Drayton School is an improving comprehensive in Banbury, Oxfordshire, but with only 18% of pupils gaining 5 A to Cs at GCSE there is a long way to go. John Bayley visits a struggling design and technology department where he observes a year 7 resistant materials lesson taught by Martin Cromwell. Martin is a new Head of Department who's recently been appointed to turn things around. His priority has been to improve the teaching of large classes of 30 pupils by working on lesson preparation and by engaging the help of a technician to teach the class in groups. Bayley thinks he's cracked this problem, but needs to turn his attention to developing the pupil's analytical skills in practical lessons with more class discussion and the sharing of ideas. In a follow-up lesson, Martin tries to encourage more class discussion, and Bayley is also encouraged to see the pupils starting to discuss their work informally amongst themselves.

Video Series: Teaching With Bayley
Release Date 2006