How Bemrose School use CENTURY to support learners and reduce teacher workload

The Bemrose School is a foundation trust all-through school. James Dachtler, Assistant Head of Primary at Bemrose School, tells us about how the Primary school currently uses CENTURY as a home learning tool and his vision for future use of the platform.

Setting: Primary (part of all through)

Methods of use – Using CENTURY for:

• home learning 

Advantages 

• Reduced teacher workload
• Improved attitude to learning
• Supports with parents’ evenings
• Responsiveness of account managers

What initially prompted you to choose CENTURY for Bemrose?

Although we are currently only using CENTURY in the primary school, we were looking for a platform which could cater for primary and secondary, so we can use it for transition into year seven and have the ability to expand into secondary, should we wish.

For us, the way the algorithm works to personalise learning for pupils is really important. We’ve used other packages in the past, which had a set path for learners that didn’t adapt, or teachers had to manually put in the work for learners. What’s great about CENTURY is that students can work independently through their pathway, but as teachers, we can go in and set work as well. 

Your regular reporting system is fantastic and something that we have come to rely on and appreciate so much. And the fact that if I need something, you’re very responsive; compared to previous platforms we have used, where there can be a lengthy wait for a bespoke report to be produced! Communication is vital, and it’s brilliant with CENTURY. You’re the best at getting back to me. If I need something I get an email back the same day.

What is teachers’ feedback about using the platform? 

It’s definitely reducing workload. Teachers don’t need to mark the nuggets. They can simply analyse the results rather than setting a piece of homework, getting it in and marking it. It’s also really easy to set nuggets. 

What is most useful about CENTURY?

CENTURY reporting enables us to see what time classes are completing work, how much work is being set and, crucially, that it is being completed. This allows the primary leadership team to monitor in class and at home usage across the primary school. This differs from other packages, and we really like this functionality as we can clearly see the impact and share this with our primary leadership team.

How do students find the platform? 

They like the competition element of it. On Monday morning, we celebrate the classes with the highest usage on CENTURY from the previous week, with a class winning a golden table, which is a special table at dinner. They get the food served to them. During this whole school celebration assembly, we also celebrate the Star of the Week or Mathematician of the Week. I think that their attitude to learning, and engagement have improved. 

What has the parent feedback been like?

Feedback has been very, very good. At the start, we had a few issues with access to devices which we overcame by giving those students a device. We also ensure we provide IT support for parents and use CENTURY during parents’ evenings, talking the parents through their child’s dashboard. Our focus is on getting the children confident using CENTURY at school so they can replicate that at home. 

What CENTURY does really well is getting learners into that habit of working in a focussed way. It’s that mindset of learning by yourself and taking responsibility for your own learning. 

What are your plans for CENTURY moving forward? 

We want to improve our support for teachers, helping them to understand that the onus isn’t on them to set work. It’s about the children using the pathway. We will do an initial training at the start of the academic year, but as that’s such a busy time, we’ll do some staff workshops every half term, to act as a little update. Staff can volunteer and come along and we’re going to be holding them more to account. 

Our maths team is also interested in using it in class as CENTURY aligns to the White Rose scheme of work. 

As well as staff workshops, we’re looking at putting on parent workshops, so they can understand the platform better. 

Moving forward, we’re looking to offer students access to computers at lunch times and break times and before school and after school, so that CENTURY is seen as personal learning, not just home learning. 

To learn more about using CENTURY in a primary school, click here. Book a demo here.