Risk Taking in the Classroom Erasmus Project

Project Title

Risk Taking in the Classroom

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Health and wellbeing; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Quality Improvement Institutions and/or methods (incl. school development)

Project Summary

The aim of the project is to develop ‘Risk taking’ by teachers in order to promote innovative and creative learning for pupils and have a positive and significant impact upon teacher retention across the European Union and where it remains a big problem with almost all OEDC nations. We propose working with 7 schools on a European level, both Primary and Secondary,large, small and very diverse to share good practice and create supportive resources to aid the project outcomes made available to all schools and stakeholders. We aim to increase student engagement and also to empower staff to feel involved in their practice in order to deliver a stimulating school environment and curriculum that all pupils can access. In doing so it will improve teacher retention and make the profession more attractive than it currently is.Our objectives:• To create a positive teaching and learning experience where teachers enable children to take control of their learning in innovative, interesting and effective ways.. To harness leadership approaches that will encourage confidence in teachers, exemplified through ‘risk taking’ in the classroom. . To explore how school leaders manage change through innovation.. To improve teacher retention• To develop collaborative learning and exchange of ideas on a European level.Activities:1. We will organize 6 transnational meetings over the life of the project and digital meetings in-between each. 2. With the help of Plymouth University we will conduct baseline evaluation of teachers perceptions related to the objectives of this project as well as an interim and final evaluation of the project outcomes. This will be used to produce educational papers and inform final conferences and other educational establishments.3. Student voice questionnaire about their perceptions of the quality of teaching and the changes they observe over the course of the project. Outcomes will be analysed by school staff in each country and a discussion paper drawn together at the conclusion of the project. This will again be used at the final dissemination event and available on the website.4. There will be training on the use of IRIS digital technology and how this can be used to both improve teaching and learning as well as capturing good practice. Each partner school will acquire this equipment and training will be provided on the first transnational meeting.5. Each country will explore sources of non-formal education.6. A dissemination conference will be held in each country where outcomes will be shared; mainly involving a resource toolkit building teacher resilience, addressing the reduction of stress related issues for teachers ,produced as an outcome and the findings of the research conducted. Impact• Staff will work in a reflective way and feel enabled to debate effective teaching strategies• School leaders will have instilled an environment where teachers are motivated and trusted to take risks.• Coaching is used to support staff and pupils to improve strategic thinking and the learning taking place within the classroom.• A high quality, supportive and sustainable teaching and learning environment will be embedded in each school.• There will be a decrease of disruption within the classroom due to enhanced pupil engagement with their learning.• A positive culture of development will enhance staff wellbeing.• Staff will feel involved in and empowered by their professional development. Improved teacher retention.The project will involve sharing practice and new ideas, finding new ways to approach learning and then to share this practice with other educational establishments. This will be shared via a website, a end of project conference and published materials. Alongside this we plan to share practice with teacher training students.The long term benefits are positive learning experiences, pupils fully engaged in their learning. Staff that are confident and reflective of their practice. A positive culture of development to empower teachers and enhance staff well being and collaborative learning on a European level,

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 139680,99 Eur

Project Coordinator

Okehampton Primary School & Country: UK

Project Partners

• Bohrskolen
• Istituto Comprensivo di via Montebello
• Alytaus Volunges pagrindine mokykla
• Alytaus Likiskeliu pagrindine mokykla
• Okehampton College