The biggest mistake we make In many schools, GCSE outcomes are treated as a Key Stage 4 problem.When results are disappointing, the response is often:- More intervention- More revision sessions- More exam practiceBut by the time students reach Year 10 or 11, much of the gap is already set.GCSE outcomes are not built in KS4,ContinueContinue reading “Why KS3 is the Key to GCSE Success for Disadvantaged Students in History”
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Literacy is the Real Barrier: Why Disadvantaged Students Struggle in History (and What We Can Do About It)
The Hidden Problem When we talk about the attainment gap, we often focus on:- effort- behaviour- attendance- interventionBut in History classrooms, the biggest barrier is often far simpler, and far less visible:Students cannot access the language of the subject.Until we address this, progress will always be limited. What the research tells us A consistent findingContinueContinue reading “Literacy is the Real Barrier: Why Disadvantaged Students Struggle in History (and What We Can Do About It)”
Why Most Pupil Premium Strategies Fail in the Classroom (and What Actually Works)
The uncomfortable truth Over a decade on from the introduction of the Pupil Premium, the attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their peers remains.Despite significant investment, no school system has consistently solved the problem. In fact, research suggests that while there have been periods of improvement, progress has been uneven and, in some cases, hasContinueContinue reading “Why Most Pupil Premium Strategies Fail in the Classroom (and What Actually Works)”
How We Raised Pupil Premium Attainment in History from 35% to 64%: A Whole-Department Model
Context When I joined my current school as Head of Department, outcomes for our students—many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds—were a concern. Around 60% of our cohort are Pupil Premium (PP), and attainment in my subject sat at 35% achieving Grade 4+.Three years later, that figure rose to 64%, with outcomes now sustained andContinueContinue reading “How We Raised Pupil Premium Attainment in History from 35% to 64%: A Whole-Department Model”
Has the Pupil Premium Actually Worked?
Over £2.5 billion is spent each year on the Pupil Premium.It is one of the most significant education policies of the last decade—designed to close the attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their peers. But after all this time, there’s a question we don’t ask often enough:Has it actually worked? The honest answer The PupilContinueContinue reading “Has the Pupil Premium Actually Worked?”
A Return to the Lyceum: Learning, Leadership, and Looking Ahead
It has been a while since I last posted here, and for that I can only apologise. Like many teachers, the day-to-day demands of school life have a habit of pushing reflective writing to the bottom of the to-do list. That said, the past year or so has been one of the most professionally rewardingContinueContinue reading “A Return to the Lyceum: Learning, Leadership, and Looking Ahead”
Strategies for Engaging Students in UK Classrooms
As educators, we’ve witnessed a seismic shift in the landscape of teaching and learning. The past few years have brought unprecedented challenges, forcing us to adapt our approaches to meet the evolving needs of our students. In this blog post, we’ll explore effective strategies for engaging students in UK classrooms amidst the new normal. EmbraceContinueContinue reading “Strategies for Engaging Students in UK Classrooms”
Navigating the New Normal: Addressing the Digital Divide in UK Education
In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, access to digital resources has become synonymous with educational equity. However, as the world transitions into a more digitally-driven landscape, a pressing issue has emerged: the digital divide in UK education. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, accelerating the adoption of online learning platforms and remoteContinueContinue reading “Navigating the New Normal: Addressing the Digital Divide in UK Education”
Teacher recruitment targets likely to be missed in English, maths and science, new NFER report reveals
A new report warns that there is a substantial risk that teacher recruitment targets will not be met this year across a large range of secondary subjects, including English, a subject that usually meets its target. It also worryingly shows that there are recruitment challenges in other subjects that tend to recruit well, including geography, biology, artContinueContinue reading “Teacher recruitment targets likely to be missed in English, maths and science, new NFER report reveals”
Six boys to one girl in many areas of computing education, new report shows
Girls are now outnumbered six to one by boys across computer science classes, according to new research by the professional body for information technology. Once young women do choose computing they generally outperform their male counterparts, the new report by BCS, The Chartered institute for IT found. BCS’ ‘Landscape Review – Computing Qualifications in theContinueContinue reading “Six boys to one girl in many areas of computing education, new report shows”