Grammar schools have dominated the education debate over the past few days. The argument goes that they improve social mobility…
Why Isn’t the Grammar School Debate Dead?
The fact that grammar schools do not help students from poorer backgrounds has always been as clear to me as…
Weaponised Evidence: Using Research in Education
Hands up if you’ve ever quoted research that you haven’t read. Keep them up if you’ve used the phrase ‘the research…
The State of Education in Tanzania: Uwezo Report
Today I attended the launch of the fifth Uwezo Annual Learning Report in Dar es Salaam. Uwezo is an initiative supported by the…
Marking: What’s the point?
I hate marking. It’s time-consuming, repetitive and no sooner than you attain the grim satisfaction of completing a set of books, another pile…
TES: Why I’m Sharing for Free
Over the years I have spent thousands of hours planning lessons and creating resources: it’s one of the things I enjoy…
Three Ingredients for a Bad Lesson
At the end of May I left my first school; the school I trained in. I cared a huge amount for the students, respected…
OK Computers
Today the Guardian has launched a campaign to improve computing in schools. My memories of ICT in school are bad. The worst teachers…
School Placement: Harvey the Ghost and Exam Life Skills
I spent this week observing lessons at a Coventy secondary school for the start of my teacher training. The school is in a relatively…
Fresh Meat: What’s the Point of University?
Last month saw the conclusion of Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong’s university-based sitcom Fresh Meat. Released on Channel 4 to a backdrop…
