BLP
Building Learning Power is an approach to helping young people to become better learners, both in school and out. It is about creating a culture in classrooms—and in the school more widely—that systematically cultivates habits and attitudes that enable young people to face difficulty and uncertainty calmly, confidently, and creatively. Students who are more confident of their own learning ability learn faster and learn better. They concentrate more, think harder, and find learning more enjoyable. They do better in their tests and external examinations. And they are easier and more satisfying to teach.
Building Learning Power—BLP for short—is an attempt to refocus schools on preparing youngsters better for an uncertain future. Today’s schools need to be educating not just for exam results but for lifelong learning; building their all-important learning character. To thrive in the twenty-first century, it is not enough to leave school with a clutch of examination certificates. Pupils need to have learnt how to be tenacious and resourceful, imaginative and logical, self-disciplined and self-aware, collaborative and inquisitive.
BLP is a key element of our school values and weaves through everything we do whether in the classroom or out. We believe in teaching the children to take responsibility for their own learning and encouraging them to reflect on their individual learning styles.
We hope that this information helps to make you aware of the language we use and you can use the same language to discuss and support your child’s learning.
Every Monday during our assembly we introduce a new learning power, this power is then focused on in class during the week. Then, at our Friday afternoon celebration assembly we choose two children from each class who have demonstrated this learning power throughout the week.
Here’s a bit more information about the learning powers and what they mean.
Resilience
The key elements of this disposition are Perseverance, Noticing, Managing Distractions and Absorption.
The children will learn how to stay locked onto their learning, the importance of never giving up and the benefits of learning when getting un-stuck.
Resourcefulness
The key elements of this are disposition Questioning, Capitalising, Making Links, Reasoning and Imagining.
The children will develop their ability to ask and answer questions, use resources around them to help them with their learning, make links between the different areas of their learning and of course, use their imaginations!
Reflectiveness
The key elements of this disposition are Planning, Meta-learning, Distilling and Revising.
The children will learn how and why they learn and will be encouraged to regularly look back on their learning to see whether they have met their targets and objectives. They will be asked to think about future targets and areas for improvement.
Reciprocity
The key elements of this disposition are Imitation, Interdependence, Listening and Collaboration.
The children will learn how, why and when it is best to learn on their own, with a partner or within a group and develop the skills they need to be a valued member of a team and a learning community.
We hope that this information will give you an idea of Building Learning Power.
Children’s voice –
- ‘BLP helps us become better learners!’ – Leo
- ‘When I’m absorbed in my learning, I concentrate better.’ – Kobi
- ‘We collaborated so we got it done quicker.’ – Dan
