Primary teachers' views about trying to support children’s learning without using ‘ability’ grouping

Abstract

A seminar by Dr Phil Wright, Lecturer in Primary PGCE Teacher Education and University of Cumbria Partnership Tutor. In this session we will be thinking about how children are typically organised in ‘ability’ groups in primary classrooms and the potential for an alternative approach. We will think about the reasons why this practice is so prevalent and some of the effects it has on children (and adults). I will then share some work I did with 15 primary teachers who wanted to explore an alternative way of supporting children to learn. We will look at how they adjusted their practice and their thinking, and how they realised that the positive change they experienced “starts with me!”