Teaching and learning strategies at Erdington Academy
Everybody Expected to Participate (EEP)
A key part of our teaching and learning is the principle that Everybody is Expected to Participate. This is embedded through three core pedagogical strategies:
Cold Call – Any pupil can be asked to respond, ensuring full engagement and readiness to contribute.
Turn & Talk – Pupils discuss their thinking with a partner, building confidence and deepening understanding.
Mini Whiteboards – All pupils respond simultaneously, allowing teachers to assess understanding in real time.
These strategies ensure that every pupil is actively involved in their learning and that no one is left behind.
Embedding Formative Assessment (EFA) and TLCs
We are proud to have successfully completed the second year of the Embedding Formative Assessment (EFA) project, which is now fully integrated into our teaching and learning culture. EFA has strengthened our focus on responsive teaching, feedback, and pupil progress.
As a result of this work, we have further developed our Teaching & Learning Communities (TLCs) – collaborative groups where staff engage in professional dialogue, share best practice, and reflect on classroom strategies. These communities are a key driver of continuous improvement and innovation across the academy.
We also value the voice of our students in this process. Student feedback is regularly gathered through TLCs, helping us to understand the impact of our teaching and refine our approaches to meet learners’ needs.
Using IRIS to Enhance Practice
We use IRIS Connect, a secure video-based professional development platform, to support staff in refining their practice. Teachers can record and review lessons, share best practice, and engage in reflective dialogue. As featured in UK School News, our use of IRIS has helped foster a collaborative culture where staff learn from one another and continuously improve the quality of education we provide.
Student Engagement in Teaching & Learning
We believe that students should be active participants in their own learning journey. To support this, we regularly deliver key messages about teaching and learning through form time sessions and assemblies. These sessions help pupils understand how they learn best, why our approaches are used, and how they can take ownership of their progress.
