It’s that time of the academic year where the hype of Christmas has been and gone, a new year is upon us and we’re all starting to feel refreshed and raring to get back in the classroom! But what mustn’t we lose sight of in order to evolve and deliver quality first teaching and learning in … Continue reading
We are all absent from our classes from time to time, some of these instances are planned and some unfortunately, are out of our control. Either way this will inevitably have an impact on our students and ultimately the progress they make over the duration of an academic year and beyond. But have you ever stopped … Continue reading
There appears to have been a resurgence in anxieties and pressures around teacher workload, and the marking burden seems to be at the forefront of discussions for a vast majority of teachers. Without any doubt, marking and feedback is a non-negotiable, an essential element of teaching and learning and one that if done effectively can have … Continue reading
‘A thirst for knowledge’ is a phrase that has become very much on-trend in education during recent years and if you throw in ‘students display a love of learning’ the OFSTED rhetoric is complete. Personally I’m very fond of this statement, I cannot disagree at all. However, I’ve always found myself thinking what does it … Continue reading
“School improvement is a process that should involve all stakeholders working together on a shared vision” In my opinion school improvement is a process that should involve all stakeholders, working together on a shared vision and be driven by diverse strands threading throughout the school, all feeding into this process. I would argue that … Continue reading
“If we stand still, we are already going backwards” A new academic year brings with it a new approach to professional learning. As leader of Teaching, Learning and CPD I always feel slight pressure and a big responsibility at this time of the year, pressure in the sense that, am I offering a model … Continue reading
“The difficulty is maintaining equity, equality and solidarity without over-prescribing what a lesson should look like, and therefore regressing into a culture of tick boxes, checkups and closed doors to every classroom – all that was wrong with teaching and learning in the first place!” I’m not a fan of the phrase ‘non-negotiables’, to … Continue reading
“How often do we hear or even get the opportunity to participate in a regular, focussed dialogue around teaching and learning? the ‘glue’ that holds all the component parts together.” Over the last 12 years I’ve seen and been part of initiatives that have started at pace and then fizzled out over time. Not only … Continue reading
As I returned to school and walked back into my office earlier this week, starting to prepare for the new school year, commencing in September, I began to contemplate the new year and all the opportunities it may bring. However, I also thought carefully about the fundamental basics that I mustn’t lose sight of to … Continue reading
re·flec·tive (rĭ-flĕk′tĭv) adj. Characterised by or given to serious thinking or contemplation; thoughtful. Currently I’m in the process of building our new CPD/Professional Learning model for the new academic year (I’ll be blogging more about that as it nears completion). However, there’s one crucial element that I’ve been pondering for a while, and that’s … Continue reading
