Our staff worked together to consolidate our teaching principles into what we call ‘The Warkworth Way’. They are informed by our vision and values, our proud history, and educational research.

How do we teach at Warkworth?

Education serves as the bridge between past and future, enriching individuals with the collective wisdom of humanity while igniting a passion for continuous learning and exploration. It is the transfer of knowledge (academic, cultural, social and spiritual) from one generation to another. It is handing over the best of what has been thought and said, protecting it, celebrating it and nurturing it, then encouraging children to not only learn as much as possible but to actively develop a thirst for more and thus a love of knowledge. 

This is because we believe it is our responsibility for all children to experience life in all its fullness, as promised by Jesus, and that it is part of our social and Christian mission that all children are exposed to a broad, balanced and challenging body of deep knowledge. It is this knowledge that prepares children for life and to be active participants and advocates within the wider world, and which equips them to serve the common good.

Within the school’s ethos and at its heart is love. We believe strongly that without love for ourselves, one another and the world, that such high aspirations are not possible and this is first and foremost modelled by all adults within school.

In short, the Warkworth Way is that we teach rigorous lessons with high expectations within a loving, nurturing environment, enabling all to flourish. 

Our practice is informed by the latest educational research. This suggests that children learn best through explicit instruction, understanding that memory is how children make connections both within and between subjects, as well as real life.

Vulnerable children are equally, if not more, entitled to acquire and celebrate the knowledge and cultural capital that an ambitious curriculum can provide. This comes from our strong belief in inclusivity, so they can fulfil their God-given talent. As such, we take a ‘keep up, not catch up’ approach, focusing on adapting teaching approaches rather than curriculum content.

What you will see in a classroom

• Teacher-led education that drives high standards with love.
• Simple, effective, research-backed and gimmick-free teaching approaches, including explicit instruction.
• High participation, high challenge education that promotes independence and resilience and which places a high demand on student involvement and engagement. 
• A focus on thinking – the role of the adult being to guide children’s thought through deliberate, careful practice. Thought is then improved by dialogue as external dialogue directly impacts internal dialogue within thought processes.
• Dialogue-led teaching: whilst classroom practice is teacher-led, this is dependent on children participating in discussions. This may include:
  • Frequent checks for understanding
  • Adult modelling thought
  • Dialogue between children and teacher (through questioning) and between children themselves through discussion
  • Discussion which is active, meaningful, challenging, reflective, and mediated
  • Think/pair/share and related activities
  • Children given time to think and time to articulate their thoughts.
• Relationships at the heart of teaching practice. 
• Scaffolding to support children meet age-related expectations, rather than different objectives wherever possible.
• A focus on making connections across and between curriculum.
• Promoting an environment to be curious, to ask questions and to want to know more.