​As a school we are always wanting to grow and improve

From our investigations into what is happening for our students, best practice and community feedback we decide on areas to grow and develop.

Mathematics

This year at Waterloo we have been working on how to develop our maths programmes, looking at ideas around developing mathematical talk and mathematical thinking in our students. Building from the number knowledge and strategies the students use into ways of using them that are more real-world problem solving based.

Doing maths is looking a little different these days in some classrooms, as more collaborative approaches to solving mathematical problems are being encouraged.

PB4L

“ The purpose of PB4L - in Waterloo School is to support everyone to work together to find resolutions that have a positive result and build effective relationships.” 

​PB4L-provides a framework for:
  • Improving the social and behavioural climate of schools.
  • Enhancing the impact of academic instruction on achievement.
  • Explicitly teaching children agreed behavioural expectations across the school.

Learner Agency

To improve student engagement and achievement levels through the development of Learner Agency.

“One way of thinking of learner agency is when learners have the ‘power to act’. Agency is when learning involves the activity and the initiative of the learner, more than inputs that are transmitted to the learner from the teacher, from the curriculum, the resources and so forth. When learners move from being passive recipients to being much more active in the learning process, and actively involved in the decisions about the learning, then they have greater agency.”

Derek Wenmoth Director of e-Learning at CORE Education

E-Learning

At Waterloo School we;
“Provide opportunities for the students of Waterloo School to be confident, connected, creative and actively involved 21st century learners”.

At Waterloo School blended e-learning is about:
  • Bringing the the world into the classroom
  • Engaging students
  • Blending the use of technology with traditional teaching approaches
  • Finding a wider range of relevant opportunities that prompt effective learning
  • Making learning accessible, relevant and of a high quality
  • Promoting independence and personalised learning
  • Making connections between home and school
  • Creating students who are actively cyber safe​

Learning Through Play

The purpose of LTP- in Waterloo School is to enhance the children's agency over their own learning as well as their independence and self management.
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By allowing children space and time to play they will show you what they know, what they are capable of, and what they want to learn about. Through play they explore and express their ideas, interests, and passions — but you need to listen to these carefully to know what to pick up on. Here you will find a bottomless pit of material for designing richer, more authentic, interest-centred inquiries and projects where children are engaged in complex thinking, expression, and exploration.