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My message to the Education Secretary after the General Election: ‘Build on’ rather than ‘tear down’

My message to the Education Secretary after the General Election: ‘Build on’ rather than ‘tear down’

Whoever wins the General Election will have a huge inbox. There will be decisions to make on all manner of things including health, defence and the economy. There is one thing, however, that they shouldn’t tinker with too much – at least in England. That is education. Since the new national curriculum was introduced in…

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Be positive about teaching

Be positive about teaching

Teachers should stop being so negative about their jobs, warned Sir Martyn Oliver, the new head of Ofsted. In a speech to the headteachers’ union NAHT he urged that they talk more about the positives of the profession. He added: “I’m not diminishing the very real issues in schools. But I do worry that, if…

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How and what to revise this Easter

How and what to revise this Easter

Easter. That timely break as spring draws closer. That period is of importance in the Christian calendar. That long weekend when egg-shaped chocolate is devoured by greedy children. For many students, however, Easter is a time for revising. Exams, whether real of mock, are just around the corner and suddenly the reality hits home. Panic…

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The Chancellor’s Budget reference that no-one is talking about

The Chancellor’s Budget reference that no-one is talking about

Amidst all the commentary about the Chancellor’s Budget, one point he made has largely been ignored. Jeremy Hunt made reference to the improving educational standards in England by pointing out how the country has risen up the Pisa rankings. These put England in 14th place out of 81 countries – and show how its curriculum…

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Video violence can harm school children

Video violence can harm school children

An education expert and former government adviser has blasted a video that has been shown to primary school children. The short, animated CGI 3D film made available by ‘teachers resource’ company The Literacy Shed depicts a frightening, post-apocalyptic world with violent scenes. Dr Stephen Curran said the 8min 30sec film called ‘Ruin’ was inappropriate for…

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