Dalestorth Primary School, Nottinghamshire, has focused on making learning fun, in order to dramatically improve results and boost its value-added score. Headteacher Paul Loker has put in place a theme-based creative curriculum, concentrating on developing pupils' skills. This helped them to move into the top 50 schools nationally for contextual value added in 2007. Year 6 teacher Sally Stafford gives pupils a purpose for learning, as they practice and develop their maths skills, making nets within the context of their Victorian theme. Year 4 teacher Sarah Maxey makes writing interactive and fun through a lesson on scary stories. And Year 3 teacher Lisa Newton leads the pupils as they hone their decision-making skills by designing and making their own pizzas.

Video Series: Improving Value-Added SATs
Release Date 2008