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”
Tag Archives: History Teaching
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?”
ECT Year 2: Moving from Survival to Sustained Practice
The second year of the Early Career Framework can feel unexpectedly difficult. By this point, you are no longer brand new, yet you may not feel fully confident either. Expectations increase, support can feel less immediate, and the safety net of being “new” begins to lift.If Year 2 feels harder in some ways than YearContinueContinue reading “ECT Year 2: Moving from Survival to Sustained Practice”
Surviving Your First ECT Year: What I Wish I Had Known
The first year of teaching is intense. Even with high-quality training, nothing fully prepares you for the pace, responsibility, and emotional weight of being in charge of your own classes. If you are finding your first year as an Early Career Teacher challenging, that does not mean you are failing. It means you are learning.ThisContinueContinue reading “Surviving Your First ECT Year: What I Wish I Had Known”
Ten Tips for Securing a Place on an ITT Course (and Choosing the Right Route)
Initial Teacher Training can feel daunting. With multiple routes into teaching and competitive places, knowing where to start and how to strengthen your application is not always straightforward. This post brings together ten practical tips for securing a place on an ITT course, alongside a brief overview of the main routes into the profession. UnderstandingContinueContinue reading “Ten Tips for Securing a Place on an ITT Course (and Choosing the Right Route)”
Raising Standards for Pupil Premium: Returning to First Principles
This is a post I have had sitting in my drafts for some time. The imposter syndrome of focusing on this area during my MA and continuing studies, I think will be ever present. Nonetheless, writing about pupil premium provision deserves care, honesty, and clarity. It is an area that resists quick fixes and soundbites,ContinueContinue reading “Raising Standards for Pupil Premium: Returning to First Principles”
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”