The Passion of Steven Smith. Chapter One On the day before the Gabbath, Steven, along with two of his mates, was accosted by members of the local press. ‘Were you the one with the sandpaper,’ one asked. ‘Do you know the man they call Davie Warner?’ demanded another. Steven was sent to the Australian Cricket… Read More The Passion of Steven Smith

“No, no Mr Gove. Put me down! Please! I’ll confess!”… ‘…Derek, Derek, What on earth are you on about?’, complained Mrs O’Keefe, nearly knocking her husband off the sofa. Derek’s sleeping had not been good for a while. Since he left his role at Thirlmere Academy, he just hadn’t been able to settle, increasingly worried… Read More The Headteacher’s New University Course.

Whilst Ofsted prepares to roll out its new inspection framework, Diocesan inspectorates are still in the early stages of reacting to these changes; they will no doubt roll out their own adaptations, but very much in the slow lane. As things stand, their remit covers the teaching and assessment of RE, the quality of worship… Read More Future of Catholic Schools

This phrase – The Age of Impunity –  is I think recently attributed to David Miliband, the ex-Labour Foreign Secretary from a time when politics seemed quite sane. The phrase attempts to capture how nation states feel they can get away with pretty much anything without any resulting intervention from their neighbours. Think Putin, Trump,… Read More The Age of Impunity

One of the most significant deficits faced by pupils in more challenging socio-economic communities is one of vocabulary. Department for Education research suggests that, by the age of seven, the gap in the vocabulary known by children in the top and bottom quartiles is something like 4,000 words (children in the top quartile know around… Read More Oracy, and Feeling Warm in Iceland (Foods Ltd)

I may be straying into controversial territory but here goes… A week or so ago, I led a most joyful (and slightly bonkers) assembly. Our pupils were in their usual place, though decked in the bright primary colours of their houses. I was also in my usual place, but alongside me I had seventeen students… Read More Too Many Words?

We are now half-way through the visit of fifteen teachers and pupils from Sierra Leone. Our two major events – a concert at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Thursday, and two Conferences (pupils and teachers) on Friday – are now almost upon us and I will blog afterwards with some reflections. What has been notable… Read More Inspiration: The Best of People