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Over the last week, 15 of our Block 5s (Year 11s) and two of our Sixth Formers, provided five lessons to 36 students from the Prep School, as part of their Community strand for their Outdoor Work BAC (Bedales Assessed Course). Our BAC students are marked on participation, team work, engagement and sharing knowledge, not just technical skill. Teaching the younger students provided the perfect opportunity for them to do all these things.
When children teach each other they are putting Bloom’s Taxonomy into action, especially at the highest levels: analysing, evaluating, and creating. Explaining concepts, comparing ideas, or defending a viewpoint requires true higher-order thinking. This peer-to-peer learning not only deepens their own understanding but also enriches the learning of those around them.
It might have looked as though they were just baking biscuits or making willow Christmas decorations, but there was much more going on.
Older students planned, designed and chose what they wanted to teach the younger students to make. They did a trial run, learnt how to set up a space to teach and rearrange runs to make them age-appropriate. They complied with health and safety rules, undertook logistics, timing, and organisation. They showed incredible leadership and empathy and got to experience the satisfaction of giving back in a meaningful way.
Our Prep School students really enjoyed their experience of ODW at the Senior School and were excited to see what comes next when they move up. The older students demystified what happens in the Senior curriculum, and it was really rewarding for the younger ones to get to talk to them, reflecting the importance we place on inclusivity and community.
It is moving to watch the students in action.
As Six, who is singlehandedly teaching Group 2s (Year 5s) to make a willow star Christmas decoration, explains. ‘It’s a happy, merry, Christmassey thing to do. I’m showing the younger students what to do, giving technical advice and encouragement, and imparting my knowledge about willow. For example, I’m showing the younger students that winter is a good time to work with it, it’s at an ideal temperature and doesn’t dry out so quickly.’
What Six does not talk about is the amount of work that she has done behind the scenes. ODW Technician Jo Coles explains that before the lesson, Six had also organised for the willow to be soaked and mellowed, set the room up, made sure she had equipment spares, provided different size options, marked things out on the table, and sourced appropriate ribbons.
The effort has been much appreciated by her students.
‘It makes me feel happy,’ says Jonah in Group 2 as he makes his willow star. ‘I’m enjoying trying something over and over…oops, my willow just snapped again.’
‘It’s nice that we’re making something eco-friendly,’ adds Benjamin.
‘I’m really enjoying it,’ says Marnie. ‘I’m looking forward to putting my decoration on my Christmas tree.’
Outside, we bump into Poppy and Calypso who have taught some of our Group 3s (Year 6s) to make Lebkuchen biscuits. ‘We chose these types of biscuits because they’re festive,’ explains Calypso, ‘and they’re better than mince pies.’
‘We showed them how to roll, cut, bake and decorate the biscuits,’ explains Poppy. ‘There were some very artistic decorative choices - we even had some bleeding zombie cookies!’
What was her favourite bit?
‘The younger students were really funny, polite and most impressively, didn’t eat all the sprinkles,’ she says.
'They were lovely' adds Calypso, ‘and it was so nice to see them just getting on with things.’
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