Virtual Learning Curriculum (VLC)
The Virtual Learning Curriculum is an exciting platform which allows students to continue their learning from home when there are occasions of absence. This may include school closure; self-isolation; injury or illness. The online platform is easily accessible from home via Google and is best accessed on a computer or laptop rather than a mobile phone device. All classwork, recorded lessons and home-based learning will be posted on the students’ Google Classroom which they are automatically allocated to. There is also the facility for students to upload their work and home-based learning for teaching staff to offer feedback where appropriate. Students can contact their teachers via a secure message system allowing for individual and bespoke support to be offered. Ridgeway Academy use ‘Google Classroom’ as our platform, in addition to subject specific and teaching support applications. During the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the Department for Education (DfE) may issue guidance resulting in full or partial school closures, except for small numbers of children in specific groups identified by the DfE. This page contains useful information and resources relating to our virtual learning curriculum. We have worked to develop a ‘Virtual Learning Curriculum’ that tries to balance the needs of everyone in our school community: Professional development needs in new remote teaching tools and pedagogy.Students
Parents
Teachers
Please find some guides below on how to use the main tools (Google’s GSuite for Education) that we will be using during this period of closure, and some other materials on conduct and tips for successful remote learning. If you find that you have run out of things to do: We have created a new platform which students can log into in order to access subject specific websites and platforms. Ridgeway Intranet can be found by clicking here and logging in using your school details. How will students learn remotely? It is important that staff and students have time away from the screen. Staff will make a professional judgement on the best way to run their lessons, while giving students sufficient breaks from screen time.Resources and Guides
Parents
Students
How can I access other school apps and services?
What to expect during times of remote learning
Scenario 1 | Scenario 2 | Scenario3 |
---|---|---|
Provide live teaching for no more than 50 minutes of the lesson. Students to upload their work to Google Classroom as requested. | Provide live teaching including clear instructions for up to 15 minutes at the start of the lesson and 10 minutes at the end of the lesson to check students’ understanding. Students to upload their work to Google Classroom as requested. | Pre-record or use existing online videos for your session, and leave detailed instructions in the Google Classroom of your expectations and where students can access additional support. Students to upload their work to Google Classroom as requested. |
There may be times of non-teaching to allow staff to complete required administrative tasks. Expectation for setting homework for year groups is set out in the table below:What are the expectations for home learning?
Year | Expectations |
---|---|
Key Stage 3 | No screen based work additional to that completed in the lesson to be set |
Key Stage 4: Examined Subjects | Work necessary for coursework/controlled assessment/portfolio work can be set in addition to classwork only if it is a requirement of the specification |
Key Stage 5: Examined subjects | Work necessary for coursework/controlled assessment/portfolio work can be set in addition to classwork only if it is a requirement of the specification |
In the case of school closure, students will be asked to participate in remote learning from home, to ensure that there is limited disruption to their education. It is imperative that all students fully engage with remote learning, however we appreciate that this may be unfamiliar and challenging at first. The expectation is that all students follow their normal timetable, including registration and form time. Teaching staff will post pre-reading or resources for printing (where required) before the lesson, the live lessons will take place via a Google Meet link found in the online Classroom and will take place during the normal hour of the lesson. Students are to ensure that they are fully prepared for the lesson with their normal books or paper and equipment ready to promptly start the lesson. Parents can access their children’s timetable via My Child at School and will be sent updates on outstanding work through Google Guardians. The best thing that you can do to support your child is to establish routines and check in with them regularly. We can say that the response ‘I haven’t been given any work to do’ is almost certainly not true and deserves further exploration, but we have highlighted some resources above that can be used to supplement work being issued by teachers if there is a need. If your child is not attending ‘live’ lessons or has not submitted work due, you may get an SMS message or phone call from a teacher or Director of Learning to check on their engagement. For support please email the following contact:Engagement
Troubleshooting