For several years I have sensed a coming together of several previously disparate strands. Both in education and in politics more widely, new thinking is galvanising around what the future of liberal-progressive thought might look like. Despite this emerging thinking, there also seems to be a disconnect between the possible future and the status quo.Continue reading "Bridging the gap"
What does a policy response to ‘powerful knowledge’ look like?
English schools are currently going through something of a ‘knowledge turn’, with a renewed emphasis on the curriculum and the learning of substantial subject knowledge. Whilst this may be considered a step in the right direction, we might not yet be heading to the right destination. This ‘work in progress’ post argues for a powerfulContinue reading "What does a policy response to ‘powerful knowledge’ look like?"
On reflection: September approaches
Like some kind of Game of Thrones season finale, four weeks of the summer holiday have passed: it is coming. Together with teaching colleagues across the world currently on a summer break, I am filled with the usual mix of anxiety, foreboding and excitement. What will the new school year bring? Will it be as horrendous asContinue reading "On reflection: September approaches"
Place Studies (Work in progress)
As part of the new A-Level course, my class are studying 'Changing Places'. It is refreshing and daunting to be teaching the quite challenging concepts involved with place. A further novel aspect of the new topic is the requirement of developing 'place studies' of a 'local' and 'distant' place. Four themes to explore: Similarity DifferenceContinue reading "Place Studies (Work in progress)"
How change happens – some initial thoughts
Last Thursday, I took some sixth formers along to Chester University to hear Duncan Green launch his new book, How Change Happens. Having heard Duncan speak at a Geographical Association conference a few years ago and having dipped into his previous book From Poverty to Power (as with so many books I buy, I have never read itContinue reading "How change happens – some initial thoughts"
Good life, good politics
At the start of 2015 I wrote a post about progress. At the time, I'd been reading some work by US psychologist and educational Howard Gardner and looked at notions of social progress and the role of education within this. Since then, I have naturally but not deliberately continued on something of an intellectual journeyContinue reading "Good life, good politics"
Getting ahead
Shortly after being appointed as Head of Geography at my new school, I drafted a post with the intention of sharing my experience with those who may be looking at making their steps towards similar promotions. I deliberately didn't post it at the time as contracts and such like were confirmed. Having rediscovered the draft,Continue reading "Getting ahead"
A Tale of Three Lessons
Around the start of this school year, I posted a Facebook status commenting on the upcoming year being my fifth as a teacher, which is something of a landmark as a high percentage of teachers leave the profession within the first five years. I remember speaking to somebody I trained with about this and weContinue reading "A Tale of Three Lessons"
From the archive: Not far from anywhere
Before starting this new blog at the turn of the year, I used to have another blog which dated back to before I started teaching. I was looking through my old posts, some of which are sat offline, and I found one which I really enjoyed. It is about walking, it is geographical and it isContinue reading "From the archive: Not far from anywhere"
This much I know…about John Tomsett’s book on teaching
I am 28 years old, I have been teaching for five years and this much I know about John Tomsett's book on teaching. John Tomsett is the headteacher of a large comprehensive school in York. He has been blogging about his experiences on teaching and school leadership for a number of years, leading to him drawingContinue reading "This much I know…about John Tomsett’s book on teaching"
Commonplace 