At Highgrove Education, we believe that learning should be engaging, empowering, and tailored to how students learn best. That’s why we’ve built our teaching model around flipped learning. Instead of spending classroom time learning under the supervision of a teacher, our students engage with interactive, high-quality learning materials before they arrive in class. This model not only ensures that every student works at a pace and time that suits them, but also opens the door to active learning, which consistently outperforms passive methods across a range of academic outcomes.
What is Flipped Learning?
Flipped learning is a teaching strategy where students first encounter new material on their own before reinforcing and applying that knowledge in a classroom setting. At Highgrove, this means pupils work through rich, structured independent study lessons prior to attending their live sessions. These aren’t just textbook readings or video recordings of lessons; they’re dynamic interactive lessons that include videos, diagrams, written explanations, and plenty of practice questions to check understanding and give instant feedback on progress.
It’s challenging to work through independent study materials, but the level of challenge helps the learning to stick. By the time they join their live sessions, pupils have already engaged deeply with the content and can focus on consolidating their knowledge and tackling more advanced problems with their teachers.
We see a strong, consistent correlation between how well pupils perform on our learning platform and how well they do in their final GCSE and A level exams. Simply put, if they’re doing well on the platform, they’re on track to do well overall.
The Power of Active Learning
Flipped learning sets the stage for active learning, which research has shown to be far more effective than passive learning. In traditional lecture-based settings or large classrooms, students often spend significant chunks of time listening without actively engaging. This passive approach can result in disengagement.
In contrast, active learning involves students in the process. Whether they’re answering questions, analysing diagrams, solving real-world problems, or participating in discussions, they’re constantly doing something with the information they’re learning. This makes all the difference.
Here are some key benefits of active learning:
1. Increased Engagement
When pupils take responsibility for their educational progress, their engagement and motivation improves. Active learning makes education more dynamic and less passive – it’s not possible to take a back seat as a passenger when you’re driving the car.
2. Improved Critical Thinking
At Highgrove, we want pupils to go beyond memorisation. Active learning requires pupils to analyse, evaluate, and synthesise information, helping them build the critical thinking skills they’ll need not just for exams, but for life beyond school.
3. Better Knowledge Retention
When pupils actively engage with material, they’re more likely to remember it. It takes more effort than passive learning, but when you have to work to reach an understanding of something, retention is improved. This is one of the key reasons we invest so heavily in interactive independent study materials. It’s not just about delivering information; it’s about helping pupils internalise it.
4. Personalised Learning
Different pupils learn in different ways. Our flipped model allows for self-paced exploration of content and the option to repeat videos and retake tests as needed. This flexibility offers a more personalised way to learn, ensuring that every student has the chance to thrive.
5. Independent Study Skills
Getting into the habit of working independently through self-study materials prior to attending live lessons helps pupils develop their independent study skills such as time management, chunking work and avoiding procrastination. These are vital skills for university and beyond. Learning how to learn is arguably even more useful than the content of what you learn in your GCSEs and A levels, and we ensure pupils are set up with good study habits for life.
6. Greater Academic Success
Active learning leads to improved academic performance. Improved retention means, Highgrove pupils are better prepared and more confident when it comes to exam season. They are also particularly good at revision, having easy access to learning materials and strong independent learning skills.
Final Thoughts
Highgrove Education’s flipped learning model is more than a teaching strategy: it’s a commitment to student success. By prioritising high-quality, interactive learning materials and using course time for deeper, active learning, we empower students to take ownership of their education.
In a world where the demands on students are constantly evolving, we believe this approach offers a smarter, more effective path forward. Active learners aren’t just better students; they’re better thinkers, problem-solvers, and lifelong learners.
Find out more about our innovative flipped learning approach by booking a call with our Admissions Team.
Watch Principal Heather Rhodes discuss the benefits of flipped learning in this short video.
(Sources: New Research Shows Learning Is More Effective When Active, Carnegie Mellon University, October 2021; Study shows students in ‘active learning’ classrooms learn more than they think, The Harvard Gazette, September 2019)
