News, Views and Social
(Not another) Blog about Phonics
(Not Another Blog) About Phonics… Many, me included, have plenty to say about phonics. My Twitter feed regularly features links to blogs on the subject of phonics. These cover a wide spectrum of views, from those who would advocate a phonics first and phonics only approach to reading, to those... View Article
Category: Curriculum English
From Sausages to SATS – From Industry to Education
From Sausages to SATs – From Industry to Education So, how does a manager of a TESCO supermarket become a headteacher in a primary school? When I was younger, if someone had told me I would be a headteacher of a large primary school I would probably have laughed. I... View Article
Category: School Leadership
The Challenges faced by an Associate Head
The Challenges Faced By an Associate Head in a Primary School During my career in education, I have been fortunate to work in some wonderful schools alongside talented teachers and leaders. Although the pupils in these schools often presented with gaps in both their academic and social abilities, they had... View Article
Category: School Leadership
Questions to Ask a Subject Leader
Model for a subject leaders’ answers Many primary schools ask for a standard list of questions which a subject leader could consider, especially prior to an inspection. There is no standard list of questions to ask a subject leader to be used on inspection as it wholly depends on the... View Article
Category: Subject Leadership
Is it Time for a Fundamental Change in the Ofsted Framework?
Ofsted Inspections: Is it time for a fundamental change in the Ofsted framework? How relevant is the Ofsted framework in a classroom where the principles of metacognition are being embedded? As schools are just about getting their heads around the new Ofsted inspection framework, it is interesting to reflect on... View Article
Category: Curriculum Inspection Teaching Guidance
Ensuring a Broad and Balanced Curriculum in Primary Schools
How can schools ensure a broad and balanced curriculum in a high-pressured test result system? Are we applying a broad and balanced curriculum in our schools despite SATs and GCSEs? Thoughts from a shed. We have three children. And through a lack of foresight in family planning, at the time... View Article
Category: Curriculum
The Great Debate in Primary Education
The Great Debate in Primary Education Education and debate. In this country, two words that are moulded together in the collective lexicon to much the same extent as ‘conversation and weather’ and ‘haircut and holiday destination’. It’s prevalent and has been for as long as I can remember, which is... View Article
Category: Curriculum Subject Leadership Teaching Guidance
Out of Africa – International Education Consultancy in Kenya
Out of Africa – International Education Consultancy in Kenya Remember that last week in February? Weather was pretty awful wasn’t it? Well no actually. Not for me it wasn’t. Because I was in Kenya for a week. And yes, that does make me a smug git. But it also makes me... View Article
Category: Curriculum International
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