This week, our Bethany School blog has been written by Mrs Wareham, Head of Year 9. She writes about pupils at Bethany rising to the challenge of study skills.

It has always been a source of frustration to both pupils and teachers when the information pupils demonstrate they understand in class is not replicated in coursework or examinations. This year, we have set up specific study skills lessons to try and help our Year 9 pupils to learn the techniques and processes they will need to thrive over the next two years and beyond.

Some of the topics we have looked at include:

• The importance of study
• Skimming and scanning
• Research – both primary and secondary
• Mind maps
• Digital literacy
• What kind of brain do we have?
• How to make concise notes
• How to write a paragraph using PEEL
• How to write a conclusion
• How to bring an essay together

This led to Year 9 looking at longer pieces of work in study skills and using the skills learned previously to research, plan and write an essay. The questions offered were diverse enough to appeal to all and necessitated an ‘argument for/ argument against and summary approach.’ This is a skill they will require for many of our essay based subjects and was enjoyed by most.  All pupils should be commended for their work on these pieces.

The essay titles included:

• Internet use in some countries is restricted. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this? 
• Knife crime rose to record levels in 2018. What are the reasons for this and what needs to change to reduce this number? 
• Does the media influence how we think? 
• Plastic is choking oceans and killing wildlife. How should we respond to this? 
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) will cause the extinction of the human race. What are the advantages and disadvantages of AI? 

The calibre of work presented was excellent, with a wide range of pertinent points made and discussed. It was a difficult task, but, each teacher then chose 3 or 4 of those they felt represented the best approach and passed them to me.

Bliss wrote about whether media influences how we think. Bliss concluded that the use of media was important but we need to keep a careful check on what we follow and believe in.

Darcie wrote about plastic in our oceans, using sources and thoughtfully giving much information. Her summary was poignant: “Fish in the north ingest plastic every year. The world is drowning in 400 million tons of plastic. Fossil fuels industry plans to increase production. In conclusion we must do everything we can to stop this from happening and save marine life and animals.”

Olivia wrote about media influence and carefully choosing what to read and believe.

Ayden wrote about knife crime and cited drug related stabbings as the main source of increase.

Maisie wrote a great account about the pay gap in women’s football, summarising that female player pay should be even, or possibly more, given the success of their recent games.

Lewis wrote about banning fairytales and concluded that they should be altered, rather than completely banned.

Hattie chose to discuss the issue of plastic and her arguments raised interesting points about how to respond to the concerns.

Ellie chose to look at social media offering good advice on how to use it safely.

These pupils will all receive a level 2 merit for being highly commended. These plus three others were all passed to Mr Bell, who kindly read and judged them all. He, too, was impressed with the standard and, after some deliberation awarded the following positions:

In third place was Rose for her deliberations on internet restriction. She researched different restrictions and their uses, concluding that, “Although internet restriction may have its faults and disadvantages, overall, I believe this is for a good cause and can protect vulnerable people who may need to be protected.”

In second place was Liam who discussed Artificial Intelligence. His summary explained that if we don’t add emotion to AI, then human extinction will not happen. “Without this feeling, they won’t have a thought of destroying humans.”

The winner was Oleksii, who also looked at AI. His work demonstrated a very good understanding of the pros and cons and was summed up by, “I can say that AI is possibly the best and worst thing that will happen to humanity in future. From one side, it will offer us great inventions, perfect life and no worry about anything. From the other side, it will turn humanity into a puppet of a machine, that controls everything about us. In the near future all responsibility about AI will lie on the whole community, let it control us and help us greatly or use it limited, and make humanity first. All I can say is great power is a great responsibility and it will be a hard choice deciding the fate of AI.”

Mrs Wareham
Head of Year 9