Objective:
Active Classrooms and Engaged Learners at Oratory Primary School
Rationale:
At Oratory Primary School, engagement is at the heart of our curriculum. With our children genuinely engaged in their learning, they become more curious, more motivated, and more willing to take risks in their thinking. The introduction of Teach Active approach across the school has deepened participation, made learning experiences even more dynamic and inclusive and therefore played a key role in achieving this aim. By integrating purposeful movement into core learning activities, Teach Active has complemented the ethos of the Oratory curriculum, enabling pupils to engage physically, cognitively, and socially with their learning. By allowing children to move, collaborate, and explore concepts physically, Teach Active supports deeper understanding while maintaining high levels of enthusiasm.
Implementation
Staff across the school were encouraged to integrate the activities naturally into their lessons rather than treat them as separate or additional tasks. Teachers quickly found that the structure of Teach Active activities made them easy to adapt to their curriculum objectives. Lessons were enhanced with opportunities for movement, collaboration, and discussion, ensuring that learning remained purposeful while also being enjoyable.
As confidence has grown, the approach has become an integral part of classroom practice at Oratory.
Impact
Since the implementation of Teach Active across Oratory Primary School, there has been a noticeable increase in pupil engagement, enthusiasm, and focus during lessons. The active nature of the activities encourages all children to participate fully, remaining motivated and attentive throughout their learning. By incorporating movement into lessons, the children are able to regulate their energy levels and sustain concentration more effectively. The collaborative elements of Teach Active also support the development of oracy, as children naturally discuss ideas, explain their thinking, and work together in an informal and supportive way. This approach has fostered a positive classroom culture where the children enjoy their learning, and feel confident contributing to discussions. Overall, the programme has enhanced both engagement and wellbeing, building on our environment in which children are excited to learn and able to thrive.
At Oratory Primary School, engagement is central to our curriculum and the way we approach teaching and learning. Teach Active has complemented this vision perfectly by giving teachers practical ways to bring learning to life. We have seen a positive shift in pupils’ enthusiasm and participation in lessons, with children who are motivated, collaborative and confident in sharing their thinking.
Mrs Alice SteinartThe children love the opportunity to move while they learn, and it keeps them focused and engaged throughout the lesson. I’ve also noticed that they are much more willing to talk about their ideas and explain their thinking to their peers, which has really strengthened discussion and understanding.
Miss Lara Oswald, Year 3 teacher