News, Views and Social

Newsletter | Autumn Term 2023

Hello and welcome to our Autumn Term Newsletter.  The purpose of these new e-newsletters is to inform you about the latest things happening at Focus and also point you in the direction of important documents that you might find useful.   READ Our most recent blogs: Teaching Art in the... View Article

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Focus Education Appoints 3 Experienced Non-Exec Directors to Enhance Support for Teachers and Education Leaders

Focus Education, the premier provider of education resources, inset consultancy and CPD courses for teachers and school leaders, has announced the appointment of three experienced EdTech entrepreneurs as non-executive directors. The addition of Tom Parkinson, Dave Surfleet and Chris Toyne from Accelerate will ensure that Focus Education continues to expand... View Article

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Newsletter | Summer Term 2023

Hello and welcome to our Summer Term Newsletter.  The purpose of these new e-newsletters is to inform you about the latest things happening at Focus and also point you in the direction of important documents that you might find useful. WATCH FREE Curriculum Webinar with Clive Davies, OBE Our free... View Article

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Black Friday 2022 |

Once again Black Friday is here! We have larger discounts than what we have throughout the year so now is the best time to take advantage. These discounts are valid from today (25.11.2022) right up until 23:59pm on 28.11.2022. All Black Friday offers cannot be used in conjunction with any... View Article

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Free Resource: MMC Update

To receive more education updates, we offer a Focus Update Service that delivers the latest announcements straight to your inbox. Our updates are written by our consultants who are continuously updated with the latest curriculum changes, education announcements, and everything you need to know. We currently offer a 3-month trial... View Article

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The Big Listen, but will they?

There was an interesting, and not too surprising, reaction to Ofsted’s ‘Big Listen’ when it was discussed at a session I ran with Headteachers and Deputies this week. Despite all the messages that have come from Sir Martyn Oliver, the years of bad experiences, anecdotal tales of rude inspectors and... View Article

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The Importance of Retrieval in Supporting Children’s Long Term Memory

We are now aware that children ‘doing more, knowing more and remembering more’ is something that is continually referred to in the Education Inspection Framework and Handbook. Most of us have made many moves, including creating several resources, to help with children’s retrieval or ‘ability to remember key knowledge’.  ... View Article

Free Update: Sir Martyn Oliver begins term at Ofsted with mental health awareness training for inspectors

Press release: The new His Majesty’s Chief Inspector begins with an immediate package of training for inspectors, a response to the Ruth Perry inquest and a Big Listen.   Key messages Sir Martyn Oliver begins 5-year term as His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills. Immediate package... View Article

Rethinking the Curriculum

Rethinking the Curriculum, the Learning Challenge Curriculum  How introducing pre-learning activities can spark life into stale lesson plans Anfield Road Primary School in Liverpool is a recently amalgamated school, combined in September 2014 from the infant and junior schools of the same name. Eighteen months ago, Anfield Road Primary saw... View Article

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From Special Measures to Outstanding

How external advice, a curriculum revamp, and becoming an academy helped one school dramatically improve its Ofsted rating from special measures to outstanding. A school from Sheffield has revealed how a total rework of its curriculum has enabled it to move from ‘Special Measures’ to receiving an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating... View Article

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Hopwood Primary School Case Study

Hopwood Primary School is in Rochdale. The school was judged outstanding by Ofsted. How the school has used Focus Education Over the last few years our use of Focus Education has grown from attending courses and purchasing publications to online updates, Finger Tips and consultancy. This year we have used... View Article

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Miriam Lord Primary School Case Study

Miriam Lord is a large primary school in Bradford. Nearly all pupils are EAL and the proportion of children claiming FSM is well above the national average, as is the percentage of pupils on the SEN register. How the school has used Focus Education As a school we have used... View Article

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St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Case Study

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School is in the town of Leigh in Wigan local authority. The school serves children from a range of backgrounds and has been judged by Ofsted to be outstanding. How the school has used Focus Education Since 2003 the school have worked with Focus Education by... View Article

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Westwood Primary School Case Study

Westwood is in Oldham. All pupils live in a ward which is in the bottom 1% in the country in terms of multiple deprivation. All pupils are EAL learners and approx half the school is eligible for FSM. 98% of pupils enter the school well below expectations. Ofsted judged the... View Article

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St Alban’s CE Primary School Case Study

St Alban’s CE Primary School is in Camden. Most pupils are from minority ethnic groups and are EAL. Twenty six languages are spoken in the school. How the school has used Focus Education We have used Focus Education to work with our senior leadership team in helping us review our... View Article

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Sheffield LA Case Study

As part of Sheffield’s overall school improvement strategy the Good to Great programme was designed to lead school transformation and facilitate school – to – school partnership work leading to improvement for pupils. How the school has used Focus Education Focus Education has provided consultancy to develop the Good to Great... View Article

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