? Summer Term 2020 |
Spring Term 2020
What if we had to live without electricity? Summer Term 2020 |
Spring Term 2020
What if we were able to travel in time? Throughout the term pupils chose what they would like to explore in relation to their enquiry based topic question and so completed mini missions; Mini Mission 1 - Titanic Question: who is responsible for the sinking of the Titanic? Mini Mission 2 - 1960's Civil Rights Movement Question: Who and what were the key events and people in the Civil Rights Movement in America? Mini Mission 3 - The Tudors Question: Was Henry VIII a good King? Summer Term 2020 |