Blueprint is a free 5-year plan for GCSE science. See how Blueprint works: download the presentation, show it in a departmental meeting, or forward it to colleagues.

1. © Mastery Science 2018
Introducing Blueprint

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Teaching this
specification
directly can
seriously harm
students’
understanding
Do you know someone who’s spec-a-holic?

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Specaholism leads to students gaining fragile
knowledge that they can’t apply.

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Think of GCSE as a Universe of marks
40% is Visible matter.
It’s the content
statements (AO1)
60% is Dark Matter.
It’s beyond content
statements (AO2/3)

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For AO2/3, students need to
 Apply knowledge
 Analyse knowledge
 Use enquiry & maths skills
Many schemes,
textbooks and
PowerPoints focus
on AO1

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What to focus on for AO2/3
Key concepts
Thinking processes
Explicit skills
 Apply knowledge
 Analyse knowledge
 Use enquiry & maths
skills

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into organised concepts
around a ‘big idea’. This
structure helps students to
think with what they know
Key concepts
Turn fragile,
disconnected
knowledge

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Having identified key concepts, put them in order,
and revisit the big ideas every year

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Before you think about lessons or activities, plan the
learning pathway to master the key concept.

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Replace overly specific objectives (basically recall
of content) with ones that specify AO2/3 thinking
processes.
Thinking processes

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Explicit skills
Go beyond occasional skills practise: harness
enquiry and maths as tools to help students
Acquire, Apply and Analyse concepts.

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Q: It sounds great. The problem is:
there’s too much stuff already. How
will I ever finish the spec if I have to
teach in more depth?

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A: Blueprint minimises repetition. There is much duplication
between 11-14 and 14-16. Teach for understanding the first time
and students remember more. I.e. less re-teaching.

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A: Blueprint prioritises curriculum time. Many statements are
facts. They can be quickly learned once students have mental
hooks from key concepts to attach to. So teach concepts in
years 7/8 and cram facts in year 10/11.
More time
Less time

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A: Blueprint leverages assessment. Use the formative stages
Activate and Assess to check understanding and gauge how
much time to allocate to concepts. Also, make sure summative
tests measure progress in AO2/3.

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Blueprint is a 5-year curriculum plan for new GCSE demands.
It can be adapted to any spec and customized to your needs.
Blueprint CPD Teaching Assessment
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