Brief Introduction to Form Management

The three years of junior secondary education are indeed the most important formative years of our students. It is during this period that they grow rapidly in body and mind as well as eagerly seek to expand their knowledge. It is also a critical time if they want to build a good foundation for learning – the junior secondary education serves to connect what they have learnt in primary and what they are going to study at senior secondary level. Hence, we are particularly conscious of the educational as well as personal needs of students at this stage, and do our utmost to develop suitable strategies to provide them with an all-round education.

Since 1998 we have put into practice the form management concept and explored the various implementation options. Basically, the classes from S1 to S3 are each taken care of by two class teachers; the class teachers of the same form automatically become members of the form management team, which is led by a team leader chosen from among them. As they sit in the same office, the class teachers can easily arrange to have formal or informal meetings frequently. The team as a whole is responsible for resolving all sorts of problems related to study and student life. Besides, the teachers are also responsible for organizing intra-class activities and competitions, guiding students to find their aims in life, and helping to foster in them good habits and behaviour. As the students in the same form tend to face similar problems, the management team would be able to pinpoint clear targets and become more effective in dealing with this homogeneous group of students.

Since the establishment of the form management teams, the class teachers are close in touch with the students. The range of form activities organized over the three years has systematically developed the friendship and cooperation among teachers and students. The form management team has gradually evolved into a mutual support mechanism, which effectively encourages teachers not to deal with what happens in one class in isolation, but to rally general support for tackling the issue on a common front. Through such joint efforts, teachers and students would be able to create and mould a suitable ethos and environment for themselves. This is an important learning experience for teachers and students alike. In short, the work of the form management team has enhanced interaction between teachers and students as well as contributed to their personal growth.