Core knowledge and the Metro
E.D.Hirsch's Core Knowledge curriculum has come under scrutiny since a certain Mr Gove has been espousing it to all and sundry. For those on the 'knowledge' side of the (false) dichotomy in education,...
View ArticleThe tweacher revolution?
I have written before about the discussion of 'Twitter as the best CPD ever' that occasionally surfaces in my twitterstream. I find it very sad that the quality of CPD in some schools is so poor, that...
View ArticleWorking Scientifically
Recently I've been talking with secondary school teachers about the quality of science enquiry that can take place in primary classrooms. I've become more aware of what goes on in primary classrooms...
View ArticleHow many students get G?
Will there be lots of students who are 'demotivated' by the new grading structure for the GCSEs? On 16th November the BBC published a story about the new grading structure that will be brought in for...
View ArticleA look back and a glance ahead.
So, what has 2013 brought, and what does 2014 hold? On a mundane level, as has been the case for the past two years, in 2013 I've spent a lot of time on trains
View ArticleThe first 20 hours.
I have recently read the book 'The first 20 hours' by Josh Kaufman. He also gave a talk at the RSA (as authors do when they have a book to sell) and you can find the podcast here. Malcolm Gladwell...
View ArticleWhat practical assessment?
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a high stakes accountability system will tend to prevent accurate teacher assessment. Or at least, that is what Ofqual and the exam boards would like us...
View ArticleComparing A-level Physics 2015
The exam boards have published their draft specifications for the A-level sciences - albeit with huge caveats about them not yet being accredited by Ofqual. @Bio_Joe has helpfully put together a...
View ArticleJoined up thinking
The government have now published the draft of the performance indicators for primary schools at KS1 and KS2 and are consulting on them. Looking at them, I'm not entirely sure why it took quite so long...
View ArticleLooking out for the wobbly middle!
No, this isn't a reflection on my post-christmas likely state. Earlier this year I took a new job at Northumbria University working on a project to encourage young people to see science (particularly...
View ArticleNurture 14/15
In the nick of time, I've reread last years nurture 13/14 post. Quite a lot has changed in the past year although I still have the same number of close relatives that I did this time last year. That...
View ArticleIt's a girl thing - not.
Today is international Women's day. Cue a flurry of articles in newspapers and on twitter about girls and STEM. Science isn't just for boys - The Independent Five myths keeping women out of science...
View ArticleI know, let's have a competition!
There seems to be a bit of a theme when external organisations try to engage with schools and young people. Competitions. Image by Nemo-3736 I can picture the scene... Somewhere in a glass meeting...
View ArticleBeautiful Balancing
Last night I was out and about at the Newcastle-Gateshead Late Shows. This is an evening event across the city, when venues open their doors in the evening, and do things just a little bit...
View ArticleIs Physics hard, or hard work.
Something that I have been pondering over the last couple of months is how should we talk to students about Physics? Should we tell them that it's hard? As part of a summer school at Think Physics, I...
View ArticleUnintended consequences
Making changes in any walk of life often leads to unintended consequences. This seems to be especially true in education, particularly for the party in power. Recent governments have had one main...
View ArticleCan girls be astronauts?
Can girls be astronauts? An interesting question. According to primary children in some North East schools, the answer is a clear 'no'. Of course, the answer is 'yes'. As shown by Sam Cristoferetti,...
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