1. THE DARK ART EXPLAINED
Creative Ideas for teaching Post 16 and
beyond

2. A Moments Reflection
• Is Advanced Level teaching a dark art,
distinctively different from Key Stage 3
& Key Stage 4?
No. Strategies for engaging KS4
students are just as effective with post-
16 students.

3. HOW DO YOU VIEW
YOURSELF?
Do you see yourself as
teaching students what to
think or how to think?
Do you see yourself primarily as a teacher of your
subject(s) or do you see yourself primarily as a
teacher of students?

4. What type of training session do you like?
• One where you sit and listen?
• One where you are learning interactively?
• One where you are told the answers?
• One where you “discover” the answers for yourself?

5. Chief Ofsted Inspector’s Report
• In 15% of school sixth forms teaching is outstanding and
in 46% it is good.
• Considerable differences in quality can be found across
subjects and courses in single institutions.
• Weaker teaching in school sixth forms is too often
based on the teacher talking for too long and not
checking students‟ understanding regularly.
• Insufficient attention is given to the balance and
appropriateness of activities and tasks expected of
students during lessons.

6. Successful Post 16 teaching
The key ingredients:
• high levels of enthusiasm for the subject
• consistently high expectations of all students
• marking and constructive feedback which enables
students to understand how to improve their work
• well judged and imaginative teaching strategies that
match individual student needs
• developing students‟ confidence and independence

7. What makes a good lesson?
A teacher who is confident of their subject
knowledge
Well thought out preparation
A clear idea of how this lesson fits into the last &
next lesson
Active participation by the students
Assessment that informs further teaching
Enjoyment by both the students & teacher

8. Building independent Learners
• Students do not transform into
independent learners by travelling
through the „Sixth Form portal‟;
• They need to be given opportunities to
develop these skills and attributes;
• Works best if there is a common
experience and common set of
expectations across subjects,
especially in the first half-term in Year 12

9. KEY ACTION POINTS
• Discuss with your colleagues – what are
the key action points for
1. Me
2. My department
3. Thomas Tallis

10. Post 16 Mini Mini Bites…
Miss Odd‟s AFL Pick and Mix
Bradshaw‟s Bargain Scaffolding
Vic‟s Vexed & Vulnerable‟s
Mr T‟s Teaching Tips

11. NOW IT‟S YOUR TURN!
• Choose one of the areas that inspired you today and
consider how you can use it…
You
• Activities, Lesson Planning, Class materials
Your Department
• Schemes of work, Generic Resources, PLCs
Thomas Tallis
• Whole School generic resources, Ideas for developments