Purpose of the activity: to promote discussion and understanding of issues raised by the GTC Researc

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Grouping RoM Mystery game
Grouping pupils and students

• Purpose of the activity to promote discussion
  and understanding of issues raised by the GTC
  Research of the Month (RoM) summary Grouping
  pupils and students what difference does the
  type of grouping make to teaching and learning in
  schools?
• The RoM is based on Ability Grouping in Education
  by Judith Ireson and Susan Hallam (2001)
• CPD activity Mystery Game followed by
  discussion of issues

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Grouping RoM Mystery game
The St Marks mystery the task

• Use the information to answer the question.
• Work as a collaborative group.
• Try to make your answer as full as possible and
  plausible, based on the evidence that exists and
  reasonable assumptions.
• Not all the information is necessarily relevant.
• Try to structure your argument physically on the
  table top
• Be prepared to present it to others.

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Grouping RoM Mystery game
The mystery game question

• In a recent survey, conducted by St. Marks
  school council, 65 per cent of students said
• they were unhappy with the set or group they were
  in. Kate Johnson has been asked by
• the head to look at setting and grouping and to
  suggest possible reasons for student
• dissatisfaction. What does she find out?

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Grouping RoM Mystery game
Follow-up questions

• How well do you think differentiation is handled
  at St. Marks in the various subjects?
• What were the features of the different
  departments that may have made them more or less
  effective in improving pupil outcomes?
• Do all St. Marks students have equal access to
  the curriculum in different subjects?
• Are there any external pressures to adopt
  particular grouping styles at St. Marks?
• To what extent might the experience of particular
  members of staff have affected their views on
  grouping arrangements?
• What questions do you now have about ability
  grouping that you would like the RoM study to
  answer?
• General Teaching Council for England Research
  www.gtce.org.uk/research