Academy Expectations

Learning is our key focus at Waterside Academy.

We expect staff to prepare lessons that are well planned, organised, informative and engaging. We expect students to come to school prepared to learn and to engage with their learning positively and respectfully. Teachers have very high expectations of their students.

All students are expected to do the following every lesson:

• Use SLANT whenever the teacher asks for it
• Use SHAPE whenever they ask or answer a question, both in class and outside of lessons
• Use STEPS in all interactions with staff and students

Students use SLANT in order to ensure they are focused on their learning:

S = Sit up straight: Students are taught to be attentive, focussed and respectful in lessons
L = Listen carefully: Students give their teachers 100% undivided attention in lessons
A = Ask & Answer: Students are taught to be active participants in lessons and to ask & answer questions
N = Never interrupt: Students are taught to  be patient and considerate
T = Track the teacher: Students are taught to look where directed by their teacher

Students use SHAPE in order to ensure they are confident and clear in all their interactions:

S = Sentences: Students are taught to reply in full sentences
H = Hands: Students are taught not to cover their faces when talking
A = Articulate: Students are taught to speak clearly and to avoid mumbling
P = Projection: Students are taught to project their voices so their responses are clearly audible
E = Eyes; Students are taught to make confident and appropriate eye contact when conversing

Students use STEPS in order to ensure they are polite and respectful at all times:

S = Sir / Ms: Students address adults as Sir or Miss/Ms
T = Thank you: Students and adults say “thank you” as a matter of course
E = Excuse me: Students and adults say “excuse me” as a matter of course
P = Please: Students and adults say “please” as a matter of course
S = Smile: Students and adults greet one another in a polite and friendly manner as a matter of course

The first 10 minutes of lessons

• Lessons start on time
• In – Off – Out: students are greeted at the door by their teacher, take their coats off and place them on the back of their chairs, are seated immediately and put their equipment on their desk
• Students complete a memory starter activity to help them remember previous learning
• Students sit according to the teacher’s seating plan.
• Students will usually be sitting in rows
• Teachers check uniform and equipment
• Teachers remind students of the importance of SHAPE - SLANT - STEPS
• Students use the HNS routine for handing out equipment
• Students put their completed homework out on their desk on the correct day
• Students will use  SLANT, SHAPE and STEPS whenever appropriate

The last 10 minutes of lessons

• The teacher will display the DPR and the Key Objective for the lesson and check that students have understood the learning
• The teacher will remind students who has received merits or demerits and will tell the class has been awarded the Golden Ticket for that lesson
• Students will pack up swiftly using the WA routine
• Students will chant some of the key learning as they pack away to further reinforce the learning
• Students will be dismissed row by row and will follow the corridor expectations as they go to their next class.

During the lesson

• Teachers award merits for good effort. These are recorded by a nominated student in the reward book
• Students will use SHAPE – SLANT – STEPS — throughout the lesson
• The DPR is displayed to review learning and to review assignment expectations
• Students are asked questions by the teacher. The teacher uses ‘pose, pause, pounce’ to direct questioning. Students must attempt an answer using SHAPE
• Teachers use modelling to help students know what to do
• Instructions are clear and effective
• Students are expected to do extended writing or the equivalent in every lesson
• Students must attempt all work. Teachers will ensure it is differentiated for those who need more support or who need stretching
• Students must raise their hand if they need support or wish to speak
• Teachers will circulate to live mark students’ work
• There will be opportunities for ‘fix-it time’ where students improve work with green pen
• Students must not get out of their seat without permission. They must raise their hand
• Students will not be permitted to leave the room except in very exceptional circumstances. This will be with a Teacher Exit Pass
• Students should not bring out any equipment or belongings not required by the teacher
• Students should not call out, speak to others without teacher permission

Routine for handing out equipment

• Equipment is passed from the left side of the room to the right
• Students take one and pass it on
• Students at the end of the row on the right are responsible for collecting and organising equipment and returning it to the teacher

Routine for packing away at the end of the lesson

• Students return all text books etc by passing them to the left to the end of their row
• Students pack away their own equipment silently on instruction from the teacher
• Students stand behind their chairs and are dismissed row by row by the teacher
• Students follow the corridor rules as they move swiftly to their next lesson or break