News, Views and Social
Focus English: Keeping Literature at the Heart of the Primary Curriculum
Developing a creative and engaging English curriculum For the last few years, much of the work I have done with schools has been about developing a creative and engaging, but rigorous English curriculum. Schools have been questioning the way that they are teaching English and want to make effective changes.... View Article
Category: English
Floor books in primary education
Floor books in primary education If you have been to a conference or course where I’ve been speaking, you may have heard me referring to “The Peoples’ Independent Republic of Early Years”, hopefully before you nodded off or sneaked out early to deal with an ‘emergency’ back at school. It’s... View Article
Category: Curriculum
What is Metacognition?
What is metacognition and what is the significance of metacognition in primary schools? Metacognition refers to higher order thinking, which involves active control over the cognitive processes engaged in learning. Activities such as……: Planning how to approach a given learning task; Monitoring our comprehension of the task, and Evaluating progress toward... View Article
Category: Mastery and Metacognition
Tips for NQTs – Parent consultation
Tips for NQTs – Parent Consultation Most NQTs are understandably nervous about the prospect of their first parent consultation evening alone as ‘the’ teacher. Many trainees get the opportunity to sit in on parent consultations during a school placement. The chances are that you will be exhausted after your parent... View Article
Category: NQT Teaching Guidance
Tips for NQTs in Primary Schools
Tips for NQTs in Primary Schools 1 Pace yourself. As a trainee teacher you can tick off each day of the six week teaching practice, knowing that after it is all over, you can relax back into normal life and sleep once again. But it is very different when you... View Article
Category: NQT Teaching Guidance
My First Day as an NQT
My First Day as an NQT Right, first day of the job. Finally, I’m actually a teacher. Nervous, bit nervous. Very nervous actually. I wish this traffic would hurry up. What’s the time? Left half an hour early because of the roadworks but this is ridiculous. Can’t be late on... View Article
Category: NQT Teaching Guidance
Transition from Primary School to Secondary School
Transition from Primary School to Secondary School So, SATs are over, and the next big step for Year 6 (apart from catching up with any foundation subjects that took a bit of a hit with the build up to the tests) is their transition to secondary school. Thankfully this has... View Article
Category: Curriculum Teaching Guidance
Primary School Maths Results Infograph
Primary School Maths Results Infograph A maths infograph, looking at the expected standards, gender differences in KS2 SATs results, trends in international maths and changes in maths results in the maths curriculum in primary schools. Schools Reaching the Expected Standard This infograph shows the highest performing local authorities are concentrated... View Article
Category: Maths
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