Author Archives: rsbate

When it comes to booklets, I started out as a sceptic. Seeing so many other schools touting their shift to booklets on social media, I wanted to think carefully about the pros and cons. I saw two major pitfalls: the workload involved in producing booklets and a concern that they would become too restrictive forContinue reading “Booklets: Some Practical Advice”

How Hamilton has made me think. I try to avoid things that are overhyped; or at least I think I try to. I have long had an interest into the period of American history around the War of Independence and the founding of the republic. So when everybody started going wild about a hip-hop musicalContinue reading “Finding my shot”

Thank goodness for that. 2020 was a shocker and I am definitely looking forward to a year which isn’t so restricted or under strain. For all the negatives though, I am still thankful for a number of opportunities in 2020… The joy of cookingLast year was when I finally got around to learning how toContinue reading “Farewell to all that”

I had never intended to write a trilogy of posts, however things fell into place and while there was a unifying thread it made sense to separate ideas into separate posts rather than produce one of my typically sprawling articles. In many ways, this trilogy draws together much of the reading, thinking and writing thatContinue reading “The Ignorance Trilogy”

In this third and final series of posts looking at how tackling ignorance should be a principal aim of schooling, I reflect on the actual process of learning. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. This proverb has been a perennial plague for teachers and schools. Exacerbated by anContinue reading “On learning (or getting the horse to drink)”

In this second in a series of three posts, I look at the concept of cultural capital. This follows my previous post on ignorance in which I argued that challenging ignorance should be a main aim of schooling. Offering cultural capital is a key strand of challenging ignorance and makes it essential that we getContinue reading “On cultural capital”

This is the first in a series of three posts which draw together some of the thinking, reading and conversations I’ve recently had. In this first post, I consider the issue of ignorance and how challenging ignorance should be one of the fundamental aims of schools. In 1942, William Beveridge recognised ignorance as one ofContinue reading “On Ignorance”

It is a Saturday. The sun is shining, which is something of a novelty this week. I am sat at my desk looking out onto my garden. Procrastinating – or mentally pottering – as per usual, I take a look at the TLS’ website and serendipitously chance across the exact article which reflects my presentContinue reading “Armchair philosopher”

There’s a brand new talk but it’s not very clear, oo, bop, That people from good homes Are talking this year, oo, bop, fashion Fashion, David Bowie (1980) As I reviewed and refined a Year 7 scheme of work on ‘the geographies of fashion’ as part of a(nother) major curriculum overhaul, I felt it offeredContinue reading “The curriculum fashion”

Many people have turned to quizzes during the lockdown, either as quizmaster or quizzer. There is probably still plenty of need for socialising at a distance. There will also be a need to help pubs get back on their feet when they reopen. Quizzing is a great answer to both of those problems. To helpContinue reading “Quiz biz”