Archive

A simple theory about writing

Apr 23, 2014 | Category: literacy

The first thing to say is this is not in any way supposed to be a complete or unified theory - I'm well aware that there are many other important strands to improving pupils' writing and have written...

#writing #Robin Alexander #Debra Myhill

Progressively Worse: a summary and a review

Apr 28, 2014 | Category: Featured

I’ve just finished reading Robert Peal’s blistering polemical attack on progressive education in England, Progressively Worse, the burden of bad ideas in British schools, and, while it clearly has an...

The dark art of creativity

Apr 11, 2014 | Category: myths

I was recently reminded of the 'schools are killing creativity' trope that was so prevalent a few years ago. Tempting as it may be to nod along with Ken Robinson and his cronies, it's worth contemplat...

#creativity #Sir Ken Robinson #Ray Bradbury #Scott Adams #Steve Jobs #TS Eliot

Getting feedback right

Apr 10, 2014 | Category: Featured

For the sake of convenience I've collated and condensed my recent series of posts on getting feedback right, and they are now available as a single download. It's not intended to be a complete or exha...

#feedback

One step beyond - assessing what we value

Apr 05, 2014 | Category: assessment

Hey you, don't teach that. Teach this! Do we always teach what we value? it seems to me that when push comes to shove, we end up teaching what is assessed. The urgency of accountability results, inexo...

#Alex Quigley #Belmont Community School #curriculum #Daisy Chistodoulou #Phil Bagstock

Getting feedback right Part 4: How can we increase pupils’ aspiration?

Apr 02, 2014 | Category: assessment

You may remember that over the past few weeks I've been trying to refine my thinking about how we can improve the way we give feedback. If you haven't already read the previous instalments, you might...

#John Hattie #feedback #Education Endowment Foundation #aspirations

On dichotomies

Mar 27, 2014 | Category: Featured

I seem to regularly find myself embroiled in various polarised debates, and invariably, at some point in the discussion, someone butts into to dismiss the entire exchange as a 'false dichotomy'. (And...

#Martin Robinson #progressive #traditionalist

On behaviour

Mar 20, 2014 | Category: leadership

Most of what makes classrooms work lies beneath the surface. The here and now of lessons and classrooms is dependent on the routines and relationships teachers have forged over time. If you’re clear a...

#behaviour

Getting feedback right Part 3: How can we increase pupils' effort?

Mar 19, 2014 | Category: assessment

I started to explore how we might make feedback more meaningful a few weeks back but then got sidetracked. If you haven't already looked at them, it might be worth spending a few moments on Part 1 (wh...

#Carol Dweck #Dylan Wiliam #Effort #feedback

The mystery of Oldfield School's missing Ofsted report

Mar 17, 2014 | Category: Featured

Oldfield School in Bath has a long history of being graded Outstanding and throughout Headteacher Kim Sparling has been at the helm. I worked there briefly and took part in their successful 2003 inspe...

#Ofsted #Oldfield School