Zipping towards success: workload-neutral strategies to establish a powerful knowledge base for all students

This case study focuses on the use of Google Forms and Zipgrade to assess and improve students’ retention and recall of key subject-specific knowledge in Year 7 religious studies at Chesterton Community College, Cambridge. The case study involved 200 students and four members of staff, of which just one was a religious studies specialist. Data was collected over the autumn term of 2019. Chesterton’s Key Stage 3 religious studies course is designed to ensure that students are introduced to, understand and remember key religious beliefs, teachings and practices. This includes factual knowledge (e.g. subject-specific vocabulary and sacred writings) and understanding of how beliefs influence believers (e.g. opinions, interpretations and practices). Key information is presented in knowledge organisers. The direct instruction phase is followed by a range of scaffolded tasks, leading to independent practice. There is a focus on elaborative interrogation, with students being encouraged