In the lead up to half term, Lindow Primary School children enjoyed their annual "Mantle of the Expert (MoE)"*1 experience. This year the children all undertook the roll of TV producers as they explored 16 different TV programmes and then produced their own 3 minute production to complete the week and launch Lindow TV.
All 215 children divided into mixed teams of 4 – 11 year olds visiting all of the different activities during the week, ranging from Casualty, where the children learnt basic First Aid, Ready Steady Cook, Born Survivor, looking at the techniques of Bear Gryls, Room 101, Blockbusters, Doctor Who and even Lambing Live! Children took on teachers in a special edition of Eggheads (guess who won!) and teams led by Headteacher, Mr Morgan and Chair of Governors, Mr Norris competed in A Question of Sport.
Now an established landmark at Lindow, everyone looks forward to the week with great anticipation. The children wish it could be Mantle of the Expert Week every week!
Headteacher Darren Morgan said: "MoE has undoubtedly become a highlight of our school year. Everyone engages, staff and volunteers put in a fantastic effort to transform the whole school and offer the children a wide range of experiences. Our ethos of caring, learning and achieving together is illustrated by the brilliant way our older children help the younger ones and learn from each other."
*1 Mantle of the Expert is a teaching method devised and developed by British educationalist Dorothy Heathcote from Newcastle University. It provides an imaginative, inquiry approach to learning via creation of a fictional world where pupils assume the roles of experts in a designated field. MoE is based on the premise that treating children as responsible experts increases their engagement and confidence. They can perceive a real purpose for learning and discovering together in an interactive and proactive way – providing them with skills and knowledge they can apply to their everyday lives. MoE encourages creativity, improves teamwork, communication skills, critical thought and decision-making.
Guest post by Richard Norris.
