Thinking outside the box: Provocative Pokes

By John Kett Assistant Principal, British School

provocative adjective causing an angry reaction, usually intentionally

Ilove the Provocative Poke structure we have developed at the British School. Its roots lie in what the staff said they love most about the British School and the core values of the British School are woven into the template that teachers use to structure their Pokes.

That said, there is one value above all others that I particularly attribute the current successes of Provocative Pokes tocollaboration.

When I reflect on why other change initiatives may not have had the desired impact in the past I recognise it is due, in some part, to a lack of opportunities to collaborate on ideas and goals over the long term. Schools are sociable places and professional discussion provides one of the richest opportunities for teachers to reflect, refine and develop their ‘Pokes’ - approaches and strategies to develop their teaching practices to best support all learners in their classes.

Evidence: 19

How will I know what the impact has been?

Dedicating regular time to Provocative Pokes in our British School and departmental meetings has certainly helped maintain the momentum of this approach to professional learning. For me, this is one way in which we build the culture of the schooldedicating time to value the things that matter most.

Without a doubt, the best thing about Provocative Pokes is the collaborative conversations I have seen teachers having and these not just with teachers who teach the same age group or subject discipline but across Key Stages. For me, this is at the heart of The Next Chapter - collaboration that builds mutual respect, collective responsibility and enables staff to take courageous steps to develop elements of their practice for the benefit of our students.

Andy Freeman and I had the privilege of presenting about Provocative Pokes at a Fobisia EJAWs event on 10th March. If you’d like to hear more about it, please contact us, or speak to a teacher at the British School.