A LOCAL primary school has become the first in Northern Ireland to receive a special award from the University of Exeter.
Cumran Primary School (CPS) in Clough recently received the Exeter Advanced Level Thinking School Award (Level 2) accreditation. The award was given to the school by England- based Thinking Schools @Exeter, a programme of the University of Exeter’s School of Education.
The school had to submit various evidence during last school year to meet the award criteria and to receive accreditation as an Advanced Level Thinking School.
The award also shows the school’s use of thinking skills throughout its curriculum. Thinking skills are the processes people use to solve problems, make decisions and plans, ask questions and organise information.
Leanne Smyth, Cumran Primary School’s thinking skills and personal capabilities curriculum leader, said that the school staff were delighted to have received this “amazing” award.
“Currently, Cumran has 200 pupils and the thinking tools are used with all children in the school. The use of the wide range of thinking tools enables pupils to work independently, they are also encouraged to work collaboratively when completing active engaging lessons,” she said.
“Through active learning, the children are provided with opportunities to think, problem solve, make decisions, manage information and be creative. This award is a huge recognition for the school.”
Cumran received its Thinking School Award (Level 1) in June 2017, so this was the next step in the school’s journey.
“The school prides itself on providing tools which the children can use to develop their skills, understanding and knowledge for use in the 21st Century world. The visual tools and strategies which are embedded throughout the school can be used by the pupils at any time, in any subject both inside and outside of school,”
Leanne said.
A report prepared by the Thinking Schools
@Exeter programme that accompanied the award had a lot of positive things to say about Cumran Primary School and the way it uses thinking skills with pupils and teachers.
‘CPS is a school where every individual is encouraged to achieve excellence, and this is captured well in its motto “Look Up and Aim High”. The school’s vision is one of “Learning together in a changing world” and this reflects the collaborative nature of the educational provision embedded in and evidenced in a wide range of exemplar material,’ the report said.
‘CPS is clearly a school that prides itself in achieving and maintaining the highest educational standards. In addition, the school has an excellent reputation for supporting students through its inclusive pastoral system together with an outstanding extra-curricular and enrichment offering. These achievements reflect the school’s drive for sustained holistic development, together with an unwavering commitment to lifelong learning for all.
‘The school seeks to make learning irresistible by developing children as creative, adaptable, and resilient thinkers so that they become committed lifelong learners,’ the report said.
‘CPS is an inspirational school. It brings its vision and values into every corner of educational provision.
‘The fully inclusive collaborative approach to leadership, teaching and learning is exceptional and stands as a model of exemplary practice for others to emulate. The school is a learning community in every sense and has managed to bring a whole school approach to the teaching of thinking to life.’