This week, we’ve welcomed nine teachers from Finland. It’s the first visit of a project we’ve named DEVOS – DEVeloping Outstanding Schools. The project is all about exploring what makes a school or an education system outstanding. Finland’s education is regarded as being one of the best in the world, so it’s going to be interesting to explore why this might be the case. Five outstanding schools in Leeds, including Moortown Primary, are taking part. The project involves four visits (two each way) and lots of on-line discussion and learning. This evening, we met for some opinion-sharing at the end of the first visit.
The Finns described many differences and surprises. There were three big differences overall:
Our Finnish colleagues repeatedly talked about how positive our teachers are, constantly praising the strengths and good work a child demonstrates, so children want to keep doing well.
Second, they were surprised at the level of noise in the classroom – noise from pupils talking with each other about their learning (they were also surprised at how quickly children stopped to listen to the teacher). Headteachers in Leeds explained the noise by stressing the importance of talk for learning, which develops pupils’ confidence, understanding and engagement, and makes them more likely to be active learners, which in turn they hope will lead to life-long learners.
Finally, they remarked about how stuffy our classrooms are, commenting with some incredulity about our carpets and our closed windows (this from a nation of people who happily allow their babies to take naps outside in sub-zero temperatures!).
Speaking specifically about Moortown Primary, our visitors were especially impressed with the Year 1 class assembly, which parents attended. They praised the sense of community which this develops.
Here are some of the concluding remarks from our Finnish counterparts:
- Such a lot of energy, passion…I admire your work very much.
- We saw so many hard-working teachers who cooperate very well.
- There’s so much positive, encouraging feedback to pupils, which pupils learn to give to each other.
- I noticed you had very good leadership and staff. All heads are interested and enthusiastic, willing to develop their schools.
- Common rules so children know what they do, and teacher is the boss in a good way.
- You use technology much more than in Finland – perhaps you are more creative.
- For me it was noisy in the classrooms when children were working but they stopped so quickly when teacher said stop.
- I noticed there was so much cooperation between teachers – we should do more.
- Your children are so active – not at all passive.
- The headteachers are excellent – we’re very jealous about that. Staff are lost without good headteachers.
- Reinforcement is fantastic – it’s something we really need to learn from you.
- There were lots of ‘yes’ messages – positive messages to do the right thing, not negative messages to correct the wrong thing.
- Classes are bigger. There are much more adults in school. The average class in Finland is twenty, and classes are bigger.
- The leadership in your schools is excellent.
Next month, Mr Wilks and I will accompany eight teachers from the other Leeds schools involved in the project to Harjavalta, Finland. Next school year, two more teachers from Moortown will visit to continue the research.