Our Monday Magic Moment this week in our Staff Meeting before school was led by two of our most inspiring and talented teachers: Lead Practitioner Mrs Hoskins and Advanced Lead Teacher Mrs Jackson. They were launching our first Marking and Feedback fortnight of the academic year due to start after half term with an emphasis on capturing best practice that exists across all faculties and departments in the school.

Proven research shows that providing students with detailed feedback and allowing them time to respond to the feedback in lessons is one of the most powerful strategies for raising achievement and moving students on in their learning. It is an agenda that we are very proud of at Bushey Meads and know that it is an integral part of our very strong teaching and learning culture at the school.

As parents and carers do check your children books to see that all their coloured assessment stickers have been filled in (Blue – self assessment, green – peer assessment, orange – verbal feedback and white – teacher assessment) and that all questions and suggestions for improvement made by the teacher (usually in green pen) have been responded to in the students’ purple pen of progress.

Make sure your child has a purple pen of progress in their pencil case and has corrected any misspelled words three times – using their purple pen.

All titles and dates should be underlined nearly with a ruler, perhaps using a coloured pen to make them stand out.

Little things go a long way and ensuring all feedback is responded to will definitely enhance progress throughout their time at the school.