RGS Worcester’s SEND Approach Showcased at National Event
Mrs Hannah Clarke, Director of Learning Development for The RGS Worcester Family of Schools, was honoured with an invitation to speak at the prestigious Festival of Education at Wellington College in July. Her talk focused on RGS Worcester’s innovative approach to identifying and supporting pupils with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), particularly in the context of modern AI advancements.
Drawing on her expertise, Hannah shared insights into the unique screening programme developed across The RGS Family of Schools, which helps to track and support every pupil’s learning journey in a way that sets RGS Worcester apart from other schools. Below, she provides a detailed report of her experience and the strategies she discussed.
“The Festival of Education is a vibrant and increasingly celebrated event in the Education calendar. Hosted at the independent boarding school, Wellington College, throngs of teachers from both state and independent schools come to glean a gem or two from fellow colleagues invited as speakers, talking about exciting and innovative practice. This year, I was invited to speak about the screening programme carried out by the Learning Development team. Globally unique, we see every child, every two years up until Year Nine, taking a wide-reaching approach. Ambitious on behalf of all learners, we have designed the programme of tests and questions very carefully so that each screening provides us with real clarity about each learner and how their needs change and develop over time. It has become a very powerful tool and is increasingly valued by pupils, parents and colleagues alike.
Screening children is common in all schools but what makes The RGS Family of Schools different is the way that we do it and the type of data we collect and evaluate. Combining inspiration from research carried out by the University of Cambridge, our own specialist skills within the team, and the dynamic and creative approach RGS Worcester takes to digital learning, I was able to speak about the innovation within our practice, in order to encourage other schools to take a more strategic approach to their own cohorts of pupils. What we know about pupils at RGS Worcester and RGS Dodderhill when it comes to their GCSE and A Level results is that they do far better with us than they would have done elsewhere. This is because our skilled and committed teachers know and understand each pupil so well that they can make a real difference to their outcomes. Now that is something worth talking about!”
Congratulations to Mrs Clarke for representing RGS Worcester at such a significant educational event and for showcasing the cutting-edge work our Learning Development team continues to pioneer. Her contribution to the Festival of Education highlights the vital role our screening programme plays in supporting all pupils to reach their full potential, and we are proud of the impact her leadership is making in the educational community.