LinkedUp Award Scheme

Collaboration for creative learning

Project Structure

As a guide to structuring your work, we have adapted the steps recommended by QCA in their leaflet on disciplined innovation.

Before submitting your application:

  1. Identify your priorities, based on:
    • feedback from teachers and learners in the partner schools
    • hard data, including patterns of attainment
  2. Set clear goals
    • Discuss what you want to see happening in the classroom as a result of the project
    • Agree and write down the outcomes you are aiming for
    • Make your goals well-defined, challenging but also realistic
  3. Decide on the curriculum changes you will make
    • Focus on what would be most likely to bring about the differences you want to see
    • Choose an idea that is (as far as you know) innovative
    • Aim to identify a key change which will lead to sustainable benefits

When the project has been approved:

  1. Finalise planning
    • Create a detailed plan with deadlines and ‘reflection points’ (see below)
    • Make necessary practical arrangements and prepare resources
  2. Implement curriculum changes
    • Make the changes you have agreed, working together and evaluating your progress as you go
    • Collect ‘stories’ about learners, examples of learners’ work and assessment data
  3. Review progress
    • Use the ‘reflection points’ to assess how well you are meeting your goals
    • Decide what you need to do next to increase the impact of the project
  4. Evaluate and record the impact
    • Use the evidence gathered to evaluate the overall impact of the project
    • Compare the current situation to your starting point
    • Using this information, decide on the best strategy for taking your work forward after the project and ensuring sustainability
    • Plan and create resources for sharing with other teachers

The resources you prepare will be posted on a national resource bank hosted by Links into Languages. In most cases it should also be possible to create paper or CD packs that will be made available through the Links regional centres.