At Ark Burlington Danes Academy, we believe that all students deserve a calm, safe, and focused environment where they can keep learning every day. To help make that happen, we’ve introduced a set of simple, consistent routines that all staff and students follow. These core routines are designed to maximise learning time, reduce distractions, and help every student – including those with additional needs – feel secure, supported, and ready to learn.
We’re sharing this with parents and carers so you understand what your child is experiencing each day – and why it matters.
Why Do Routines Matter?
The way students behave and interact at school has a big impact on their learning.
When routines are clear and consistent:
- Students know exactly what to do and what to expect so they can aim high.
- Classrooms become calm, focused spaces where every minute counts to keep learning.
- Teachers can spend more time teaching and less time managing behaviour.
- Students feel safe, confident, and ready to take part.
As educator Peps McCrea says: “What we attend to is ultimately what we learn.” That’s why we’ve designed our routines to direct students’ attention to the most important thing: their learning.
Our Core Routines
Here are the key routines your child will experience regularly in lessons:
Thumbs Up: A fast and silent way to get everyone’s attention.
- When the teacher raises their thumb, students do the same and look at the teacher in silence.
- This quick, clear routine reduces the need for repeated instructions and maximises learning time.
Academic Posture: A signal to prepare for focused learning.
- Students sit up straight, hands together, and focus on the teacher.
- This simple posture helps eliminate distractions and supports concentration.
Turn and Talk (T&T): A structured way to get all students talking and thinking.
- Students discuss a question with a partner for a short time.
- Everyone gets a chance to speak, boosting confidence and building oral communication skills.
- Especially helpful for students with SEND or those developing confidence.
Write, Pair, Share: Encouraging deeper thinking and collaboration.
- Students first write their ideas silently.
- Then they discuss them with a partner.
- Finally, they share ideas with the whole class.
- This structure ensures everyone gets time to think, speak, and contribute.
Call and Response: An engaging, whole-class response technique.
- Teachers might say, “Repeat after me” or ask a short-answer question.
- Students reply in unison.
- This keeps energy high and helps reinforce key knowledge through repetition.
Mini Whiteboards (MWBs): A quick and easy way to check understanding.
- Students write answers on their personal whiteboards.
- Everyone holds them up at the same time when the teacher says “Show me”.
- This lets teachers give instant feedback and adapt the lesson in real-time.
Working Together
We know that change can take time – for students and staff alike. But by creating consistent expectations and routines across the school, we’re giving all students the best chance to succeed.
Most importantly, these routines support our school vision that “we will be the ones to make our world a better place.”
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to help every student aim high, keep learning, and thrive.
If you have any questions about these routines, or would like to organise a visit to the school to see them in action, please email the Vice Principal, John Rawkins, or call reception on 0208 735 4950 to request a call back.