Blended Learning Initiative.
One of the biggest challenges education is facing during the Covid-19 pandemic is how to simultaneously reach, stimulate and educate both those children who are in school and those who, owing to self-isolation or quarantine, are at home.
At St Augustine’s Priory, we realised before lockdown began that an effective way of reaching children at home was to develop a system of learning that was essential to the well-being, mental health and intellectual lives of children. Following the transformation of our teaching and learning during this year’s Covid-19 pandemic, we are proud to have been leaders in both quality remote learning and now, blended learning.
With minimal spend, but a courageous and inspired approach, we moved quickly into training staff in delivering the curriculum remotely through a combination of pre-recorded and live lessons, as well as online learning tools and platforms.
Since returning to school this term, we have continued with this blended approach. Blended learning was a global standard of education pre-Covid and we want our girls to be global learners, preparing them for future careers with a higher level of digital literacy. In addition, should children need to self-isolate, blended learning provides them with continued access to an excellent education.
Blended learning involves staff, children and parents being flexible and adaptable with a commitment to open mindedness and training.
Encouraged by the success of their initiative, St Augustine’s Priory is now rolling out its programme nationwide in a series of bespoke Blended Learning Webinars. So far forty schools are participating, with more becoming involved.
We are delighted to be making this programme available to other schools. As Ms Hagerty, Deputy Head Co-Curricular, Community and Development, commented, ‘Our first Blended Learning Webinar for Society of Heads Schools was a great success. It was fantastic to connect with teachers and senior leaders from so many corners of the UK, from London to Llandudno and from Shropshire to Peterborough! All delegates were asked to complete short surveys before and after the session, so we were able to address their specific concerns. We will now be shaping the webinar further for our next session with CISC schools and local primary schools on 24th September. We are also offering bespoke support to our Emmaus Partner Schools, working with Sacred Heart High School’s Senior Leadership Team and staff later this month.’
