Teaching, Learning and Assessment

At Denbigh we consider the teaching of our ambitious curriculum and our students’ learning of the curriculum to be our core business. We have one clear vision for our students:

“To know more, remember more, do more”

To achieve this we have a clear and agreed approach to teaching that is evidence informed, based upon esteemed academics such as Daniel Willingham and his application of cognitive science to education. It is articulated through our teaching and learning model of PEPPA.

Planning:

Teachers at Denbigh are highly skilled and knowledgeable in their subjects and understand the importance of effective planning; they select the best knowledge and use it to devise ambitious and coherently sequenced curricula. They are also trained in the fundamentals of lesson planning so they can deliver engaging lessons that build on prior knowledge to support student understanding. Teachers also use pre-existing knowledge of their students and the support of other educational professionals to ensure all students can access our curriculum.

Engagement:

Teachers are also skilled in effective behaviour for learning strategies that ensure our students are engaged in thinking about the curriculum they are being taught. We achieve this through a consistent approach using learning modes. This includes a respectful whole class mode where all students are expected to sit up tall, listen, pay attention, never interrupt and track the teacher (SLANT). Teachers also understand the individual needs of our students, including SEND, and make relevant adaptations so we can maximise their engagement in learning.

Pedagogy:

Our teachers are well versed in evidenced informed pedagogy and routinely receive regular and personalised professional development. This includes regular coaching which grows teacher knowledge and implementation of pedagogical techniques ensuring that knowledge is imparted effectively to students. We use the instructional coaching model of Jim Knight and the instructional playbook of Tom Sherrington’s ‘Teaching Walkthrus’ to support this work.

Progress:

Using assessment for learning techniques our teachers are confident in checking the understanding of our students in any episode of learning. Teachers skillfully use questioning strategies that promote thinking in all of our students and, based on the feedback they receive from students, are able to adapt teaching accordingly. Teachers also give regular feedback to students based on the marking of student assessments either individually or to the whole class, that supports student reflection and helps them improve. Students are also able to review the work of their peers, verbal or written, and provide constructive feedback to each other. School and subject leaders also use assessment data to identify areas of refinement and to design interventions to aid the progress of all students.

Achievement:

It is of our opinion that when our model is implemented students are inspired by their teachers and are able to ‘know more, remember more, and do more’. One piece of evidence that supports our current success is our exceptional GCSE outcomes, though this is but one small strand of a wider picture of success. Further evidence lies in how our students can articulate and discuss their learning as well as how they can talk about their experience of the curriculum to adults. At Denbigh we are proud of our students' achievements.

Teaching and Learning Leaders

	Rozina Butt Teaching and Learning Leader of Year 11 Mrs Butt was a partner in the firm of solicitors and worked as a Matrimonial Lawyer for 22 years. She has served Denbigh High school as a Parent Governor from 2015-2018 and then volunteered at the school as a TA. This led to her being employed as a TA in 2018. After 18 months she applied for the Head of Year post and in September 2020 she took the role of Head of year. Currently Mrs Butt is Head of year 11 and is an ECT.
	Tasneem Choudhury Teaching and Learning Leader of Year 10 Mrs Choudhury joined Denbigh High School in 2020 as a Teacher of English. Prior to this, she joined a school in Devon as a Newly Qualified Teacher, where she worked for three years. Since then, Mrs Choudhury has progressed into the pastoral team as a Head of Year. In 2022, Mrs Choudhury was promoted to Associate Assistant Headteacher for Safeguarding and Mental Health.
	Maishah Khan Teaching and Learning Leader of Year 9 Miss Khan's journey at Denbigh High School began in 2009 where she studied at the school as a pupil. Inspired by her own teachers, she joined Denbigh High School in 2019 as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant, later qualifying as a teacher of RE and Psychology in 2020. Since then, Miss Khan has been a Head of House, supporting pupils in aspirations and their personal development, as well as been involved in the planning and delivery of community projects such as the Big Denbigh Iftaar. She is currently the Head of Year 9.
	Jassim Chowdhuruy Teaching and Learning Leader of Year 8 Mr Chowdhury joined Denbigh High School in 2015 as a Newly Qualified Teacher of mathematics. Since then Mr Chowdhury became a Head of House for Lords and then progressed onto becoming a Head of Year. Mr Chowdhury was promoted to Associate Assistant Headteacher for Behaviour and Attendance.
	Leonie Molloy Teaching and Learning Leader of Year 7 Miss Molloy joined Denbigh High School as a trainee in January 2022, after leaving a career in the geotechnical and environmental engineering industry. Following her training at Denbigh she joined the Geography department as an ECT in July 2022. Miss Molloy progressed to Assistant Head of Year in April 2023 and was appointed Head of Year 7 and Transition Manager in May 2024. She currently does this role alongside being the Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator for Denbigh High School.
	Poppy Vandenbergh Teaching & Learning Leader for Physical Education Associate Assistant Headteacher Miss Blair joined Denbigh in 2019 as a newly qualified teacher of Physical Education. In 2020 her career developed into a head of house position. In 2021 she became Head of Year 8 and the following year after that she became Head of Year 7 and transition. Miss Blair is now currently Teaching and Learning Leader for Physical Education and Associate Assistant Headteacher.
	Tehseen Amjad Teaching & Learning Leader for English Mr. Amjad joined Denbigh High School in 2017 as a Newly Qualified Teacher in the English Department. Since then, he has undertaken the pastoral role of Assistant Head of Year, before becoming Assistant Teaching and Learning Leader for English in 2018. During this time, he has mentored and coached many Trainees, NQTs and ECT. As of 2022, Mr Amjad is the Head of English at Denbigh High School.
	Karen Mankin Teaching & Learning Leader for Mathematics Mrs Mankin joined Denbigh in 2011 as a newly qualified teacher of Maths after working in the IT industry for seventeen years. Mrs Mankin progressed to Assistant Teaching and Learning Leader of Maths then to Teaching and Learning Leader of Maths in 2018. Mrs Mankin is also a Governor for one of the trust’s primary schools and the Lead Mentor for Maths for the Chiltern Training Group SCITT.
	Tasleem Aslam Teaching & Learning Leader for Computer Science & Business Miss Aslam Joined Denbigh in 2018 as a Computer Science teacher, previously having worked in Secondary Education for over 17 years both nationally and internationally. Specialising in Computing & Business. In 2021 taking on the role of Teaching and Learning Leader of Computing & Business. Miss Aslam is also an examiner for OCR & Pearson examination boards.
	Eric Adjei Teaching & Learning Leader for Psychology Mr Adjei is in his 26th year of teaching and 11th here at Denbigh High School. He has taught many humanities subjects including History, Geography and Religious Education and headed Citizenship, PSHE, Religious Education and History at various times. He is currently head of psychology - a post that has led him to develop a passion for the integration of cognitive development theories with pedagogy. He is currently in charge of memory and recall across the curriculum to promote our ‘know more, remember more and do more’ programme. Mr Adjei holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and History, a PGCE (with QTS) from Cheltenham and Gloucester University and a Masters degree in Education from the Institute of Education in London.
	Anna Barke Teaching & Learning Leader for Art & Design Miss Barke joined Denbigh in 2013 as a newly qualified teacher of Art and Design. In 2017 her career developed into a head of department position. During this time Miss Barke was also head of house for Wimbledon for 2 years.
	Tom Davies Teaching & Learning Leader for Creative Arts Mr Davies joined Denbigh High School in 2017 as the Subject Learning Leader for Media Studies. Since then, he has developed the popular and enriching KS3 Production Studies curriculum and become Head of Faculty for the Creative Arts, leading Drama, Music, Media and Production Studies. In 2022 Mr Davies began the SSAT leadership fellowship programme, for which he graduated in 2023.
	Hannah Edgeworth Teaching & Learning Leader for Geography Associate Assistant Headteacher Mrs Edgeworth joined Denbigh High School in 2015 as a newly qualified teacher of geography. In 2018- 2019 she took part in the SSATs leadership fellowship programme graduating from the programme at the end of 2019. In 2019 Mrs Edgeworth developed into Head of year, taking her year group from year 8 to year 11, where she then progressed onto her current role in 2022 of Head of Geography and Whole school responsibility for digital education. Mrs Edgeworth is also a Pearson's Edexcel Geography examiner 2016- present and was a Edtech digital practitioner 2020-2022.
	Yann Le Coguic Teaching & Learning Leader for Modern Foreign Languages Mr Le Coguic is a French national with over 20 years of experience as a qualified teacher of Modern Foreign Languages in the UK. He started his teaching career back in France where he used to teach English as a Foreign Language to students at a public engineering school. Prior to joining Denbigh High school in 2022, he worked as a middle leader for 15 years in 2 nearby schools. In his previous post as a Teaching and Learning leader, Mr Le Coguic was also responsible for leading the Erasmus partnership with a school near Paris. He also worked towards accreditation with the British Council for the International School Award. Mr Le Coguic is currently leading the MFL department at Denbigh High School whilst holding the role of Specialist Leader of Education.
	Masuma Tafadar Teaching & Learning Leader for RE & Citizenship Miss Tafadar is a Teacher of Humanities, specialising in Religious Education. She is the Teaching and Learning Leader for RE and Citizenship. Miss Tafadar was a Head of House; through this she provided students with extracurricular opportunities. She was also a Digital Practitioner for Ed Tech, delivering CPD to schools across the Trust and nationally. Prior to teaching, Miss Tafadar worked in the Human Rights field and then in Programme Development for a Leadership Consultancy.
	Farhana Yasmin Teaching & Learning Leader for Science Miss Yasmin joined Denbigh High School in 2021 as a Teacher of Science. Since joining she has become the Acting Assistant Teaching and Learning Lead for Science. Prior to this she was a KS4 Coordinator in her previous school.
	Aqsa Rashid Head of Aspiration and Student development Miss Rashid joined Denbigh High School in 2019 as a Newly Qualified Teacher. Since then she has participated in various additional roles such as digital practitioner and instructional coach. In 2022, Miss Rashid was appointed as Acting Head of History. She has now progressed as Head of Aspiration and Student Development where she leads the careers programme and various external projects to promote key employability and soft skills for students.
	Sofia Zafar Assistant Teaching & Learning Leader for English Mrs Zafar has joined Denbigh high School in 2018 as a Teacher of English and transition lead for KS3 to KS4 overseeing transition curriculum for English. She has also led the whole school literacy and strategized various literacy plans for the school in 2021. Mrs Zafar has progressed to Assistant Teaching & Learning Leader of English in 2022 and also working as specialist leader of education for the Chiltern Learning Trust. Mrs Zafar is also an Instructional Coach for the school supporting Teaching & Learning development; she has coached and mentored various trainees and NQTs for the school.
	Mohammed Ajim Assistant Teaching & Learning Leader for Mathematics Mr. Ajim joined Denbigh High School in 2007 as a Teacher in the Maths Department. Prior to this he worked in Lealand High School as a Teacher of mathematics. He has a 1st class Honours and Masters degree in Statistics. Mr. Ajim has had a variety of roles whilst at Denbigh High School including Numeracy Coordinator. As Numeracy Coordinator he was promoting numeracy across the school. Mr. Ajim has progressed to Assistant Teaching & Learning Leader of Mathematics in 2012. He has worked with feeder primary schools and delivered various CPD sessions. He has mentored and coached many PGCE Trainees and NQTs/ ECTs.
	Chris Bacon Assistant Teaching & Learning Leader for PE Mr Bacon joined Denbigh in 2018 as Assistant Teaching and Learning Leader for PE. Prior to this he worked in Secondary Education for 10 years in Buckinghamshire specialising in sport. In 2022 he took a new responsibility as a CLT Sport Coordinator. In this role he provides sporting opportunities for students for all schools within the trust.
	Gina Kelly Student Leadership Mrs Kelly joined Denbigh High School in 2022 as an experienced PE teacher of 30 years. She has managed sports partnerships, supported teacher training and has extensive knowledge of SEND having previously been an Assistant Headteacher. at a special school. She presently leads on student leadership across the school.

Judges were impressed by (Denbigh High School’s) commitment to making technology integral to learning and the impact on pupil outcomes, not only for their own pupils but for those of other schools.

EDTech 50 Schools Guide 2019