10 April 2007

According to class teachers Peter Morris and Caroline Howlett, a number of learning strategies advocated by the University of the First Age (UFA) and implemented within Kitchener Primary School in Cardiff have improved pupil attendance from 89% to 92%.

Speaking at a continuing professional development conference organised by General Teaching Council for Wales and Cardiff County Council for primary school teachers in Cardiff, the Kitchener Primary school teachers were able to share the benefits of incorporating the learning strategies and methodology of UFA, founded by leading educationalist Professor Tim Brighouse.

Located in the Riverside area of Cardiff, Kitchener Primary is a school with 87% of pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds, 40% of which receive free school dinners and 35% have special educational needs. In this context, the teachers were able to bring a number of strategies to the school which profoundly changed school practice.

A peer-tutoring scheme was introduced in the school in 2004, and over a period of three years, staff have seen a dramatic change in the behaviour and attitudes to learning of pupils. As part of the scheme, Year 5 pupils attend a training day to equip them to be able to ‘tutor’ the year 1 pupils.

Peter Morris commented: “The peer tutoring scheme has had a significant impact on classroom practice. We have found attendance has increased with year 5 pupils appointed as peer tutors, mainly because they feel valued and respected in school and feel they are important and have something to contribute. One pupil even commented becoming a tutor was her greatest achievement in school!”

‘Super learning days’ were also introduced to the school, with pupils arriving before school for a healthy breakfast and being equipped with a ‘learning rucksack’ containing all those things which make an effective learner. All pupils are given a University of the First Age t-shirts, which enhances the feeling of belonging in school. The whole day is designed to help pupils generate ideas to help them with their learning. Out of hours activities are also encouraged, with a super spelling club and a maths club run by the school, which gives the children the opportunity to engage voluntarily.

Caroline Howlett added: “Feedback from the pupils on the Super Learning Days is always positive, with an evident improvement in self esteem and increase in confidence.”

Edward Jones, senior school improvement officer for the Cardiff advisory service for education, added: “ Kitchener Primary School is a prime example of schools encouraging pupils not to be passive, but proactive in their learning experience, fitting in well with the new 2008 curriculum.”

Gary Brace, chief executive of the General Teaching Council for Wales, which provided CPD funding for Kitchener staff to attend UFA training, said: “Over the 6 years GTCW has been administering the Assembly’s Continuing Professional Development programme, over 25,000 funding opportunities have been taken up by teachers across Wales. I am pleased that this programme not only meets teachers’ individual professional needs, but has a direct impact on their classroom practice and thereby on their pupils’ learning. I would encourage teachers to contact our professional development team if they want to access the CPD funding.”

To find out more about the professional development bursaries available and eligibility, please contact the Professional Development Team at the Council on 029 2046 0099 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

According to class teachers Peter Morris and Caroline Howlett, a number of learning strategies advocated by the University of the First Age (UFA) and implemented within Kitchener Primary School in Cardiff have improved pupil attendance from 89% to 92%.

Speaking at a continuing professional development conference organised by General Teaching Council for Wales and Cardiff County Council for primary school teachers in Cardiff, the Kitchener Primary school teachers were able to share the benefits of incorporating the learning strategies and methodology of UFA, founded by leading educationalist Professor Tim Brighouse.

Located in the Riverside area of Cardiff, Kitchener Primary is a school with 87% of pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds, 40% of which receive free school dinners and 35% have special educational needs. In this context, the teachers were able to bring a number of strategies to the school which profoundly changed school practice.

A peer-tutoring scheme was introduced in the school in 2004, and over a period of three years, staff have seen a dramatic change in the behaviour and attitudes to learning of pupils. As part of the scheme, Year 5 pupils attend a training day to equip them to be able to ‘tutor’ the year 1 pupils.

Peter Morris commented: “The peer tutoring scheme has had a significant impact on classroom practice. We have found attendance has increased with year 5 pupils appointed as peer tutors, mainly because they feel valued and respected in school and feel they are important and have something to contribute. One pupil even commented becoming a tutor was her greatest achievement in school!”

‘Super learning days’ were also introduced to the school, with pupils arriving before school for a healthy breakfast and being equipped with a ‘learning rucksack’ containing all those things which make an effective learner. All pupils are given a University of the First Age t-shirts, which enhances the feeling of belonging in school. The whole day is designed to help pupils generate ideas to help them with their learning. Out of hours activities are also encouraged, with a super spelling club and a maths club run by the school, which gives the children the opportunity to engage voluntarily.

Caroline Howlett added: “Feedback from the pupils on the Super Learning Days is always positive, with an evident improvement in self esteem and increase in confidence.”

Edward Jones, senior school improvement officer for the Cardiff advisory service for education, added: “ Kitchener Primary School is a prime example of schools encouraging pupils not to be passive, but proactive in their learning experience, fitting in well with the new 2008 curriculum.”

Gary Brace, chief executive of the General Teaching Council for Wales, which provided CPD funding for Kitchener staff to attend UFA training, said: “Over the 6 years GTCW has been administering the Assembly’s Continuing Professional Development programme, over 25,000 funding opportunities have been taken up by teachers across Wales. I am pleased that this programme not only meets teachers’ individual professional needs, but has a direct impact on their classroom practice and thereby on their pupils’ learning. I would encourage teachers to contact our professional development team if they want to access the CPD funding.”

To find out more about the professional development bursaries available and eligibility, please contact the Professional Development Team at the Council on 029 2046 0099 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .