The document discusses strategies used by a school to improve geography exam results over three years. They identified underperforming groups, set additional work, and emphasized developing excellent work. Teachers modeled high-quality examples, errors, and their thinking process. An emphasis was placed on developing skills rather than just content. Collaboration between teachers was increased. As a result, exam pass rates and uptake of geography at higher levels improved significantly over the three years.

1. Improving Expectations
#ExpectExcellence

2. Why did we do it?
• Although results in Geography had been good they could have been
better.
• There was a slow steady decline in results over three years.
• High ability boys were underperforming.
• We wanted to increase uptake at KS5.
Improving Expectations
#ExpectExcellence

3. Improving Expectations
#ExpectExcellence
2015
A*-C 66%
A/A* 30%
3 LOP 71%
4 LOP 38%
Conversation to target* 49% (66%)
KS5 Uptake 16
* Target is to make progress that puts pupils in the top 20% nationally. Goal
was 55%. College average was 59%

4. Improving Expectations
#ExpectExcellence
How did we do it?
• Identified an “Excel” group to target
A/A*.
• Displayed names and examples of work.
• Set them additional homework.
• Used our Geography blog to encourage
extra reading.

6. #ExpectExcellence

7. Improving Expectations
How did we do it?
• Made our motto “Expect Excellence”.
• Changed the language used in the classroom.
Pupils didn’t “finish” work they asked if it was
excellent - yet.
• More focus on re-drafting.
#ExpectExcellence

8. #ExpectExcellence

9. Improving Expectations
How did we do it?
• Made pupils responsible.
• Used PLCs to allow pupils
to identify areas they
needed to revise.
• Spent much less time
revising content and
focused on skills.
• Flipped learning so that
pupils revised content
ready for a lesson.
#ExpectExcellence

10. Modelling Excellence
#ExpectExcellence
Improving Expectations

11. Modelling Excellence
How – Exemplar pieces
#ExpectExcellence

12. #ExpectExcellence

13. Modelling Excellence
How – Modelling errors
#ExpectExcellence

14. Modelling Excellence
How - Excellence Gallery
#ExpectExcellence

16. Modelling Excellence
How – Live modelling
“…no strategy improves my students’
writing more than having my students
watch and listen to me as I write and
think aloud. None.”
(Kelly Gallagher – Write like this quoted
from MELC)
• Explaining thought process
• Modelling academic language
• Showing how to develop structure
• Showing error.
#ExpectExcellence

18. Improving Expectations
How did we do it?
• Worked as a team
• Planned lessons together
• Shared good practice from our own classes
• Involved parents early and often
• Used SLT.
#ExpectExcellence

19. Improving Expectations
#ExpectExcellence
2015 2016
A*-C 66% 92%
A/A* 30% 51%
3 LOP 71% 86%
4 LOP 38% 60%
Conversation to target* 49% (66%) 85%
KS5 Uptake 16 40
* Target is to make progress that puts pupils in the top 20% nationally. Goal
was 55%. College average was 59%

20. Improving Expectations
@EnserMark
Teachreal.wordpress.com
#ExpectExcellence