School's brainy approach

Kent on Sunday - May 15, 2005
By Katy Goodship

A brain-friendly curriculum implemented at a Kent school has passed its first Ofsted inspection. Holywell Primary in Upchurch was the first British school to use the International Primary Curriculum,which is thematically based. Headteacher David Day says a few years ago he was becoming frustrated with the ‘tick-box restrictions ’ and formality of the national curriculum and decided to change.

“It had become repetitive and stodgy,” he said. “It was death by worksheet.” He began reading about other curriculums including Gardener ’s multiple intelligences, De Bono ’s thinking skills, accelerated learning and other brain-friendly approaches. He hoped the alternatives would be more relevant to the world in which children are growing up, and would enthuse them to study and learn.

Mr Day introduced a new curriculum to Holywell and then discovered IPC which had not been tried in the UK. The school became a guinea pig for the curriculum and following a trial in three classes he won positive feedback from pupils and staff.

In January, 2004, the whole school moved to the new approach and after two years of integrating nor mal subjects with global ones, such as studying chocolate, the school is embarking on an internal evaluation of whether pupils are learning from the IPC, as well as enjoying it.

Ofsted inspectors reported that there had been a good response to national initiatives and said pupils were developing analytical and research skills well. Holywell integrates the new approach into the more formal national requirements for teaching literacy and numeracy. Three afternoons a week the school switches to the IPC approach and will cover topics like the rain forest. The school must improve on developing localised topics such as local history, rural culture and the River Medway. The International Primary Curriculum is now being used by 12 British schools.