Tag Archives: education

“We need a different approach to education”

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Consider the following: “The consequences of the standardised exam system? It’s a classic example of unintended consequences. It began with good intentions which was to raise “standards”. It’s ended up with a tick-box, teach to the test, grade-factory approach to … Continue reading

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“The Bakers rose through education” – Reflections on “Reflections”

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“The Bakers rose through education. They thought education is the most important thing in life” – Kenneth Baker “Baker Days” were/are the days set aside for teachers’ in-service professional training. This week, thanks to BBC Radio 4, we learned something … Continue reading

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Negroland: Book of the Week

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Radio 4’s Book of the Week this week is Negroland by Margo Jefferson. Margo Jefferson was born in 1947 to a successful black, middle-class couple in Chicago. Her memoir looks back on her childhood and the black bourgeois upbringing that … Continue reading

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SPaG tests and writing objectives for 11 year olds

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In our previous post we set out the objectives for children’s writing by the age of 7, as outlined in a booklet written by Her Majesty’s Inspectors in the Curriculum Matters series. Our aim is to compare and contrast what … Continue reading

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SPaG tests – How did we get here? HMI and English from 5 to 16

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Back in the days when HMIs were the most respected force in the land for improving education they published a series of booklets called Curriculum Matters. The first booklet in the series was English 5 – 16. It appeared in … Continue reading

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#KidsStrike3rdMay – Let Kids Be Kids

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We can’t let #KidsStrike3rdMay go by without publishing a blog post on this superb intiative that’s put high stakes tests back on England’s national agenda. “Sats are making learning nit-picky and joyless “: One parent’s open letter explaining why she … Continue reading

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Warning! Don’t eat this food!

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Professor John Ashton of the Faculty of Public Health was on BBC Radio 4’s World at One today speaking about children’s health. One of our major food manufacturers has seen a need to put a warning label on a range … Continue reading

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The Finnish System of Education

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In our recent post – about teachers quitting the profession and the dire shortage of qualified teachers in England – we said we’d publish a reminder as to why Finland’s system of education is internationally respected, and why Finland is … Continue reading

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Teachers quitting and a government in denial

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In Finland teaching is the most respected profession. It attracts the best, the most able and the most creative young people, and it’s the most difficult profession to enter on account of its popularity and prestige. In England things are … Continue reading

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