This is the third blog post in what has turned out to be a trilogy on the theme of 'What can we infer...?'. Episode 1 ripped in to the practice of examining exercise books as a means of establishing how much students have learnt (here). Episode 2 critiqued Oftsed's approach to lesson observation (here). Episode … Continue reading What can we infer from an end of year test?
Category: Leadership
Necessity is the mother of intervention
'Intervention' has become a common word in schools. It is a term borrowed from the medical profession where it means an action taken to improve a medical disorder. In an educational context it has come to mean an action taken to address a deficiency in learning. Some find the term distasteful due to its medical … Continue reading Necessity is the mother of intervention
Workload in three words
Learning Progress Feedback If you think learning is something you can observe then you can check it is happening in every lesson. You can ask teachers to check... regularly... say, at points throughout each lesson. If you think learning is something you can see and measure, you know if it is not happening. You … Continue reading Workload in three words
What can we infer from an observation?
This week, Ofsted published a paper describing their conclusions following a seminar in November 2017 in which they considered six models of lesson observation from around the world. The paper can be found here. The fact that Ofsted are attempting to learn from systems in use in other countries is positive, and I was pleased … Continue reading What can we infer from an observation?
The Quest for Teacher Quality
There has been an increasing tendency in schools in England to hold teachers to account for the outcomes achieved by their classes. This has become the predominant means by which schools attempt to improve examination results. The thinking seems to be "We want to improve results. Results are dependent on the quality of teaching. We … Continue reading The Quest for Teacher Quality
What can we infer from an exercise book?
My recent experience of an Ofsted inspector at work has made me think long and hard about what can reliably be inferred from looking at exercise books. The current Ofsted framework seems to rely very heavily on inspectors using books as evidence of standards of teaching, learning and assessment. This approach has arisen in response … Continue reading What can we infer from an exercise book?
Deep challenge
Our recent Ofsted inspection happened to coincide with the speech Dr Rebecca Allen gave on 7 November, titled 'Making teaching a job worth doing (again)' [https://beckyallen.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/2017-11-becky-allen-on-workload.pdf]. If you've read the speech you'll appreciate the irony of this. Whilst I can't comment (yet) on the outcomes of the inspection, I am able to talk about my … Continue reading Deep challenge
The Coca Cola problem
“The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance” ‘A Theory of Justice’; John Rawls (1971) I was asked recently to fill two hours with wise words to an audience of prospective head teachers. Naturally, I knew that I couldn't hold their attention for this time without plenty of discussion activities. To start, I presented … Continue reading The Coca Cola problem
Red pill, blue pill
"You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes." Morpheus, The Matrix (1999) In the Matrix, Morpheus offers Neo the choice of a red … Continue reading Red pill, blue pill
Intelligent accountability pt.1
There are three assumptions about teachers which it is worth keeping in mind when thinking about how to hold them to account for the work they do; Teachers want to do a good job (not all perhaps, but most in my experience) Teachers are most effective when they think carefully about their practice, rather than … Continue reading Intelligent accountability pt.1
Matthew Evans 