Author Archives: fish64

With a new Ofsted inspector in place for next year, it was inevitable that they would have a different emphasis from Amanda Spielman. Personally, I welcomed an Ofsted focus on the curriculum under Spielman, as I saw it as the … Continue reading →

I contributed to lessons for Oak Academy. We were under huge time pressure and although there was proofreading, some errors crept in. Most of them are minor things such as spellings. I cringed when I looked at one of mine … Continue reading →

The proposals for the new MFL GCSE have come in for criticism from a large number of people and professional bodies. GCSEs: Heads and exam boards reject ‘risky’ modern languages reforms | Tes The list of those who are opposed … Continue reading →

It was the early 1990s and I had gone to a school for an interview. The school was experimenting with “resource based learning” and I was invited to observe a class. It was a German lesson. The members of the … Continue reading →

I commented recently on a proposal to pay teachers from outstanding schools £10000 to work in schools which are struggling (See link below) https://t.co/JPNylya9ej?amp=1. Even if it were possible to identify outstanding teachers, has any one stopped to think that … Continue reading →

There has been a huge row over the difference between the amount of money apparently recommended by Sir Kevan Collins (£15 billion) and the £1.4 billion allocated by the government. But as a tutor delivering Covid catch up lessons, I … Continue reading →

Now I am nearing the end of my career, I tend to look back more frequently than before. I would like to start with some things which, if not introduced properly, can make experienced teachers very cynical. 1. Literacy initiatives. … Continue reading →

As we all get used to working from home, I am beginning to feel uneasy. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel under ever growing pressure to show what a wonderfully caring teacher I am. I sometimes wonder whether all … Continue reading →

This is a summary of a talk given at BuffetEd on Feb 8th 2020. There is a lot of opposition to the government’s Ebacc measure in the UK education world. Basically, there seem to be 3 main strands of opposition. … Continue reading →

It is difficult to criticise the educational philosophy of an organisation without hurting people. I know there are good people in PiXL. I am sure Sir John Rowling is a good person. I know he has done more for young … Continue reading →