Expert Contributor | Schools Week

How schools can support older teachers to join the profession

Older teachers bring experience, wisdom and resilience, says Katie Waldegrave, and there are many ways in which schools can tempt them into the classroom Four years ago Nicky Morgan commissioned a report into the effect of increasing retirement ages on teachers. It was something of a relief, last week, to read the resulting Department for […]

What does a good school workforce development plan look like?

Forget expensive, complex intervention strategies, says Sir David Carter – the best investment is to focus on the capacity, capability and competence of teachers Teacher development is the responsibility of the whole system. MAT CEOs, school leaders, school improvers, universities, local authorities and, of course, the Department for Education must all place teacher development at […]

How to develop good communication between MAT trustees and local academy committees

It’s vital to develop good communication between MAT trustees and local academy committees, says Sam Henson, who has some tips to share MAT trustees have a lot to think about. Overseeing a single organisation across multiple sites and contexts, is no easy ask. MAT governance should in theory enable more strategically focused governance, with the […]

Visible Learning Feedback

Whatever your thoughts on the value of meta-analysis, or views on the finer points of effect sizes, it is widely accepted that feedback can be a powerful tool in a teacher’s pedagogical repertoire. Yet research would suggest as much as a third of feedback can have a negative impact on progress, and much of the […]

Julia Skinner’s top blogs of the week 12 Nov 2018

Governors don’t know what they don’t know – but should they? @GovPurple This is a great blog from a very experienced, knowledgable governor, focusing on what governors should be doing, but many are not. Her description of what governance used to be like is reminiscent of the parish council in The Vicar of Dibley, complete […]

Why education’s ‘trads’ are actually the true progressives

You can deny the debate all you like, says Tom Bennett, but sticking your fingers in your ears won’t make it go away When I began to teach, I was as unaware of the ideological framework I existed within as a fish is of water. It was progressivism, the famously child-centred educational philosophy that had […]

Is pupil enjoyment or ‘happiness’ key to effective learning?

Trying to motivate children to higher performance by making learning more enjoyable may have the opposite effect, argues James Croft The idea that pupil enjoyment or ‘happiness’ is key to effective learning is so widely subscribed to among educationists that it is almost never questioned. According to received wisdom of pedagogical authorities since Rousseau, real […]

How to teach pupils about managing their finances

Teachers play a huge role in helping young people improve their financial capability, and the Money Advice Service recognises this great contribution. Ann Griffiths, policy lead for children and young people at the Money Advice Service, looks at how schools and organisations can work together to do more to help prepare young people for dealing […]

What is the International Baccalaureate and how can it work in my school?

In 4,775 schools located in 153 countries, 1.4 million students are becoming inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who will help to create a better, more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. They are learning in International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes that are offered to students ages 3 to 19. For 50 years, the IB […]