Having spent some half term time with the family toe-tapping at La La Land and weeping at Lion, here are my film-inspired thoughts on some of the elements of good teaching: 1. Command the classroom: really own it. Understand your physicality, presence and how you manage them room. No excuses: high expectations, coats, wires, posture, noise. If … Continue reading The La La Land of good teaching
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Lessons from Zimbabwe
After a geography degree with some development economics thrown in, I flew to Zimbabwe and lived for two years working in a remote school on the border of Mozambique up in the Eastern Highlands. It helped me to grow up, find something that I believed in and that I thought I could eventually be good at. Since then I've … Continue reading Lessons from Zimbabwe
Done your homework yet?!
Homework at GA is now set as significant written or practical projects two times in each assessment cycle (each cycle one is 8 weeks long) for most subjects. These are intended to present extra challenge, really get our students to think in depth and to produce work of real excellence. Maths and Languages homework is … Continue reading Done your homework yet?!
The Last Post
The Last Post At 10.45am the students fan out along with the L-shaped lines of the new building, and across the tiered steps. The dazzle of sharp November sun, a playground half in sun, half in shade. I shield my eyes to see my deputy waving to me that we are all assembled and we … Continue reading The Last Post
Decluttering Teaching
teaching-declutter-and-repair
Life beyond levels – the assessment cycle
How will we assess student progress in secondary schools in the new world? These slides are part of our thinking with senior and middle leaders to create an assessment model which will really capture learning rather than just generate numbers or levels. The three part cycle: 1.TEACHER INPUT, 2.ASSESSMENT, 3.MASTERY & PRACTICE are an attempt to allow students … Continue reading Life beyond levels – the assessment cycle
The Big Interview – Gloucester Citizen
Follow link: https://t.co/T35PaTBDlp
Simplifying assessment
How will we assess student progress in secondary schools in the new world? Whether we are talking about KS2/KS3 assessment, use of data in schools or marking workload, it seems we are stripping back to the essentials in order to focus on the right things and protect our colleagues from wasted time and energy. … Continue reading Simplifying assessment
The School Improvement Cycle
Awful to Adequate, Good to Great
19 950 words I learnt at school
We are trialling a really easy and quick idea in our starters with the potential for long term impact. Developing a wide and functioning vocabulary is essential not only for learning language for all-round academic success. Educational research shows that vocabulary strongly relates to reading comprehension, intelligence and general ability. As children learn to read, they … Continue reading 19 950 words I learnt at school
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