Bishopmill Primary School

Bishopmill Primary School is in Elgin and has about 350 pupils. The school has won an Enterprise Education gold award.

Kathleen Blacklaw, headteacher, discusses the whole-school programme

When Kathleen Blacklaw arrived as headteacher at Bishopmill Primary School 18 months ago, problem solving had been prioritised by staff as one of the areas needing development. A working group was set up consisting of two members of the management team, a teacher from each stage of the school and the learning and teaching officer from the local education authority. 

The working group was given time out of class and devised a whole-school programme based on levels (rather than stages) and on six strategies. Using a wide range of resources, the group compiled activities for each level and strategy. 

Part of an inset day was allocated for staff to meet in groups and try out the new materials. Kathleen says that an important factor in the success of the problem solving programme was that every class teacher took part. The programme was implemented over the next few months. 

Every teacher now has a sheet in his or her planning file on which the strategies to be worked on are highlighted and allocated to a particular term. This is passed to the next teacher. 

Kathleen feels that because of the problem solving programme, pupils are now more involved with and more responsible for their own learning. 

Kathleen Blacklaw discusses the whole-school problem solving programme
Description	Kathleen Blacklaw talks about the school's problem solving programme and how it was developed
Duration	2 minutes 49 seconds
Windows version	Windows Media video: Kathleen Blacklaw discusses the whole-school problem solving programme
Mac version	QuickTime movie: Kathleen Blacklaw discusses the whole-school problem solving programme
Transcript	Kathleen Blacklaw discusses the whole-school problem solving programme

• Email this page
• Print friendly format
• Digg this
• Save to del.icio.us

Stages at Bishopmill Primary School