Academy drives up teaching standards with Lessonvu
Our Partner School
The Hereford Academy is a secondary school and sixth form located in Hereford, Herefordshire, England. Until recently, the school was deemed, by Ofsted, to have ‘serious weaknesses’. With a new principal’s fresh approach, combined with 18 months of hard work of the staff, the school moved out of the category in May 2017.
The Challenge
Hereford assistant principal, Ed Snelgrove recognised that to raise standards in learning, the Academy had to start with the teaching. The introduction of a performance management scorecard system was the first step; teachers were required to evaluate and rate themselves and their rating was backed up by data on student progress and behaviours. While this was a step in the right direction, there were still inconsistencies in terms of how each teacher evaluated themselves. The missing link was the ability for teachers to actually see and review their own lessons. The time was right for the school to introduce video content into the review process.
ONVU Learning Response
Ed reviewed different systems, but found that ONVU Learning’s Lessonvu unique features of offered much more than the others. The non-threatening, discreet and always on solution was implemented in one classroom at first, which allowed the Academy to collaborate with ONVU Learning to set up a reflection process and scale Lessonvu to more and more classrooms.
The Results
Thanks to ONVU Learning’s consultant Dr Sean Warren, Hereford Academy has set up and is engaging with a reflection process for its teachers.
The positive feedback and lessons learned from the first ‘trial’ teachers are ‘educating’ and reassuring the other staff of the benefits of the technology. Trust in the system is growing and a ‘ripple effect’ has started to the extent that the school has now invested in more Lessonvu systems.
Over the last 12 months, several members of staff has been observe and are valuing the potential and benefits.
“Today our staff actually feel liberated. The system has removed the need for them to have lesson observations and they now have the confidence to use the technology effectively. Combined with our score card system the results of the Lessonvu technology are just what we hoped,” concludes Ed.
Abby Hughes
“The most valuable part of the process so far has been the time to reflect on my practice. I think schools are obviously very busy places and especially with the demands of being head of department and the drives for outcomes, I think it’s important to take the time and really focus on my teaching.”
Ed Snelgrove
“Lessonvu makes the invisible, visible. The ability to set up multiple camera angles simultaneously, to gain a complete picture, has proved very important.”
Beckie Mountjoy
“It’s had a massive impact on progress already, I used Lessonvu with a year 9 class. I just marked their essays today and already they are achieving 30% higher grades.”
Marj Francis
“It’s helped me find my teaching passion again.”
The Hereford Academy Reports & Case Studies
Hereford Academy Case Study
Hereford Academy Full Report
Hereford Academy Summary Report
Nathan Price (NQT, the Hereford Academy) Report
Nathan Price Report
Topics Covered: Initial Teacher Training (ITT), teacher retention, teacher confidence, classroom management
ONVU Learning instigated a project with NQT, Mr Nathan Price, to explore whether the innovative use of 360-degree camera technology – our Lessonvu solution – and access to remote coaching, might address the inevitable challenges of effectiveness and efficiency when faced with a difficult year group. The result is a more empowered, confident Mr Price. Download the Report now and learn more more about this successful collaboration.
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Shavington Primary
Case study
Due to its level of excellence, Shavington Primary was preparing to become a teaching school as part of a Multi Academy Trust (MAT). Executive head teacher Dan Thomas wanted to initiate a project to enhance teachers’ professional development.
