Inquiry Learning @ St Andrews

Inquiry Learning at St Andrews adopts the following action research model. In this model, Questioning is fundamental to each of the three inquiry domains. Teachers at St Andrews aim to use a variety of questioning types in order to develop every student's ability to think critically, problem solve and to go deeper into their learning. Consequently every student's exposure to a variety of questions, develops their own ability to ask questions. Through inquiry every student has the ability to have a significant impact on the world they embark on by being able to use questioning to go beyond superficial content or opinions. Inquiry learning aligns with our SPIRE framework, whereby the learning is focused on development of the whole person. 

EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONING

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Students have heard the words Formative Assessment, during their learning. 

Summative assessment in schools has traditionally been the focus of students as their priority and often considered to be held above all classwork. The problem with this attitude is that students may miss the core learning to demonstrate their best in summative assessments. Therefore, St Andrews staff are committed and focused on formative assessment - Assessment For and As Learning, whereby students receive quality feedback so students have multiple opportunities to improve their ability and skills before they undertale a summative assessment. 

NESA describes Assessment For and Assessment Of learning:

St Andrews Steps in Learning assists students and parents to understand where they are achieving in their learning after being able to apply their feedback to improve their learning. 

When student achievement is aligned to the Steps in Learning, it is important for students to understand and apply the feedback they receive to improve their skills and knowledge in future learning.