This video from Peps McCrea has been taking up a lot of my brain power this week. I’ve been banging on for the last 6 months about consistency to everyone who will give me a moment and I think Peps has summed up my thoughts perfectly.

However, there are some unique challenges and considerations to keep in mind:

Challenges

• Less Class-to-Class Movement: In primary schools, students typically remain in the same classroom for most of the day. However, many primary schools still use some setting and frequently use intervention groups. Alignment across these is important.
• Drastic Changes in Expectations: The transition from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2 is a significant shift in expectations for students. This can make it challenging to maintain alignment across year groups.
• Developmental Differences: Students at different ages have different developmental needs. This requires teachers to be flexible in their approach to alignment and adapt their strategies accordingly.

Benefits

Despite the challenges, the benefits of alignment in primary schools are numerous:

• Increased Comfort and Consistency: A consistent learning environment and approach helps students feel more comfortable and settled, which can lead to improved academic performance and social-emotional well-being.
• Reduced Loss of Learning: Alignment ensures that students build on their prior knowledge and skills, reducing the risk of learning gaps at the beginning of each year group.
• Enhanced Shared Behavior Expectations: Clear and consistent expectations for behavior help create a positive and productive learning environment for all students.
• Smoother Onboarding for New Staff: Alignment provides a framework for new staff to understand the school’s culture and expectations, making it easier for them to be successful in their roles.

Implementing Alignment in Primary Schools

These are the key steps to get to a more aligned school.

1. Identify Shared Goals: Work with colleagues to identify shared goals for student learning and development.
2. Codify Practices: Break down abstract concepts into specific, observable behaviors and make them explicit to students and staff.
3. Foster Collaboration: Encourage collaboration among teachers to share ideas and best practices.
4. Provide Professional Development: Offer professional development opportunities to help teachers understand and implement alignment strategies.
5. Review and Reflect: Regularly review and reflect on the implementation of alignment and make adjustments as needed.

By embracing alignment, primary schools can create a more cohesive, efficient, and effective learning environment for all students.