Learning how to learn with UK expert

Claxton’s ‘Building Learning Power’ is one of the strategies St Cuthbert’s had identified as a way to develop its students’ ability to learn how to learn, so a personal visit by the man who developed it became a priority. 

His approach has been tried and tested in hundreds of primary and secondary schools. During his visit to the College on 28th October, 2010, he addressed the academic staff and ran a workshop with a selected group. 

St Cuthbert’s College recently invited Professor Guy Claxton, the UK’s leading expert on practical ways of expanding young people’s appetite and capacity for learning.

“Having Guy Claxton here was a great opportunity for our staff to learn directly from one of the foremost educational leaders internationally and to build on the work we have been doing to incorporate Claxton’s view of pedagogy into our curriculum and to personalise student learning,” said principal, Mrs Lynda Reid. 

The school is planning a number of professional development initiatives for staff next year and Professor Claxton’s visit will act as a catalyst for developing Building Learning Power strategies in its classrooms. 

Three teachers - Wendy Wood, Jan Walls and Susannah Marshall - were awarded a staff scholarship to the UK recently and, among other aspects of pedagogy they observed, they looked at schools that have adopted Building Learning Power. Their UK experience will be invaluable as St Cuthbert’s starts to introduce the strategy into the College.