For a number of years we have run a discrete learning to learn course designed to teach students the knowledge, Skills, and Attributes they need to become successful learners and independent thinkers.

A discrete learning to learn course was considered to be a pragmatic stepping stone toward a more school wide learning to learn approach and the opening of the Junior Learning Village in September 2008 provided this opportunity.

Learning to learn in year seven is anchored within Learn to Humanities and in fact students spent the first half term of this course covering the learning to learn module “I Learner”. (See a modules lessons below)

Core subjects (Humanities, Maths, English, and Science) build on the skills and attributes introduced in this module and SOW have been built around the CASK(E) model (see below)

Generic outcomes for these subjects include finding opportunities where possible to build learner attributes – the 5 Rs (Resilience, Resourcefulness, Reflection, Reasoning, and Responsibility), and to develop learner skills such as Communication, Thinking, and Collaboration within subject lessons.

Next year (for students moving into year eight) all other subject areas will look for opportunities to develop these same attributes and skills within the context of their subject areas.


Because this is an interim year in that year eight and year nine have simultaneously joined us for the first time there is still a discrete learning to learn course running in both of these year groups – this will phase out next year and the curriculum time will be replaced with Trans disciplinary Units – an opportunity to engage in extended projects that require learners to draw on their experiences in other subject areas. This (new) course will start with a module on information fluency.


The 5 Rs are also part of our review system and teachers in years seven, eight, and nine report on how students are progressing in each of the 5 Rs within their subject. The Review system uses a score of 1-5 to indicate growing independence in each attribute with “5” indicating that this has become a “habit” with students exhibiting this effective learning behaviour most of the time.

Details of the criteria used to assess the 5 Rs can be found HERE.

The 5 Rs also form part of our reward system in year seven and eight and students receive stamps in their planners for exhibiting these learning behaviours in class.

It is through the learning to learn approach that we are beginning to deliver the Personal Learning and Thinking Skills outlined in the new National Curriculum.