Teaching and Learning

Teaching and Learning at The Beacon School 

The Beacon Six

At The Beacon School, our approach to teaching and learning is driven by our evidence-informed framework: The Beacon Six. It consists of research-based strategies which are designed to promote high expectations and ambition for all, ensuring every student receives a high-quality education and equitable access to both meaningful and purposeful learning.

The Beacon Six begins with a ‘Do Now’ activity to activate prior knowledge and create purposeful retrieval opportunities. This is followed by explicit vocabulary instruction, where students are taught ambitious, subject-specific language to raise aspiration and develop disciplinary literacy.

We prioritise checking for understanding, using strategies such as mini whiteboards to identify misconceptions in real time. Turn and Talk is embedded as a verbal scaffold, giving all students the chance to rehearse and refine their thinking before written work.

Our lessons follow the I Do, We Do, You Do model, providing clear modelling and structured scaffolding so that all learners can access and achieve the intended learning outcomes. This reflects our commitment to ambition for all.

Finally, responsive teaching enables our staff to adapt lessons based on student needs, addressing errors and misconceptions to ensure progress for every learner.

The Beacon Six is not just a pedagogical approach—it is a commitment to equity. It supports the effective implementation of our curriculum, ensuring that all students benefit from a rich, ambitious, and inclusive learning experience.