Customer Story: Berkhamsted School

• Streamlined teaching: Teachers save time using ready-made Pods, check-and-challenge quizzes, and reusable assignments.
• Student motivation: Interactive quizzes allow multiple attempts, building confidence and engagement.
• Improved results: GCSEPod helps consolidate learning and track progress, driving better outcomes.
• Independent study: Students are encouraged to use GCSEPod as a core part of their revision strategy.
• School-Wide Potential: GCSEPod has the scope to expand across departments, enhancing learning across subjects.

Challenge

Berkhamsted School, one of the UK’s leading independent schools, sought an engaging and effective way to enhance learning and revision in its science department. Chemistry teacher Luke Hornsey identified a need for a tool that could consolidate learning, track progress, and encourage independent study without creating additional workload for teachers.

Solution

Berkhamsted introduced Access GCSEPod as part of its Science strategy, focusing on Chemistry lead by teachre Luke Hornsey. The platform provided a flexible and interactive approach to teaching and learning. With concise videos (Pods), check-and-challenge quizzes, and the ability to reuse assignments, GCSEPod became a cornerstone of the department’s educational approach.

Luke and his colleagues integrated GCSEPod into their lessons, using it alongside OneNote to create structured assignments. “We set Pods and link them to check-and-challenge quizzes, encouraging students to reach 80% or higher. They can have as many attempts as they need, which really helps build confidence,” said Luke.

Implementation

To maximise engagement, Luke designed a series of OneNote pages inspired by Access GCSEPod’s best practice ideas, enabling teachers to embed Pods into their assignments effectively. By reusing assignments year on year, Luke streamlined lesson preparation while maintaining high-quality learning resources.

Results

The impact of Access GCSEPod has been clear: better engagement, improved consolidation of knowledge, and tangible results. Luke noted that his classes, where GCSEPod is used consistently, have seen noticeable improvements. “It works because it consolidates learning with minimal additional work for teachers. I can quickly check how well students are doing based on their results,” he explained.

Berkhamsted students, particularly in Chemistry, responded positively to the interactive elements of GCSEPod. “They like the check-and-challenge feature because they can have another go if they don’t reach the target score. It motivates them to keep trying,” said Luke.

The platform has also encouraged independent study. Ahead of Year 11 mock exams, Luke guided his students to use GCSEPod for revision, helping them target specific areas for improvement. “I told them to log on and build it into their revision – it makes a difference,” he said.

Future plans

Luke believes GCSEPod has the potential to extend beyond the Science department at Berkhamsted. “If other subjects come on board, it opens up GCSEPod for the whole school,” he said. By embedding GCSEPod into everyday teaching and promoting independent learning, Luke and his team aim to further elevate student outcomes.

Why Access GCSEPod?

Luke Hornsey recommends GCSEPod to other schools for its ability to enhance learning while reducing teacher workload:

“It’s an effective support to learning. It helps deliver better quality teaching, better learning, and better results.”

Key benefits:

• Streamlined preparation: Ready-to-use Pods and quizzes save teachers valuable time.
• Independent learning: Students are encouraged to engage with resources outside the classroom.
• Improved results: GCSEPod consolidates learning and tracks progress effectively.
• Engagement: Interactive quizzes and multiple attempts motivate students to succeed.

Conclusion

Berkhamsted School’s Science department has embraced Access GCSEPod as a vital learning tool. By embedding it into their teaching, the team, led by Luke Hornsey, has created a dynamic learning environment where students are empowered to succeed and teachers are supported every step of the way.