“Feedback has been extremely positive about last night’s training – ‘One colleague even described it as “life changing”.
Andy Backwell, Head of 6th Form, Malmesbury School
🌟 Towards Exceptional Teaching & Learning at A Level: A CPD for Sixth Form Success
With Ofsted’s 2025 framework now evaluating sixth form provision across multiple dimensions—curriculum intent, implementation, impact, inclusion, and personal development—this CPD equips post-16 educators with the tools to deliver exceptional teaching that meets the highest standards. Designed for Heads of Sixth Form, A Level subject leads, and post-16 teachers, this course explores how to create a learning environment where students thrive academically and personally, and where teaching is both rigorous and responsive.
A level Pupils or Students?
Most post-16 teachers believe that A level students should be treated more as adults than as traditional students. And adults, research such as Illeris’ Three Dimensions of Learning Model claims, are different from children when it comes to their motivations for learning.
“(Post-16 students) learn what they want to learn and what is meaningful for them to learn. (They) are not very inclined to learn something they are not interested in, or in which they cannot see the meaning or importance.”
Prof K. Illeris, University of Education, Copenhagen
INSET Outline
🎯 Curriculum Intent: Designing Purposeful A Level Learning
- Define a clear rationale for post-16 curriculum choices, ensuring progression from KS4 and readiness for higher education or employment.
- Align subject intent with students’ motivations and adult learning principles (e.g. Illeris’ model).
- Ensure curriculum ambition for all learners, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
🛠️ Curriculum Implementation: Teaching That Engages and Stretches
- Explore effective strategies for differentiation in mixed-ability A Level classes.
- Move beyond didactic delivery to foster independent thinking, discussion, and metacognitive skills.
- Use research-informed pedagogy to support deep learning (e.g. retrieval practice, spaced learning, modelling).
- Integrate assessment for learning and feedback loops that drive progress.
📈 Curriculum Impact: Evidencing High-Quality Outcomes
- Ensure students produce work of consistently high standard across subjects.
- Use data and tracking to inform teaching and support intervention.
- Develop strategies to improve exam technique, revision habits, and long-term retention.
- Evaluate impact through student voice, outcomes, and progression routes.
🧠 Developing the Independent A Level Learner
- Support students in developing key skills: critical thinking, academic writing, time management, and resilience.
- Create a learning community that values autonomy, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity.
- Embed personal development and well-being into the sixth form experience.
🔍 Professional Reflection & Research Engagement
- Review what students say makes an exceptional A Level lesson.
- Analyse Ofsted’s expectations for sixth form provision under the new framework.
- Reflect on how curriculum design, pedagogy, and assessment interact to raise attainment.
“There is very little guidance given on teacher training courses for A Level teaching. This can result, understandably, in teachers playing it safe by keeping rigorously to the textbook and ensuring that all the content is covered.”
TES Article: Dan Kneller Subject lead for A-level history
👥 Who Is This INSET For?
- Sixth Form Leaders, A Level Subject Leads, and Post-16 Teachers.
- Suitable for departmental INSET, whole-school sixth form development, or MAT-wide training.
Excellent presentation of the material and strategies and real food for thought
Rev. Katie Windle, Chaplain & RS Teacher, Sherbourne Girls School
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