Ideas, Practices & Personal Insights

Conkers

September is a golden month. The heydays of summer are over but there are still times when the afterglow of warmth burnishes our days before the early morning dews of autumn take over. In school there is still that freshness that goes with the beginning of a new school year. Classroom displays still look crisp and new, there is an eagerness to deliver new areas of learning which were planned ...

Preparing for the new year as a school leader

Well, here we are again! The summer holidays are over, batteries have been recharged and, in my case, a new hip is in place. I love September, embarking on another exciting and, inevitably, action packed school year, and I’m looking forward to so many things.It really goes without saying that the best part about returning to school is seeing the children again: their smiles and excitement, and that ...

New (EdTech) in Class

Over the summer we have had a swathe of exciting EdTech startups and stalwarts join us in our mission to create a more transparent marketplace for EdTech that is driven by impact and customer feedback. We also saw a good number of EdTech companies add to their evidence base, proving their commitment to putting impact at the heart of their products. Here are a few we have handpicked for the ...

Time to focus on attention: how Tali took breakthrough research and tech to get kids school-ready

Jessica is five years old and has just begun school in regional South Australia. She’s also just been diagnosed with Attention Deficits Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which explains why she seems to act out so much, can’t seem to stay focused on any one thing and why she might be struggling to keep up in class, since life is actually so much harder for her compared to her friends. ...

The Move & Learn Approach to the New School Year

My friends in Scotland are already back at school, which can only mean one thing - it will soon be our turn in England.

Part time and flexible working for SLTs

How can part time and flexible working help wellbeing, recruitment and retention in schools? Do ALL schools embrace the practice? If not, why not? It is the way forward – make 2019-2020 the year your school takes note (and well done if you are already truly on board).

Thinking of teaching abroad? Here's 5 things to consider

If given the opportunity, most of us would jump at the chance of teaching English in another country. Living and working abroad gives you the chance to open your mind and immerse yourself in a culture that you are not used to. Teaching English abroad offers this and so much more. It is an experience like no other, and there are so many benefits to be considered, too. That said, ...

Kick off the school year with a galaxy of free resources from Encyclopaedia Britannica!

"The Apollo 11 mission is a landmark event of the 20th century; its 50th anniversary provides us with the perfect time not only to revisit that event with its full historical and scientific context but also to take an engaging and provocative look into what comes next in humanity’s insuperable quest to explore other worlds. For 250 years ago, Britannica has provided factual information to broaden our appreciation and understanding of ...

21st Century Skills… Soft Skills? Say WHAAAT? - Part 3

Here is an example of our first grade 3-5 STEAM challenge to intentionally use the Makerspace and teach students important 21st-century “c words” skills.

21st Century Skills… Soft Skills? Say WHAAAT? - Part 2

So… how does one shift students from continual summer mode to 21st-century learning mode? How does a school create problem solvers and students who embrace a challenge? Why does the old way of teaching need to be re-examined? How does a school reinvent its purpose? (Cacth part 1 here!)

We’re all ‘digital natives’

I am a Head of Modern Languages, leading a large department. I use technology in my everyday teaching and I am an MIEExpert. That said, I do not claim to be some kind of guru who knows all the answers on how we can thoroughly prepare our students in 21st Century Learning Skills. And I’m not about to overload you with research. What follows is an opinion piece backed ...

The headteacher who made getting active a mission for the whole school

The benefits of physical activity are well known to teachers. Being physically active can lead to improvements in the classroom, such as increased self-esteem and better concentration levels, which then contribute to greater academic achievement. Yet, even with so many positive benefits, it can be a big challenge for teachers to prioritise physical activity every day. I’ve seen first-hand the benefits for my pupils, so I’ve made getting ...