School Improvement Service

Areas of work

Creative and Vocational Provision

The Creative and Vocational Provision Team at the Westbury Centre is headed by Nigel Sagar providing support for both curriculum development and the teaching of design and technology in primary and secondary schools.

For primary schools, there is direct classroom support available from Liz Lawrence. Subject to satisfactory bids, she will help schools to develop their teaching programme for Key Stages 1 and 2. This will include lead lessons, written to a consistent framework which provide models for none specialists.

Curriculum development

The team has written 3 support booklets for structures, mechanisms and graphics for primary technology. These are photocopiable resources which are intended to help teachers rapidly gain the necessary confidence to begin teaching design and technology based on good content, skills and knowledge.

Curriculum online

Curriculum materials are now being developed on the internet. 2 sites are already available.

The Aboriginal Art website has resulted from a major project in both primary and secondary schools. It is available to support both art and design and technology projects
The Bridges project is based on the study of bridges and structures in both the Royal Docks and the waterways of Northern Holland. The site includes links between 3 schools in Barking and Dagenham and 2 schools in the Netherlands. Further sites are currently in production, including a project based on machines, mechanisms and control

There is no advisory teacher support for secondary schools, though a range of development and support initiatives are available. Health and safety has been reviewed and a new training programme is under development.

As part of a major review, the curriculum at Key Stage 4 now includes modified GCSE. These provide a technical pathway which heavily favours the development of practical and technical skills. Courses include engineering, construction crafts and industrial model making.

The courses widen the scope of pupils to choose different pathways and to reach high standards The courses have been influenced by studies of continental pre-vocational education. In particular, schools in the Netherlands have been a source of essential comparisons and ideas.

Aboriginal Art|

Borough schools art project

Royal Academy of Art|

Borough schools in arts outreach programme exhibition and video.

The Catch|

Public art work celebrating the borough Saxon and fishing heritage with school art project work.

Contact

Nigel Sagar

Senior Adviser - Creative and Vocational Provision

Westbury Centre

Ripple Road

Barking

IG11 7PT

Tel: 020 8270 4829

Fax: 020 8270 4811

Email: nigel.sagar@lbbd.gov.uk|