Do Now Activity – debate around the room

To what extent do you agree with this statement?

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“We’re kidding ourselves if you think we can change kids’ lives in 15 minutes each day.”

Context: On being a Form Tutor

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Marginal gains and Team Sky

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Cumulative effect

• 75 minutes of face time each week for form time alone
• 525 minutes across a half term
• 1050 minutes across a term (17.5 hours of interaction and relationship building)
• More contact time than PSHE, Art, Music, WR, CS

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Being a Successful Form Tutor

What does that even mean?

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Aims

• Encourage reflection on the way we do form time
• Reflect
• Codify practices
• Codify
• Set expectations for the role

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What are the different roles we play as a form tutor?

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What do you want form time to look/sound/feel like?

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One title, many roles�4Cs

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Coach

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Champion

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Challenge

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Connect (advocacy)

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Scenario

A student has just joined your form class in Year 10 having moved to Romania from a different country. They have a reasonably good command of English. They appear to be struggling to fit in socially and make friends. You often see them alone at lunchtime and break when you are on duty. In conversation, the Head of Year mentions that they also display anxiety about several subject areas.

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What might your response be as their Form Tutor?

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Scenario

Congratulations! You’ve just been made Form Tutor of a Y12 group. You have a robust and clear form time programme for each day of the week but, much to your surprise, very few want to engage with it. Instead, some take out their phones and scroll through social media feeds, whilst others place their heads languidly on desks and breathe interminable sighs. A few want to engage in conversation with you much to your delight and relief.

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How might you respond?

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What it looks like in practice. KS3�Rank these in order of importance

• Uniform checking
• Form time programme
• Basic organization skills (timetable, Google calendar and Classroom)
• Contact with home (once a half term)
• Games and team bonding
• PSHE and assembly topics discussion
• Understanding changes in the body and the brain
• Setting them up for the day
• Do they know where they are going?
• Are new students familiar with the building?

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KS4-5�Rank these in order of importance

1. Study timetables
2. Mindfulness and other wellbeing activities
3. Wellbeing check-ins (increased frequency at exam time)
4. Exam arrangements support (SoEs, mock prep)
5. Revision and study techniques
6. Resource checking (textbooks, calculators, language dictionaries)

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What it looks like in practice…

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• Attending House events and being general all-round cheerleader
• Encouraging participation in school life
• Phone box idea of the issues that are troubling them
• Observing body language
• Affluent neglect
• Staying on top of CPOMS
• Alerts for all behaviour and attitude issues

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Deepening our understanding

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Deepening our understanding

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Deepening our understanding

• The Characteristics Students Need to Learn in Challenging Times
• Developing the Characteristics Students Need to Flourish and Succeed
• What is the nature and value of the Form Tutor and Form Time in Secondary Schools in England? What happens, how does it happen and why is it important?
• Student voice Form Time survey

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I wonder what ChatGPT would have to say about Form Tutor excellence…

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1. Communication Skills: Effective communication is crucial. Listen actively to your students and their parents. Encourage open dialogue and be approachable. Keep parents informed about their child's progress and well-being.
2. Self-Reflection: Continuously reflect on your teaching practices and adapt them to meet the evolving needs of your students. Seek feedback from colleagues, students, and parents.
3. Build Relationships: Establish strong connections with your students. Learn their names, interests, and backgrounds. Show genuine care and interest in their well-being, both academically and personally.

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