IN Kearsley Academy, pupils don't simply learn and teachers don't just teach, rather both young people and adults are learning together.

Pupils actively engage in their lessons while teachers constantly evaluate the effect they have on pupils rather than following the same teaching strategy.

Kearsley Academy is on track to become a Visible Learning School, adopting what has been described as "teaching's holy grail".

The idea is based on a concept by John Hattie, who researched what works in schools.

This includes a supportive classroom climate, teachers listening more and evaluating their own work rather than following teaching methods.

Principal Suzanne Pountain said: "This is an exciting time for Kearsley Academy, and we are really thrilled to be starting our ‘Visible Learning Journey’ for Academic Year 2016 and beyond.

"This is a natural progression on our journey to outstanding and means we are looking forward to continuing our current excellence in teaching and learning.

" This investment in both students and staff will ensure that our learners experience the very best that education can offer."

In January, 2016 Mel Hughes, lead for teaching, learning and assessment, attended the John Hattie World Visible Learning Programme in London.

The focus of the conference was to explore “what really makes the difference in the classroom?”.

Miss Hughes, assistant vice-principal said: "It became apparent at the conference that the Visible Learning Programme dovetails much of the work we had already started at the academy.

"Following the conference I contacted John Hattie and he loved the resources we were developing and it grew from there.

"We are enthused by the Visible Learning emphasis on developing teachers and learners.

"There is already huge emphasis placed on professional improvement for our teachers at the academy, which maximises learning opportunities for our students.

"We are very proud of the teaching excellence at Kearsley Academy and the strength of our team.

"The programme will maximize professional improvement for our teachers, as well as having a direct impact on the outcomes for our students."

Ofsted found that "teachers are exceptionally unified "and "professional development programmes are exemplary and innovative. They are bespoke and focus on effective teaching and learning."

Miss Pountain, said: "Kearsley Academy’s culture of ‘Team Kearsley’, which promotes the importance of learning together, lends itself to Hattie’s work and the emphasis on positive relationships within the Visible Learning Programme.

"The foundation we have created, where students are ‘co-constructors’ of their learning is a fantastic starting point for us to grow our strengths and improve outcomes for our students even further."

There are five main strands of the Visible Learning Programme, all of which are focused on making the learning incredibly clear to the students as to how and why they are learning, their next steps and how their mindset impacts the process. They are:

The Visible Learner — students are active and engaged in their learning

Knowing Impact — teachers become evaluators of their work to understand student progress.

Inspired and Passionate Teachers — teachers focus on strong and positive relationships with students, engage in dialogue and challenge children to go beyond what they thought they could achieve.

Feedback — understanding the role of feedback in classrooms.

Visible Learning Aligned Systems and Processes — effective systems and processes to maximise pupil impact, such as student voice.

Assistant vice-principal for personal development, behaviour and welfare, Neil Darlington said: "We are always commended on the behaviour and learning attitude of our students, this is often seen as a strength of the academy.

"Indeed our safeguarding practice received an outstanding grade from Ofsted and noted the learning climate as being effective, with the relationships between adults and students are harmonious.”

Callum Drinnan Wakeley, in year eight, said: "This will make learning even clearer and help students different ways and methods of learning.

"It also develops the work we already do with student views and co-construction of lessons.

"It is really exciting for Kearsley Academy."

Classmate Joe McCallum added: "Being a visible learning school will help us to be unique, it will help us even more with learning skills for the future."