What makes a school outstanding? OFSTED and their evidence that many schools have lost their outstanding status A recent report from OFSTED. Hundreds of Formally Outstanding Schools Reinspected tells us that a staggering 80% of schools that were deemed to be outstanding a decade or so ago and are no longer so as they fall…
Designing a Learning Classroom – creating a tapestry of knowledge and skills Designing a learning classroom must start with a close look at the curriculum vocabulary that exists within specific subject specifications and across the wider curriculum framework. For all those involved in the design and delivery of a whole school curriculum offer it is…
CPD is the driver for educational quality CPD should never be seen as an option for all those who have a role to play in educating the next generation wherever along the spectrum they work. In every other profession CPD is a pre-requisite of retaining a professional qualification. Teachers are the ones who educate all…
Creating a love of reading – the greatest gift for all learners Reading is a fundamental skill that is essential for all learning; no one would or could disagree with this as a statement. So why are the statistics so shocking in revealing that too many pupils are still not achieving the levels expected of…
Curriculum Conversations: Defining the Quality of Education The quality of education in the September 2022 OFSTED Inspection Handbook for Schools lists what inspectors will want to look at when they visit schools this term and beyond. There is a comprehensive list, (Quality of Education Paragraph 214) that explains the focus for inspectors. It is useful…
Creating the right culture for curriculum conversations to flourish Creating the right culture for curriculum conversations to flourish in order to inspire teams and individuals to work together is a key driver in creating the evidence that the curriculum is aligned with the vision for school improvement. Curriculum conversations should be focused on consistent high-quality…
Innovation in CPD for Teachers and Leaders in Education How does continuing professional development (CPD) make a measurable impact on improvements in teaching and learning in your school or college? In this significant week for educators who have GCSE results in their sights this is a question that needs to be an integral part of…
What is the ambition for continuing professional development for your teachers? Defining professional development for teachers and leaders in education is an essential ingredient in the shaping of the vision for excellence and improvement in any school or college. The emphasis on the three words intent, implementation and impact are as relevant for planning and…
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and curriculum cohesion – weaving consensus, continuity and cohesion Why is CPD high on the agenda now? No one could deny that the last two and a half years have been extraordinary. The learning curve has been phenomenal, the uncertainty difficult to manage and the resilience of all those who work…
OFSTED and Professional Conversations about the Curriculum Here we are approaching the end of a hectic and difficult year in education. The return to normality for many is still not a reality and Covid and its continued presence casts a shadow of disorientation due to, absenteeism, mental health issues and behavioural problems for many leaders…