Rumours are leaking out of Ofsted Towers of a shift in focus towards ‘Knowledge Rich Curriculum.’ There is consternation among some inspectors about ideological infiltration from the DfE and what this might look like in terms of an inspection framework. But I’d urge caution before we jump to conclusions – this could be a positive thing. Could be. Continue reading “Ofsted: Should we be Scared?”
Category: Pedagogy
The End of Northern Rocks. The beginning of…
In 2013 I was feeling frustrated as a teacher. The CPD on offer in my school didn’t come anywhere near to meeting my needs – or, as far as I could see, the needs of many of my colleagues. Continue reading “The End of Northern Rocks. The beginning of…”
Discovery? Inquiry? It’s all Academic.
Hidden in the RSA’s report, Ideal School Exhibition, last week was a little sentence that made my heart sink:-
What I Learned in China…
I’ve just returned from my fifth trip to China (14th if you count Hong Kong).
Northern Rocks 2017
The fourth Northern Rocks marked the end of an era. From the first, when Emma Hardy and I, from a single tweet, gathered a group of 500 in a room and pinched ourselves, to this, our last done together, it’s been a blast.
Growth Mindsets in a Fixed System
I’ve done a couple of training days recently on Growth Mindsets and have been asked if I’d jot down the key things we’ve covered.
Knowledge Organisers are, Err…Ok
Probably the blandest title I’ve ever written for a blog that – but it kind of fits the mood. There’s been some hoo-hah recently about knowledge organisers. Are they good? Bad? Boring ways of forcing facts down little gosling throats or essential diets for healthy learning? Continue reading “Knowledge Organisers are, Err…Ok”
Thinking Like a Scientist?
“Knowledge is an unending journey on the edge of uncertainty” (Bronowski)
We’ve been looking at scientists this week. Not really learning science, but learning about the people behind the science and how their ideas come to life and are expressed.
Putting the Heart Back into Learning
I held a child back last week for detention. He’d been shouting out and generally being annoying and so I kept him back. I know that the point of a detention is supposed to be a punishment, but for me, it’s a chance to get to know this person a little better.