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Nine members of staff at Childwall Sports and Science Academy joined teenagers in taking English and maths GCSEs this summer.
Teachers sat GCSE maths and English exams with the aim of bonding more with their pupils.
The English teachers took maths and vice versa to find out if they could make the grade at GCSE.
It saw the school’s head of maths swapping algebra for authors and English teachers brushing up on their numbers.
And there was no hiding away for the adult learners – they took the exams in the same room as the students at exactly the same time.
The challenge is the brainchild of Childwall Academy’s assistant headteacher, Tom Reynolds.
Academy principal James Kerfoot said: “The “fantastic gesture” took the group of teachers and support staff out of their comfort zone – and showed students that their teachers are always learning.
“They took absolutely the same exams – they were sitting proper GCSEs.
“We are trying to push a really powerful message about learning. Tom believes that we have to show that teachers are learners too.
“If you can’t show that we are prepared to sit alongside students, then what are we telling them?
“The staff gave it a go and they were in the sports hall sitting the exams at the same time as the students.
“I think it’s fabulous and it’s really showing the team spirit of the school.”
Staff signed up for the exams in January and spent their Easter holidays completing coursework to meet the same deadlines facing their students.
All the teachers who sat the exams passed with C’s and above, although some were disappointed with not getting straight A*’s.
The Principal James Kerfoot stated: “This shows the extra mile our staff are prepared to go for our students and gave a superb message that the staff understand the pressures of exams and are prepared to put themselves through this to develop empathy for the young people in their care.”

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