Innovate My School - Ideas, Practices & Personal Insights

UK home learning stats revealed

Young parents are the most likely to continue homeschooling their children despite schools reopening, new research has revealed.

Why the MARIO Framework is so important

As an educator, knowing the students and families I work with is essential as a child-centred approach is at the heart of what I do. This is why I identify with the MARIO Framework—it is an evidence-informed practice which has the students’ well-being and progress at its core. Equally, it helps practitioners and students by providing a scaffold for support classes, small groups, and individual student sessions. It clearly ...

How one academy used the lockdown to transition to remote learning

When the country needed to close its schools due to coronavirus, like many schools nationally, Beacon Hill Academy found this challenging. All staff and learners in Beacon Hill Academy already had both email addresses and Active Directory login details, but our technology implementation in lessons was limited at this point. School closures forced us to accelerate using digital technology to support pupils’ learning and development.

Why Citizenship is so vital in 2020/21

2020 has been nothing short of apocalyptic for education. I don't mean in the "destruction of the world" sense, I mean in the real sense of the word "unveiling of things not previously known and which could not be known apart from the unveiling." Whether the unveilings have been good or bad is subjective, but one thing that isn't is that it's proven just how vital Citizenship will be, could've been ...

What matters most in the post-lockdown classroom

The process of getting us back to where we were is currently hesitant, uncertain and we are not the same as we were. We have all been changed, regardless of how you considered your mental state to be. We are very aware that the world is uncertain – and it’s not just about coronavirus. Along with the change of/lack of routine, we can identify five barriers of ...

Ensuring great blended-learning for SEND students

Throughout the period of the lockdown, educators have identified innovative and creative ways of engaging with students while they learn from home. Schools have done amazing jobs adapting resources and switching to online learning platforms at speed.

Bringing travel into the classroom

I’ve always been obsessed with travelling. As a teenager I volunteered with my church group to traverse India working in villages, prisons, NGOs and hospitals. The experiences fulfilled me in ways I cannot fully explain and each year, I looked forward to doing more meaningful work and exploring my country every chance I got. As a young teacher some years later, I began organizing regular domestic travel for my ...

Reducing teacher workload through remote education

The pandemic has brought with it many challenges and the education sector has had to act quickly to adapt. At Coupals Primary, our teachers and parents have worked together to ensure all the children continue to be educated during this uncertain time.

Using current affairs to your classroom’s advantage

Events in the US, particularly the murder of George Floyd and subsequent fallout, has placed a massive spotlight on racism. Millions of people around the world currently have a front row seat via their phones of the levels of brutality, injustice, bias and inequality black people are subject to. Often there is a disconnect between US events and those here in the UK, however amidst the COVID-19 pandemic the world ...

The big social focus for 2020/21

How was your last term? The final term of the year was obviously very different to normal. My school reacted thoughtfully and decisively to closure by setting up an online provision focused on supporting students to access education. The provision constantly evolved to incorporate different forms of education experiences, using technology to support students further.

How an unknown resource made my lockdown

I had never heard of Microsoft Teams before April 2020, before lockdown, before remote learning and before COVID-19: I simply did not know it existed! Now it has become an integral and daily part of my teaching life.