Summary - This case study provide a rich source of ideas on how the age old problems associated with cross phase transfer might be overcome.     

The Bureaucratic Bridge (formal liaison, SMT)
• Zone Management Committee meetings (headteachers, 3 x per term, shared planning of activities) since 2000.
• Zone Link meetings (4 x per term, help implementation) from 2003
• Focus groups on literacy, numeracy, IT, Transition, Inclusion (irregular meetings during the life of the first Zone-2000-2003.

The Social Bridge (social links between pupils, parents, induction)
• Consultation with parents of all Zone schools – March 2001, followed by prize draw held on the roof garden at IGS in May 2001.
• IGS headteacher talking at primary assemblies since 2002.
• Peer mentoring with ps/year 8s in summer term (BIP and beyond) 2004.  Extending the work to the wider group of Zone primary schools.
• After school clubs at IGS for ps (basketball (2003/4).
• Year 9/10 pupils talking at yr 5/6 assemblies about life at IGS (2004).
• ‘Explosions 1,2 and 3’ (science through dance) project to ps (2002-4).
• WYSE project to help pupils deal with reaction to change; sessions on ‘identity/fears of moving to SS’.  Run for 250 yrs 5/6 (2004) after Whitsun half-term.  Year 7s at IGS to be buddies in follow-up visit to IGS.
• Shared art project between Highbury Grove and HQ (2004)
• ‘Up for Action’ Saturday School:  Jan-March 2003/2004.  60 pupils from years 5/6 and 10 from yrs 7/8 take part in Thinking Skills, Creative Writing and Fun Maths plus sports from 10am-1pm for 9 weeks.
• Working towards a shared behaviour policy (discussions to be held with BIP, links with gender issue/work on conflict resolution during 2004/5 – possibly shared inset?).

The Curriculum Bridge (content, involves teachers)
• Poetry workshops with David Lyall in all Zone schools, book published (2002)
• ICT specialist teacher working in primary schools:  2002, 2003-6; working to establish use of the London Grid, link up with CLC, video conferencing.  Working towards more specialist teachers working in ps from 2004-6.
• Dance and Maths specialist classes in ps (2004-6)
• ‘Bubbles’ Science project (2002) for yr 6, project started in yr 6 (2 primary schools) and continued in yr 7 at IGS.
• Beacon School science teacher working in two ps (2002/4)
• Beacon School CAME Maths teacher working in two ps (2004)
• Visits by IGS/HG teachers to primary schools in the Autumn term
• Playground project with architecture student from LMU with ten yr 10s (2003)
• Increase use of CLC by Zone schools (2004-6)

The Pedagogy Bridge (shared understanding re how pupils are taught)
• UFA Fellowship training (years 1 and 2) since 2001 – 16 fellows trained and delivering projects within own schools.
• 4 Cross-Zone Super Learning Days:  ‘Learning to learn’ (2002), ‘Healthy schools’ (2003), ‘Pupil Leadership’ (2003), ‘The 21st Century School through creativity’ (2004) – 80 pupils from years 5-8 and year 10s.  Whole days introducing pupils to styles of learning within different foci.
• Shared inset on the ‘Power of Learning’ (3 schools in 2003) and ‘A question of Gender’ (2004 with 320 teachers/support staff from 9 schools).
• Professional Development Programme from HG shared with Zone (2003/4)

Management of Learning Bridge (Empowering pupils, families, information flow)
• Action research project and report on transfer to primary school (2002) with representatives from primary schools, under 5s organisations, teachers, parents and other professionals.  Report circulated to all Islington primary headteachers and relevant CEA staff.
• Year 7 (and 5/6) parents’ information evenings (2004).  TBC
• School/Home Liaison workers in each school support transition at KS2 (2001-4) as well as attendance, punctuality and behaviour.
• Health and Beauty Day (2001), Mind and Body Day (2002) – events for parents to give them a flavour of learning in collaboration with City and Islington College. 
• Education Week Events:  Summer Dreams held at the Union Chapel (2001), WordZone Book Launch held at the Union Chapel (2002), ArtZone Exhibition held at the Candid Arts Gallery(2003), Creative Extravaganza, venue TBC (2004).

Margy Knutson
Director
0207 359 4056