Collaborative Lesson Research (CLR) Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity Number 1183454 REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDING AUGUST 2022
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the period starting 1[st ] September 2021 and ending 31 August 2022.
I. Objectives and Activities
CLR’s ultimate objective is to improve student learning through school-based action research into classroom teaching and subject knowledge. More specifically, our aim is to promote: (a) practical knowledge about how best to teach, how to build curricular coherence, and how to produce better textbooks; (b) professional development of teachers; (c) professional networks and communication channels through which new teaching-related knowledge can be shared. This is to be achieved through the implementation of a form of Japanese lesson study, adapted to the UK environment. We also strive to inform and influence the wider public and policy makers about teaching and learning processes with a view to improving the educational context.
Our activity reported in this annual report has continued to be affected badly by the Covid 19 pandemic which persisted during the period and continued to be disruptive in schools and consequently affected our ability to work with teachers in pursuit of lesson study in schools. Consequently, most activity in this period, as last year, took place online.
We continued to work closely with the CLR group led by Dr. Akihiko Takahashi in Chicago and colleagues working as IMPULS at Tokyo Gakugei University. In shaping the objectives and planning our activities, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Events that took place in this period included
1. Online events for professional development and knowledge exchange.
We continued to work In consultation with IMPULS and CLR – USA, Using an online model of lesson study two courses were developed and organised to take place in this reporting period.
Module 3: Division without remainders
9th November 2021 - 15th November 2021
Module 4: Division of fractions 25th January 2022 - 31st January 2022.
Important in support of these events has been the role of the UK CLR group in hosting daily sessions for UK participants to follow up the online lesson study sessions hosted by the IMPULS group in Japan and CLR/LS Alliance in USA..
- We continued to plan our project to showcase Japanese Lesson Study conducted by Japanese teachers in the UK. We originally planned a short visit (2 working days over 3 nights) by three Japanese teachers from Tsukuba University Primary School to the UK between 13th and 16th October, 2021.
(Tsukuba University Primary School is one of the leading ‘model’ schools in Japan, well known for their innovative lesson design and their role in professional development of Japanese primary teachers, both of which are based on Japanese Lesson Study. Tsukuba teachers play a key role leading Japanese primary schools i n this practice through their open Research Lessons, and often assist other schools as advisors and commentators).
The visit did not go ahead on the dates planned due to Covid restrictions. We reorganised the visit with colleagues in Denmark and it is to go ahead in October 2022 (in our next reporting year).
- A CLR cycle in Devon was recorded during June and July 2021. Planning and preparation for this cycle to be used for an online webinar event in 2023 took place during 2021/2; the lesson proposal and video were edited for sharing more widely, with children’s work from the lesson included.
II. Organisational development
Organisational development was again an important focus for CLR during this period of operation. We continued to consider strategic directions to ensure the effective participation of volunteers in shaping the organisational work.
Strategy Group (SG) our executive advisory group comprises 5 Trustees with up to 10 additional members. There has been some change in membership of the SG and they continue to (a) help shape our charity’s vision, (b) commit time and energy to advise on the
future direction of CLR, and (c) take on key roles to plan and organise activities/events as and when appropriate.
Development Group (DG) The work of the DG has been heavily curtailed because of our inability to work directly with schools. We have considered disbanding the DG at least until conditions are more supportive towards making this operational.
III. Financial review (financial year ends 31[st ] August)
Balance as at September 1[st] 2021 £9909.88 Balance as at August 31[st ] 2022 £11909.88
Income for the period September 1[st ] 2021 – August 31[st ] 2022
Total £2000
Expenditure for the period 1[St ] September 2021 – August 31[st ] 2022
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TOTAL £0
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V. Structure, governance and management
Charitable Incorporated Organisation: Charity Registration Number 1183454 Governing document: constitution effective dated 16 May 2019
Trustees:
16 May 2019 for the term of 3 years renewable up to 5 years Geoffrey Wake, Chair Sarah Seleznyov, Secretary Rachael Horsman, Treasurer Matt Lewis, Trustee
1st December 2021 for the term of 3 years renewable up to 5 years Prof Mike Askew, Trustee
Dr. Ruth Trundley, Trustee
Strategy Group Members in period 1[st ] September 2021 – 31[st ] August 2022: all Trustees plus
o Dr. Julie Alderton, University of Cambridge
o Dr. Rosa Archer, Manchester University
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Laurie Jacques, Educational Consultant
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Luke Rolls, Assistant Head, Cambridge University Primary School
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Bob Sawyer, Independent Advisor
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Matt Woodford, Nottingham Trent University
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 15 June 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
Trustee 1 Geoffrey Wake
Trustee 2 Matt Lewis