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Posted on October 18th 2019
World Class Schools Status ...
25 UK Schools Get Through to the Final Stage...
On 15th October 2019, UTC Reading, the only Ofsted ‘outstanding’ UTC (University Technical College), in the country, renowned for its innovative approach to learning, and World Class accredited since 2017, hosted this year’s WCSQM Assessment Centre.
It was the final assessment stage for the 2019 cohort of schools applying to achieve World Class Schools Quality Mark accreditation. The award’s uniqueness lies in the fact that the students are assessed with regard to whether they are World Class or not, rather than the school itself. The premise is that if the school is truly World Class,
then its students should be able to demonstrate this in whatever context they find themselves.
WCSQM has been accrediting Ofsted ‘outstanding’ secondary schools in the UK since 2014 using a framework of skills and competencies young people need to flourish in an emerging global economy. 2019 sees the biggest cohort of applicant schools at one time to date, with 19 secondary schools and 8 primary schools (all non-selective state schools), shortlisted for accreditation.
This year students from 25 schools got through to the Assessment Centre, and were given the challenge of working in teams to design a ‘Classroom for the future’ for UTC Reading, a modern, innovative, ‘future proof’ and environmentally sustainable learning space. Working in teams of primary and secondary students combined, students were required to carry out pre-event planning, research and design work, laying the groundwork for the assessment day, during which they would be meeting
with consultants to seek expert help before creating designs, brochures, films, and a 3D model of the space. At the end of the day each team presented their designs to a panel of industry experts, sourced by UTC Reading, who helped to assess whether students had the World Class skills and competencies to secure their school WCSQM accreditation.
We are now anxiously waiting to hear whether our fabulous students have achieved these world class standards. The results are to be annoucned on 11th November 2019.
We are so very proud of our representative students ...