Category: Education

Can parents replace their children’s teachers? Not by a long chalk.

Can parents replace their children’s teachers? Not by a long chalk.

Teaching is not easy at the best of times, so to be handed the responsibility of educating children having received no training or experience is daunting. But that is exactly what faced millions of parents when schools were suddenly closed due to the Coronavirus crisis. Their charges – of whatever age – needed to continue…

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A ticking mental health bomb – why school closures should be as short as possible

A ticking mental health bomb – why school closures should be as short as possible

Like most teachers, I listened to the announcement that all schools were to close with dread and a very heavy heart. Undoubtedly the government needs to try everything to flatten the curve of rising Covid-19 cases but I fear long-term closures of schools could be a very heavy price to pay. First and foremost I…

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Helping your primary age and lower secondary age child during the Covid-19 school closures

Helping your primary age and lower secondary age child during the Covid-19 school closures

We are all about to enter unchartered territory with the possibility of long term school closures. It’s a daunting prospect for parents as they need to balance having to work from home while trying to ensure their children do not fall too behind in their learning. I am sure schools have worked incredibly hard to…

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Changing the age children start school will not solve Scotland’s education crisis

Changing the age children start school will not solve Scotland’s education crisis

Last week I highlighted my fears that Scotland’s progressive curriculum was leaving its education system in crisis. Now a Scottish education think-tank, Upstart Scotland, is calling for the country to follow the lead of some Scandinavian countries and raise the age children start school to seven. In my view, they’re focusing on the wrong issue.…

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