Learning Walk

The Learning Walk, a focused, organised visit to another college, is an important tool for the Leading Edge Partnership to develop deep understanding of teaching and learning, to reflect on professional practice, to gain new insights, to share new strategies and to bring continuous learning and improvement.

Staff and students for the last four years have had the opportunity to become involved in regular Learning Walks. Member of staff regard taking part in a Learning Walk as a valuable form of CPD for staff. The Learning Walk also strengthens the student voice. It facilitates discussion between staff and students. It helps the students to make informed judgements and to participate in decisions and innovations made by the college.

The Leading Edge Partnership organises three collaborative National Learning Walks yearly. The focal points of the learning walks often reflect the need for improvement in particular areas or to gain insight into new initiatives which the partnership colleges would like to consider or implement. The colleges chosen to host the Learning Walks are always innovative and the partnership has no reservations about travelling a long way in order to learn new strategies or experience first hand new practice. To mention just a few; the partnership has focused on personalised learning, attendance, extended services, vocational courses, new diplomas and PE and achievement.

The success of the national walks has encouraged the partnership to explore going abroad to learn about other educational systems. In 2009, the partnership looked at Sweden and personalised learning in both state and Knowledge Schools (free schools). In February 2010, the Partnership went to Japan, focussing on enrichment courses, use of ICT, sense of community and rewards.

Through their Learning Walk’s staff and students are in a position to make recommendations to the partnership college’s leadership teams, which support the implementation of the recommendations where possible, and appropriate to the colleges corporate plans and development.

If you are a current or newly appointed member of staff and would like to find out more about how to organise a Learning Walk, then please contact Martine Benitez, Learning Walk co-ordinator at Beauchamp College. Martine runs regular workshops on the Learning Walk and willing to assist you throughout the process and documentation.