Opening Minds
Opening Minds is a new course for year 7 and 8 pupils and is the realisation of a competence based curriculum with a focus on the needs of our learners at Thistley Hough. The course is concerned with developing knowledge, teaching new skills and fostering an attitude that leads all our students to be enthusiastic life-long learners.
The course consists of 5 modules that each last 9 weeks.
Year 7 Modules:
- Smart Brain
- Being Unique
- Let's Celebrate
- Past, Present and Future
- It's a disaster
Year 8 Modules:
- Smart Brain
- Chocolate
- Technology and Me
- What If?
- Animal Magic
The skills developed in each module vary, and we asses progress against the OM competencies at the end of each module using a variety of teacher, peer and self assessment. Each learner will produce a ‘master piece’ to demonstrate the progress they have made.
There is also one lesson per week where colleagues team teach with an IT focus on the same theme. We have a huge range of resources to ensure that the learning is personalised, creative and challenging. OM homework club is on a Wednesday after school 3.15-4.15 and staffed by a member of the OM team.
Please keep a look out for new resources, photographs and news posted on the OM gallery.
The Team
Emma Boustead - Head of faculty
Andy Lawton - Head of department
Tony Sandywell - Head of department
Simon Bennett - OM and humanities teacher
Mike Bate - OM teacher and seconded SLT
Ian Watts - OM teacher and assistant headteacher
Christine Turvey - OM and achievement co ordinator
