Teachers

How to overcome teacher strikes

Jan 5, 2023 | School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Teachers are at the centre of a school and immensely contribute to a student’s life. However, they are often neglected. Teacher strikes have been an ongoing phenomenon over the world for years. Education workers have rebelled countless times since time immemorial due to various reasons. The grievance of education workers over their pay is primarily the cause of their ongoing strikes.

However, the problem of the teachers is not limited to economic reasons. It concerns several other factors, such as their demanding smaller class sizes and more school staffing. Hence, the effect of strikes in schools can be felt in the decreasing quality of education and services. These teacher strikes require resolution for the schools to function normally.

Why Early Intervention is Necessary in Schools

Jun 8, 2022 | School Improvement | 0 |

Reading time: 4 minutes

The recent SEND review has highlighted how intervention within schools needs addressing. Can primary schools and parental involvement help support early intervention?

The government has announced an additional £1 billion of investment in 2022-23, but the review has stated:

“Whilst future funding will need to take account of the increasing prevalence of children and young people with the most complex needs, this needs to be balanced with targeting spending more at strengthening early intervention.”

Teacher quitting increase – what can be done?

May 20, 2022 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

The rate of teachers quitting within the first five years of starting has seen an increase. Why is this the case and can EdTech support them in the future?

According to research:

“Seven in 10 teachers considered leaving their job in the last 12 months.”

Big class sizes – can EdTech help?

Apr 22, 2022 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Recent increases in class sizes have contributed to complications for students’ academic progression. What can be done to help both students and teachers, and can EdTech assist?

A recent article by The Guardian highlighted 9 in 10 teachers said that “bigger classes were harming pupils’ progress”. According to a poll of more than 3,000 teachers by the NASUWT teachers’ union:

Why teachers need support in school

Apr 20, 2022 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Teachers across the UK have had to manage to deal with educating their students alongside the added pressure of the pandemic. Something needs to be done, so what can be done to support teachers and students?

According to an NASUWT survey of 4,000 UK members:

“nine out of 10 (91%) have seen an increase in workload in the last year – 61% said it had increased significantly – with full-time teachers working 57 hours a week in a typical midterm week.”

5 tips to reduce teacher workload

Mar 9, 2022 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Teacher workload has increased dramatically because of the pandemic. How can workloads be reduced and can EdTech play a helping hand?

5 tips for students home learning

Jan 18, 2022 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Students home learning has increased due to the pandemic how can students make the most of a difficult situation? Here’s 5 tips.

Online assessments with EDClass can boost your education

May 6, 2021 | Assessment | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Assessments with EDClass allow you to develop as you advance through your learning pathway with our bespoke methods.

Effective education is vital in reducing sexual abuse and harassment in schools

Apr 29, 2021 | School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

The issue of sexual abuse and harassment within schools has become an increasingly concerning matter in today’s society.

Department for Education warns of insufficient high-quality teachers

Nov 9, 2020 | News | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

High-quality teachers are in short supply, according to the Department for Education’s annual report.

An “insufficient number of high-quality teachers” is likely to result “in poor educational outcomes for pupils”, it believes.

The report says that although action is being taken, this issue remains a “high risk” to the Government’s objective that all children and young people will have access to high-quality education.

Access to high-quality education has been worsened during the coronavirus pandemic due to issues such as digital poverty. This blog post explains the findings of the report.

Half of teachers are “drained and exhausted”

Sep 28, 2020 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Half of teachers are “drained and exhausted” while 15% are “physically and mentally on the brink”, a TES survey revealed today.

The survey, carried out this week among teaching staff across the UK, found that just 10% were “completely fine” while only 1% said “I feel great”.

One school teacher said: “We’re in a climate where everyone is on edge and stressed out and worried the whole time. If I’m still in this job by Christmas, I’m going to be amazed. I’ve had enough.

This blog post takes a look at the latest in schools.

Number of schools not fully open quadruples in a week

Sep 24, 2020 | Attendance | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

The number of schools not fully open due to Covid-19 incidents has quadrupled in a week according to official figures.

The leader of the National Association of Head Teachers has said that the attendance figures should “ring alarm bells” for the Government.

Last week warnings were made that schools would “grind to a halt” unless testing improves. This blog post explains the latest.

Heads: schools will grind to halt unless covid testing improves

Sep 15, 2020 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Headteachers have warned that education will “grind to a halt” unless covid testing improves.

Thousands of school leaders have written to the Government warning of “partial rolling closures” of schools and disruption to pupils’ catch up studies because of serious staff shortages.

The delays in covid testing are “severely hampering” schools, according to a network of over 5,000 heads. This blog post takes a look at the crisis in schools.

Holiday cover

Sep 10, 2020 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

The advice from the Government’s coronavirus guidance is that “Supply teachers, peripatetic teachers and other temporary staff can move between schools. They should ensure they minimise contact and maintain as much distance as possible from other staff.”

Having cover for teachers away from the classroom is essential in the modern climate – and this could become one of the worst years for sick leave ever seen around the world.

How can ensure you have the necessary holiday cover while meeting specific guidelines. This blog post explains.

SEND/CAMHS support

Sep 10, 2020 | SEND | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) have faced lots of changes to their daily lives because of Covid-19.

Routines and regular support that they rely upon may be significantly different – and this presents challenges.

Parents and carers may be concerned throughout the pandemic how changes are affecting their child. It also presents some challenges on how parents and carers manage their own work and home life.

But platforms are available to support children with SEND to receive an education. This blog post takes a look at what is available and advice that you and your child can follow given the situation.

Teachers’ safety when rotating and students remain inside a fixed classroom

Sep 9, 2020 | Behaviour | 0 |

Reading time: 4 minutes

The Government guidance on school reopening states: “The overarching principle to apply is reducing the number of contacts between children and staff. This can be achieved through keeping groups separate (in ‘bubbles’) and through maintaining the distance between individuals.”

The reason for this is to keep teachers and pupils safe by minimising the number of people they come into contact with.

This blog post explains teachers safety when rotating and students remain inside a fixed classroom.

Allowing social distancing with students and staff

Sep 3, 2020 | School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 4 minutes

The Government has issued new guidance for schools allowing social distancing with students and staff.

Schools returned full-time from the start on the autumn term – under strict instruction from the Government for this not to be on a rota basis.

This blog post explains the new guidance for schools.

How to plan a creative curriculum for your pupils

Aug 27, 2020 | School Improvement | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

By installing a creative curriculum in your school you can get the most out of the imaginative minds of your pupils.

It may be defined by topics or themes, or greater involvement of pupils in deciding what they are going to learn.

These are the benefits of a creative curriculum and the steps you can take to build one.

Behaviour lessons: top tips for improving behaviour

Aug 3, 2020 | Behaviour | 0 |

Reading time: 5 minutes

Managing behaviour is a challenge faced by teachers young and old. You are unlikely to hear of a teacher who believes they have complete control of the classroom at all times. But this is where behaviour lessons can help.

Teachers spend a large amount of their time managing behaviour. The end of the academic year is a time where school staff can reflect on the year that has passed and what the new one will bring.
Teacher Toolkit

The end of the year is time for reflection on behaviour management techniques as well as the overall quality of lessons. But how can behaviour lessons contribute to improved behaviour? This blog post explains.

Schools to reopen in Scotland

Jul 30, 2020 | Attendance | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Nicola Sturgeon is expected to confirm today schools to reopen from August in Scotland.

The BBC has reported that ministers have signed off a plan for all pupils to return to the classroom from 11 August.

UK schools closed to almost all pupils on 20 March. In England, schools have reopened for key year groups with a full return intended for September.

What is the definition of inclusive learning?

Jul 9, 2020 | Inclusion | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

The goal of most teachers is to create an inclusive learning in their classrooms that encourage active participation.

But inclusive learning extends far wider than just the classroom.

Inclusive learning provides a welcoming learning environment for all students regardless of their needs. How can you create an environment which adapts to specific needs? This blog post explains.

Keep students safe in more ways than one

Jun 30, 2020 | School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 6 minutes

All educational institutions have a fundamental responsibility to ensure children and young people are protected and kept safe from harm.

EDBlog reported this summer that safeguarding concerns could overwhelm teachers when students return to school in September.

But what does safeguarding policy entail? And how can it keep students safe in more ways than one? This blog post explains.

Safeguarding Week: Report finds huge spike in stress and safety due to lockdown

Jun 29, 2020 | Pupils | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

The impact of the lockdown on safeguarding is starting to show – with a number of reports showing a rise on phycological stress and safety concerns among young people.

EDLounge reported in June that schools were braced for a “tsunami of safeguarding disclosures” when schools reopened.

Safeguarding Week 2020 has taken extra significance due to the unprecedented circumstances, according to the Chair of North Yorkshire’s Safeguarding Adults Board (NYSAB).

Manage your 2021 GCSEs

Jun 24, 2020 | GCSE | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Schools are returning full-time in September – and your priority should be those students with their GCSEs coming up who are now behind on their learning.

The return to secondary school has been led by Year 10 students, with pressure on them to get caught up quickly.

How should you go about getting students caught up and preparing them for their GCSEs?

Your present Year 10s are your number one priority

Jun 19, 2020 | GCSE | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Secondary schools in England are now open and the focus has turned to present Year 10s.

Exams may not be taking place this year, but next year’s Year 11 cohort may not be so fortunate. Therefore pressure is on Year 10s to get caught up quickly.

This blog post takes a look at the effects of the educational gap on GCSE students and what can be done to help students catch up.

A quarter of headteachers are struggling with stress

Jun 15, 2020 | School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

A survey of school leaders has found that a quarter of headteachers and 10% of pupils are struggling with stress.

Teacher Tapp, an app for industry professionals, asked headteachers and teachers if they were more likely to leave their roles as a result of the lockdown and the adjustments that schools have been asked to make.

What can be done to help teachers struggling with stress?

How to reach the masses if schools aren’t back

Jun 10, 2020 | Alternative Curriculum | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

From 15 June, secondary schools will be able to provide pupils with face-to-face support.

The Government has released guidelines for schools. Schools will have to adhere to measures including reduced class sizes and social distancing.

If your school has to work with decreased class sizes how do you provide education for the masses? And how does remote learning have a role to play in future?

What are the benefits of blended learning?

Apr 30, 2020 | Alternative Curriculum | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

In education settings it is important to get the balance right. Blended learning is an approach to education that combines online educational materials and online interaction with traditional classroom-based methods.

As society evolves, e-learning is taking a more central position in our educational structure. This is no clearer to see that during the coronavirus pandemic when education temporarily moved online.

But why is a blended learning approach so important and what benefits can e-learning bring?

World Health Day: Stay on top of KS3 and GCSE Science

Apr 7, 2020 | Science | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

7 April is World Health Day. The day celebrates the work of nurses, midwives, world leaders are more in their endeavours. Perhaps it is a timely day given the circumstances we are currently faced with.

How health can be positively and adversely affected by our actions. Many of these are explained to us throughout KS3 science and biology lessons.

But what is World Health Day and how can KS3 and KS4 science help us understand our health?

Curiouser and Curiouser (Some thoughts from an English teacher…)

Mar 27, 2020 | EDLounge | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

In the short space of a phone call with my brother last night, three more emails landed, subject: ‘Update from GOV.UK – Covid-19’. Each one means more legislation. More rules. Each one makes you think what else can’t we do? Is there much left we can do?

And yet, curiously, there’s also the sense that the ‘rules’ that keep us sane and grounded are ‘out of the window’ – as was I, at eight o’clock last night, for example. We do things we didn’t do before, and can’t do things we took for granted before. The old order of things is becoming obsolete as we adapt to new behaviours, and the burning questions are ‘When will we return to normal?’ and ‘What will the new normal be like?’.

Balancing work and home when you work from home

Mar 27, 2020 | EDLounge | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

We knew it was coming. It had been weeks in the planning. Sam has spent last weekend creating various Skype groups (including one for “General Chit Chat”) to ensure all eventualities were covered.

On Monday, we had an all-staff meeting to discuss how it was going to work. From Tuesday we would be working from home.

Should schools continue to open?

Mar 26, 2020 | Attendance | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Last week, the UK Government opted to close schools but said some schools should remain open so that key workers can continue to go to work.

But some schools are struggling to cope with the demand with many staff at home. Further some staff remain worried about the virus continuing to spread between pupils.

According to the NAHT staff are “understandably anxious about the personal risk of simply going to work”. But should the school situation change to benefit staff and parents of those present?

A genius idea to ensure kids wash their hands

Mar 13, 2020 | Behaviour | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

A teacher has come up with a novel way to ensure children wash their hands thoroughly during the coronavirus crisis – and her response has gone viral.

Shauna Woods, 29, a teacher at Hallsville School in Missouri uses a stamp with the inscription, “Ms Woods” to keep her name on books. Now she puts the stamp on the hands of pupils, to ensure hands are washed for long enough for the stamp to be removed.

Have you had a similar idea to encourage pupils to wash their hands thoroughly?

Sixth form college strike: how education can avoid being affected

Feb 14, 2020 | Attendance, News, School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Starting this week, sixth form college staff will participate in three strikes in protest against government funding cuts.

National Education Union (NEU) members from 34 sixth form colleges will be taking strike action. The first strike took place on Wednesday, with action also scheduled for 27th February and 10th March. The action in February includes a rally in central London.

The action will affect schools and have implications on the education pupils are receiving. But how can a school minimise the effect a strike may have on its learners? And how can online learning be used to benefit pupils in the absence of classroom time?

Prevent: schools are ‘missing opportunity’ to address extremism

Feb 10, 2020 | Behaviour, Bullying, Inclusion, Pupils | 0 |

Reading time: 4 minutes

Some schools are missing the opportunity to address extremism, due to a minority of schools not designating incidents of bullying as racist. The report suggests that school leaders do not see extremism as relevant to their school or area.

This article explains Prevent Referral, and how it should be used when dealing with cases of extremism in schools.

Behaviour improvement: praise rather than punish pupils according to new research

Jan 29, 2020 | Behaviour, Pupils, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 4 minutes

Sometimes as a teacher, situations can arise where it can be difficult to determine whether to use praise or punishment to motivate pupils. But research reported in the Times today could reveal secrets to behaviour improvement.

When do you use praise and punishment to motivate pupils? Do you have examples of where praise has been effective?

Competition: win a free arcade machine when you order EDArcade

Jan 16, 2020 | EDLounge, News | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

EDArcade is exhibiting at the BETT Show on 22-25 January.

Ahead of the show we can reveal a new competition: we are giving one lucky winner the chance to win a free arcade machine when they order EDArcade before or during the show.

Spare a thought for the new students – and don’t forget the new teachers

Sep 11, 2019 | School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

The start of a new academic year and with that, all of the feelings and emotions that we associate with starting back at school.

For our intake of Year 7s, it is a new world and whilst they have outgrown their primary school and leave as the oldest pupils in the school, they enter the world of secondary where they are the youngest and the scale of their environment is considerably larger.

Looking after your voice

May 17, 2019 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Teachers talk a lot. It’s an integral part of the job.

Some may shout, others may whisper. Some teachers will speak normally in the classroom, others will project their voices as if they were on stage.

Teaching SEND pupils in mainstream classes

May 2, 2019 | SEND, Behaviour, Pupils, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 4 minutes

Managing the education of SEND pupils has always been a difficult topic.

In the past these children have been ignored, moved into specialist SEND schools, moved back into mainstream schooling with or without additional support, provided with additional funding, had funding removed, taught in isolation units or excluded altogether.

Empowering staff to introduce new teaching methods

Mar 22, 2019 | School Improvement, School Management, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Innovation in the classroom should begin with teachers, yet are they truly empowered to take control and introduce new methods and techniques into their teaching?

Can volunteers help fill staffing gaps in schools?

Feb 14, 2019 | School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

The education system has been heavily scrutinised in recent years, with concerns regarding staffing shortages and experienced teachers leaving the profession.

Whilst calls for targeted pay is a frequently mentioned potential solution, the current economic climate means that increasing teacher salaries is not going to be a decision that is taken easily.

Working with helicopter parents

Feb 6, 2019 | Parents, School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

One of the most challenging parts of teaching (and a skill that your training doesn’t ever really prepare you for), is how to effectively manage parents.

Throughout your teaching career you will encounter a wide range parental behaviour, ranging from those who show zero interest in their child’s education to helicopter parents that make your job a great deal harder.

Using learning walks to help deliver effective performance management

Dec 14, 2018 | School Management, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

As the landscape has shifted away from teacher performance observations to learning walks, there has been some discussion as to how they can best be implemented.

Here we want to consider two questions: what are the focuses of learning walks, and how can leaders make sure that they’re looking for the right things?

How do pastoral and academic leaders differ in their approach to school management?

Dec 7, 2018 | School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Both pastoral leaders and academic leaders within schools fall into the category of ‘middle management’, but their focuses are necessarily different.

For pastoral leaders, one of the primary elements of their role is the provision of support to pupils, whereas academic leaders help to support the delivery of the curriculum. Both are vital roles and contribute much to the school management system.

A brief guide to different learning styles

Sep 7, 2018 | Pupils, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

The average classroom is home to wonderfully diverse students – each with their own personality, abilities, strengths and weaknesses. Students have a variety of learning styles that influence how effectively they can understand and analyse the topic at hand.

5 ways you could save money in your school

Jun 14, 2018 | School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

With more budget cuts across the board and parents being warned that schools do not have enough money to run, it’s essential that schools try to find ways to save money.

Here are five ideas for saving money that you can implement in your school.

Offering relevant career guidance in schools

Jun 6, 2018 | Employment, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

The requirement of schools to offer career guidance has become more important since the Education Act 2011 enshrined this in law. As a consequence, many schools have increased the impact of their in-house career guidance tools.

What can school leaders do to reduce teachers’ paperwork?

May 30, 2018 | School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 4 minutes

Paperwork – for teachers it’s at nothing short of epidemic levels. The stats are stark – and they’re thought to be contributing in big ways to the fact that half of all teachers plan to exit the profession in the next five years.

Managing low-level disruptive behaviour

May 16, 2018 | Behaviour, School Management, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

If you sat down at the beginning of the school year and totted up how many teaching hours were lost to low-level disruptive behaviour in the classroom each year, you’d probably need an extra couple of weeks in every term to cover all the subjects in your timetable.

The truth is, all classrooms experience disruptive behaviour. Even if this is considered ‘low-level’, it can still cause problems for both the teacher and the rest of the class.

How to encourage participation in parents’ evenings

May 9, 2018 | Parents, Participation | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

The power of parental engagement to positively affect a child’s learning is undeniable. Study after study highlights it as one of the most influential elements on positive student outcomes. Yet parents’ evenings remain a tough nut to crack.

Help your students improve their emotional and academic resilience

Apr 25, 2018 | Pupils, School Improvement, SEND, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Emotional and academic resilience is an integral aspect of students reaching their potential. Innate talent and application can only help pupils reach their targets if resilience is built up alongside them.

Recruit or train? Which is best when you have a skills gap in your school?

Feb 20, 2018 | School Management, School Improvement | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

With the government raising the bar ever-higher on standards within the education system, a skills gap is becoming ever-more evident in UK classrooms.

For example, secondary school teachers are expected to include cross-curricular links to literacy within their subject material, and primary school teachers have to teach a more demanding maths and English curriculum as well as modern foreign languages and computer coding skills.

How to identify relevant training opportunities for your SENCO

Dec 1, 2017 | SEND, School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

A school’s SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) is a vital component of modern learning environments. They take responsibility for supporting SEN pupils throughout their time at school and their workload is varied and challenging.

Since 2009, all newly-qualified SENCOs have been required to take the National Award for SENCOs within three years of taking up a relevant post. Completing this initial training is enough to prepare SENCOs for their challenging role, but, as with all teaching positions, training is ongoing.

Teacher retention: what can school leaders do to keep their best teachers?

Sep 22, 2017 | News, School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 4 minutes

It’s official. We’ve hit the highest teacher leaving rate in a decade and there still doesn’t seem to be a solution to the problem of teacher retention.

Four in ten teachers quit within a year, while almost half of UK teaching staff plan to leave the sector in the coming five years.

5 simple strategies…for communicating effectively in the classroom

Jul 14, 2017 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Communicating effectively is an essential skill for teachers and a cornerstone of any classroom.

Clear and concise communication is even more important in the modern school system as classes may be larger than in previous years, and ESOL and SEND students in mainstream education must be given every chance of keeping pace with their peers.

Effective and constructive feedback for teacher development

Jun 20, 2017 | School Management, School Improvement | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Effective and constructive feedback is key to a teacher’s progression – central to their improving their own performance and continually positively impacting on their students.

It takes a concerted effort to transform feedback into coaching that is viewed as positive and providing teachers with set goals and a clear understanding of what’s next for their career.

5 simple strategies…to manage your workload

Jun 13, 2017 | Teaching, Life Skills | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

How easily do you manage your workload in school?

90% of teachers have seriously thought about abandoning their career due to their ever-increasing workload (NUT Survey, September 2014).

Even more concerning is the fact that as many as half of all teachers have reported that they’ve seen a doctor due to work-related mental or physical illness (BBC).

How teaching assistants can help manage large classes

Jun 2, 2017 | Teaching, School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

The number of secondary school pupils in classrooms of 36 or more has trebled over the last five years (BBC).

A concerning figure indeed, and if you thought that your classroom size was less than conducive for a productive learning environment, spare a thought for one West Yorkshire class at Brighouse High Academy School with 46 pupils.

5 Simple strategies…to make Monday more enjoyable

May 24, 2017 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Whilst office workers can slump behind their desks, vat of coffee to hand, and trudge through the toughest day of the week, teachers must face the day with vigour, determination and enthusiasm.

If you want to move from faking it, to gaining some semblance of enjoyment from the first day of the intimidating working week, here are five simple tips…

What Control Do Teachers Have Outside of School Hours?

Jan 23, 2017 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

When a student is attending school, it can be a very exciting and proud moment for parents, but also one that is rife with worry. Many things can upset children at school, whether this is the volume of work, pressure or even bullying.

Similarly, some teachers enjoy passing on knowledge to young minds, but some students are still subjected to abuse and assaults in some instances.

Is there a recruitment and retention crisis in education?

Apr 1, 2016 | School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Without doubt these are the most challenging times I have experienced in teaching and school leadership.

Finding a middle ground between doing what is morally right for the students and keeping the academy from falling into a category due to the new measures is a difficult task.

Engaging Parents

May 26, 2015 | Parents, Participation | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

The dream for many a school is a cohort of students who all have supportive parents. Teaching would be effective, behaviour systems supported and funds raised by the PTA would enable trips to The Louvre for everyone. Well, maybe utopia is asking too much, but it is possible to engage your students’ parents and so improve their learning.

The first step is to work towards engaging parents in their child’s learning rather than trying to engage them with the school. This may sound like a petty distinction, but it is one that may mean the breaking down of many of the barriers to effective communication.

Strategies to Educate School Refusers

May 8, 2015 | Attendance, Alternative Curriculum, NEET, Participation | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

With the statutory requirement to report attendance figures comes the additional need to look at why pupils aren’t attending. School refusers make up some of these statistics and this covers those who simply don’t want to go to school or those who are phobic and become incredibly anxious when attending is suggested.

It’s important to get to the centre of why a child refuses to attend, it’s also crucial to put support in place through educational strategies.

Improving Attainment of Low Numeracy Pupils

Apr 24, 2015 | Literacy and Numeracy, Assessment, Life Skills | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Not having numeracy skills can have a long lasting and damaging effect on life as an adult. Lack of numeracy can affect behaviour, employment prospects, lifeskills and the overall attitude to the future.

To minimise the risk of this happening after a pupil leaves school, all issues with regards to numeracy must be addressed as early as possible to help a low numeracy child become numerate.

5 Simple Strategies…for Ending a Lesson

Apr 22, 2015 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Many teachers are guilty of ending lessons in a way that is less than inspiring (when not being observed!) – either still finishing the main content or by focusing on the detail of homework. But many personal experiences, alongside research, have shown that the end of a lesson can be as important as an appropriate starter or main activity. The right ending to the lesson can provide consolidation and an opportunity to provide an ending worthy of a lesson worth remembering.

Textbooks in the classroom

Apr 13, 2015 | Teaching, Curriculum, Technology | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

With the rise of the use of technology in the classroom – in particular handheld devices such as tablets – there are questions being increasingly raised as to the future of the printed textbook and whether it has a place in the classroom now or in the near future.

Textbooks have been the mainstay of teaching for over a hundred years and give structure to teaching sessions and markers for pupil progress and achievement.

Creating a Positive Behaviour Policy

Mar 26, 2015 | Behaviour, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 4 minutes

There are two reasons why a school revisits their Behaviour Policy. The most benign of these is that the allotted time for review has arrived and the governors expect a revised copy for review. The second reason why a Behaviour Policy is up for review is that your school has been experiencing difficulties, either in behaviour, attendance or engagement and you need to take steps to address this.

Whichever angle you are coming at this issue from, now is the time to turn your Behaviour Policy into a Positive Behaviour Policy.

5 simple strategies…for starting a lesson

Mar 26, 2015 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Regardless of subject area, the key to success in any lesson is the level of engagement of the learners.

Students of all ages often determine this level of engagement within the opening 10-15 minutes of a lesson, meaning that the strategies used during this time are crucial in determining the attainment that day.

Ways to Raise Engagement in English

Mar 19, 2015 | English, Curriculum, Literacy and Numeracy, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

English is often a love it or hate it subject. For those pupils who enjoy great literature and poetry, they look forward to exploring the pages of the texts they are studying or letting loose their creative imagination in writing fiction which explores their thoughts and enables talent to be seen.

For those who do not enjoy English, it can feel like a dull experience they are forced to attend, either because they can’t relate the work they are asked to complete to any part of real life or because of low literacy levels and any associated learning difficulties.

Improving the Attainment of Low Literacy Pupils

Mar 13, 2015 | Literacy and Numeracy, School Improvement, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Those who perform poorly at school overall are the most likely to have poor reading and writing skills. Socio-economics play a large role in the profile of a pupil with low literacy along with gender.

It has been evidenced that boys are twice as likely as girls to have low literacy skills at the point of leaving school and this barrier can really hold those affected back when looking at career and lifestyle choices.

Innovative Ways to Encourage Students to do Homework

Mar 11, 2015 | Homework, Behaviour, Participation | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

The success of a lesson can often depend on how many of the class have completed their previously set homework. If some haven’t attempted any or all of it, they are at an instant disadvantage in their knowledge of the activities ahead and they lack the achieving of set targets and goals.

The solution is to try to find innovative ways to encourage all the class to complete their homework on time. This way they stay up to date, their learning increases and they feel comfortable with tackling the next steps of the curriculum.

Avoiding the Need for Exclusion

Feb 26, 2015 | Exclusion, Alternative Curriculum, Behaviour | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

There is a school of thought that suggests that all behaviour is communication. This may cause you to believe that certain students in your care are communicating, in no uncertain terms, that they do not wish to attend your school!

Anti-social behaviours, bullying, property damage and persistent disruption all communicate quite strongly to you, as a school leader, that you will need to exclude a student either temporarily or permanently in the not so distant future.

Ways to Raise Engagement in Maths

Feb 5, 2015 | Maths, Literacy and Numeracy, Participation | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Raising engagement in maths – and in turn attainment – is a major focus of every school curriculum policy. Looking at ways to motivate and enthuse pupils in a subject where some have always struggled isn’t easy.

However, there are ways to stop the jumble of figures being seemingly meaningless both on the page and in real life and to illustrate ways to put together the parts of the jigsaw which makes up the whole subject.

Introducing and implementing group work in the classroom

Jan 16, 2015 | Participation, Behaviour, Pupils | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Group work is an integral part of encouraging learning and motivating pupils to engage in activities which can help with the developing of thinking skills, ways of communicating and how to arrive at and make decisions. It’s an aspect of any lesson though which needs considered planning and careful facilitating to ensure that multiple factors are monitored so that pupils achieve the best outcome possible.

The use of tablets in schools

Jan 14, 2015 | Participation, ICT, Life Skills, Technology | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

The use of tablets in schools is currently at its highest ever level, with no sign of a downturn.

Technology charity Tablets for Schools has recently released the results of a study examining the use of the hardware in both primary and secondary sectors. The figures show that of the 671 schools sampled, tablets are in use to some degree in 68% of primary schools and 69% of secondary schools.

5 Simple Strategies…for Active Learning

Dec 17, 2014 | Teaching, Pupils | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Active Learning has been defined in a number of different ways, varying from specialism to specialism. It has been related to several well-known educational theories and is based on research.

So what is it?

Tips for managing teacher workload

Dec 14, 2014 | School Management, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

There is no getting away from it – teaching is hard work and produces a high workload. Whether it’s the actual classroom time, schemes of work, lesson planning or the associated progression document required for each pupil, being a committed teacher means a great deal of work both at school and when at home.

Whilst there’s no magic bullet to solve the amount required to do such as parent evenings or the creation of school reports, there are certainly techniques which can be utilised to make the workload feel less demanding and to improve the work-life balance.

Effective Summative Feedback

Nov 28, 2014 | Assessment, Achievement, Exams, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Whilst formative feedback is used as a tool for regular evaluation of achievement or to look at and set up methods to stem the areas where students need to make improvement, summative feedback is just as crucial and should be used in conjunction with formative assessment to give a rounded picture of learning rather than purely on its own.

Summative feedback can be used just as effectively as formative feedback as there are a number of tools and processes for obtaining the data and information regarding the learning which has taken place.

5 Simple Strategies…for Overcoming External Barriers

Nov 20, 2014 | SEND, Behaviour, Teaching | 1 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Routines will help in so many ways. They reduce stress levels in pupils on the Autistic Spectrum. They provide containment and structure for pupils with ADHD or social issues. They speed up your planning because you will know what type of task you are doing and when ahead of time: everyone’s a winner!

You may choose to have specific types of lessons on specific days, or to have a bank of structures that you draw on, which can be signposted to the class either ahead of time or at the start of the lesson. Find the system that suits you and your group(s).

Setting Goals and Targets

Nov 13, 2014 | Assessment, School Improvement, Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Evidence of learning is one of the most important benchmarks within teaching. It’s a tool which is part of the whole educative experience for all involved; learner, teacher and perhaps at times the observer. This evidence can be gathered through a range of ways, but the cornerstone of all is the setting of goals and targets.

By undertaking this work at different stages of the term or course; during the scheme of work and lesson planning and at set points as an evaluation tool, it is a way for the future planning of learning.

Supporting Teaching Assistants

Oct 7, 2014 | Teaching, Behaviour, Curriculum, School Management | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

Teaching assistants (TA) are an invaluable asset to every school and to every classroom. Their support for the teacher as well as the students themselves means that a seamless three-way learning team is set up to guide the class through the term with the availability of the well-trained professional who is there to help with the requirements of the teacher to lighten the lesson workload.

5 Simple Strategies…for an Easy Transition to Person-Centred Planning

Sep 25, 2014 | Alternative Curriculum | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

As we have seen, the person-centred approach aims to deliver an inclusive method which we believe will be highly beneficial to pupils, parents and teaching staff alike.

This method provides a greater emphasis on pupil involvement, allowing pupils with special educational needs to gain increased control over their learning.

Reflecting on Teaching Practice

Sep 8, 2014 | Teaching, News, Ofsted | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Reflective practice within teaching centres around activity which takes place in the classroom, the thought processes around why things take place and then considering if it is all working as it should be.

Reflecting on your teaching means you are undertaking self-observation along with self-evaluation and is important because we can identify the kind of practices we undertake, analyse the beliefs in how we teach and evaluate the overall situation with an outcome as to any changes which are needed or improvements in the way we teach.

Lesson Observations

Sep 3, 2014 | Teaching, Life Skills, Ofsted | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Lesson observation is a critical teaching tool which should be used in a positive way for both the teacher and the observer. For the person being observed, it is a time to be able to reflect on their teaching style, content and effectiveness and for the observer, the opportunity to see a snapshot of how well the students are being taught as well as the overall skill of the teacher.

What Makes an Effective Teacher?

Aug 29, 2014 | Teaching | 0 |

Reading time: 3 minutes

Everyone can think back to their time at school and instantly name a teacher they thought was amazing. A great – and effective teacher – has a blend of a number of qualities which come together to produce a truly effective teacher who will have a positive and lifelong impact on every student they teach.

What’s in a name? The “Sir” and “Miss” debate

May 15, 2014 | News | 0 |

Reading time: 2 minutes

The debate causing a stir at the moment is whether addressing teachers as “Sir” and “Miss” is sexist.

Professor Jennifer Coates sparked yesterday’s debate as she told the Times Educational Supplement that “Sir is a knight…but Miss is ridiculous – it doesn’t match Sir at all.”

One solution to this problem that has been highlighted is the idea that teachers could be addressed by their first names. This has been met with a tone of disapproval among some, including chief executive of the Girls’ Day School Trust, Helen Fraser.

Teachers

Pin It on Pinterest