A KIDDERMINSTER secondary school has denied claims that its pupils are “no longer allowed” to raise their hands during lessons.

Teachers at King Charles I School, in Comberton Road, have instilled new techniques to “improve the learning experience for students” by altering the way they use questioning.

One of the techniques involves questioning being directed at pupils, rather than students putting their hand up to give answers.

After discovering his son was “no longer allowed” to put his hand up in class, one parent, Jon Allen, approached The Shuttle saying: “I was surprised when a chat with my son across the dinner table mentioned that they are no longer allowed to raise their hands in class.

“So when you need to go the toilet what do you do? Wink?”

After being contacted, the school denied this is the case. A spokesman for the school said: “King Charles I School strives to foster a sense of curiosity in the students and therefore welcome and encourage students to ask questions during their lessons.

“When students have questions, or want to get the teacher’s attention, then this will be done in the normal way with students raising their hands.”

The school said it is currently working on a number of “positive new teaching strategies” which centre on questioning.

These strategies are aimed at allowing all students to have a voice in the classroom and be able to share their views, rather than just the odd few.

The school spokesman added: “Teachers are working on the way they use questioning to help students improve their learning and thereby make much better progress.

“As well as thinking carefully about the type of questions they ask and including this in their lesson planning, teachers also endeavour to ask all students at least one question during the lesson, regardless of whether they have their hand up.”

Complimenting the new strategy, Year 10 student Danni Tipping said: “It makes people listen and focus more because they know they’ll get asked a question. They can’t drift off.”

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