What is Independent Learning?

Independent learning is designed to develop our pupils’ ability to plan and carry out learning away from the classroom and, crucially, to develop their resilience. Independent learning encourages pupils to become more responsible for their own learning and reinforces and extends learning that takes place in the classroom. With the support of teaching staff, parents and carers, we aim to develop our pupils’ work ethic, organisation and self-discipline through engagement in learning and a commitment to being the best they can be. Independent learning is very important in developing lifelong skills and can contribute significantly to our pupils’ overall progress and attainment.

Pupils are encouraged to continue their learning away from the classroom during their timetabled Independent Learning sessions in school, during form time sessions and at home. All pupils are required to complete a range of self-marking crucial knowledge quizzes each week to help develop their understanding and long-term memory of crucial knowledge across all subjects. Pupils are also encouraged to complete extended learning independently using resources provided by their teachers through their class Teams.

What is Crucial Knowledge?

At Chesterton Community Sports College, there is a real focus in lessons on developing pupils’ understanding and long-term memory of crucial knowledge across all subjects. To further support and develop their learning and overall progress, subject teachers set a range of self-marking crucial knowledge quizzes each week to recap and embed the crucial knowledge learning that is taking place in the classroom. Our aim is to ensure that all pupils learn, remember and understand the crucial knowledge from each of their subjects so that they can successfully apply it in context. The quizzes also aim to support pupils’ confidence and engagement, as well as highlighting areas in their learning that need to be revisited. 

Crucial knowledge is the key content that has to be taught, remembered and understood by all pupils, alongside additional learning. We believe that if students learn and remember this crucial knowledge, they will be able to access more learning in school, develop their confidence and importantly, make more progress.

Over time, pupils will know more, remember more, understand it and apply it.

Crucial knowledge quizzes are set on Microsoft Teams (Assignments), Educake, Kahoot, Blooket or Smart Revise and pupils are expected to complete all set quizzes. All pupils also have access to each subject’s crucial knowledge resources through their class Teams and OneNote.