School scraps subjects for themes

Supporters say tests can inhibit children's learning

A Devon secondary school has scrapped traditional lessons in a new way of teaching its entry-level students.

King Edward VI Community College, in Totnes, has abandoned the national curriculum for its year 7s, in favour of what it calls a "foundation year".

Separate subject lessons, with the exception of modern languages and PE, have been replaced with themes.

A question like "What makes a good citizen?" is taught across all the subject areas to improve learning.

The idea of the pilot scheme is that children become good learners, and think independently, rather than being stuffed with facts.

The school, which in 2003 was the first in Devon to scrap school uniforms, is believed to be the first in the county to adopt the new approach to teaching.

The idea behind it that is to discourage children from just thinking in boxes Jane Richardson, assistant principal

Assistant Principal Jane Richardson said: "Students are still learning English and maths, and history and geography and ICT, and all other subjects they would learn in year 7. It's just that we don't call them by their individual names.

"The idea behind it that is to discourage children from just thinking in boxes."

She expects that as a result they will be better learners "without being told how to think".

The lessons last two hours instead of one.

One of the youngsters said: "I think it's good because we get two-hour sessions to work on it.

"We have more time to get involved with it."

Subject 'straitjackets'

Another said: "Sometimes you don't know what particular lessons you are doing.

"Sometimes it would be quite nice to have teachers for each subject, so you know what subject you are doing."

Terry Wrigley, an academic from the University of Edinburgh who has written widely on the subject of education, said: "I find it a great relief that schools are beginning to break out of the straitjacket that has held them for nearly 20 years.

"People talk about standards and tests as if they were synonymous.

"Yet we have a lot of evidence that testing can reduce learning.

"As soon as teachers start teaching to the test, anything more complex goes out of the window."

Devon County Council said that several other secondary schools were watching the Totnes pilot with interest and may be about to follow its lead.