'Men of England, heirs of Glory,
Heroes of unwritten story,
Nurslings of one mighty Mother,
Hopes of her, and one another;
'Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number,
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you -
Ye are many - they are few.
'What is Freedom? - ye can tell
That which slavery is, too well -
For its very name has grown
To an echo of your own.
'Tis to work and have such pay
As just keeps life from day to day
In your limbs, as in a cell
For the tyrants' use to dwell,'
After excellent training on Friday, we continue our work. It's great to hear from some that they'll begin working restoratively from this week. I feel it can have a huge affect on our work.
More reports to write, lessons to teach, resilience to foster. Have a great week. And let's all look forward to receiving our bibles from our hero, Michael Gove.
Fight the power.
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Inventive
This is a key time. All of our intentions around the development of teaching and learning, and becoming outstanding, rely on a consistent improvement in the outcomes. Whatever our individual views, this is a key measure of success; if our lessons are more inventive and engaging, pupils will enjoy English more. If they enjoy English more, they will achieve more.
It is a virtuous circle. We are creating this circle - and we need to ensure that we work together to connect the dots in this circle, and connect it firmly.
How can we do this? We need to keep doing what we've begun doing - it's been great seeing people trying new techniques, and new ways of getting pupils to own their learning. We also need to support each other, and each other's students. It about the school, and above all the pupils. From Wednesday, we must all be there, working with the students positively and in a targeted way, focusing on building confidence and resilience. Ensuring that this cohort is our best prepared yet is our main task.
However, we need to ensure that we don't fall victim to short-termism. Although we must focus on this year group, we need to keep a strong grip on our younger year groups. The opportunity for even greater progress is there at KS3 and, judging by the way year ten have begun their GCSE course, in KS4 too. We can make a great impact there - by being inventive, creative and engaging.
Ultimately, we need to take the approach that top class scientists take to their work. This week has seen a great scientific shibboleth, that of the god-like status of Einstein, challenged. Instead of accepting forever the teachings of those who have come before, scientists continually check, discuss and reappraise their work and their knowledge. CERN, instead of ending the world as the hysterical press suggested, have found that neutrinos appear to travel faster than the speed of light; Einstein's theory of relativity suggested that this was impossible. Rather than being burnt at the stake, the physicists have been questioned, challenged and asked to redo their experiments in different ways, to check the veracity of their findings. The repeated experiments reached the same conclusion. Whether it's proof of a multi-verse, simple error, or a truly revolutionary discovery remains to be seen.
What is not in doubt, for me, is the lesson we should take from it. We need to question ourselves. We must look at what we do, and refine it, discuss it, and be open to suggestions, ideas and even criticism. Let's think differently.
It's hard, but it will make us stronger. Not only that, it will make us better. And even better than that, it will make the people we work with better prepared for their futures in this cold, harsh world.
It is a virtuous circle. We are creating this circle - and we need to ensure that we work together to connect the dots in this circle, and connect it firmly.
How can we do this? We need to keep doing what we've begun doing - it's been great seeing people trying new techniques, and new ways of getting pupils to own their learning. We also need to support each other, and each other's students. It about the school, and above all the pupils. From Wednesday, we must all be there, working with the students positively and in a targeted way, focusing on building confidence and resilience. Ensuring that this cohort is our best prepared yet is our main task.
However, we need to ensure that we don't fall victim to short-termism. Although we must focus on this year group, we need to keep a strong grip on our younger year groups. The opportunity for even greater progress is there at KS3 and, judging by the way year ten have begun their GCSE course, in KS4 too. We can make a great impact there - by being inventive, creative and engaging.
Ultimately, we need to take the approach that top class scientists take to their work. This week has seen a great scientific shibboleth, that of the god-like status of Einstein, challenged. Instead of accepting forever the teachings of those who have come before, scientists continually check, discuss and reappraise their work and their knowledge. CERN, instead of ending the world as the hysterical press suggested, have found that neutrinos appear to travel faster than the speed of light; Einstein's theory of relativity suggested that this was impossible. Rather than being burnt at the stake, the physicists have been questioned, challenged and asked to redo their experiments in different ways, to check the veracity of their findings. The repeated experiments reached the same conclusion. Whether it's proof of a multi-verse, simple error, or a truly revolutionary discovery remains to be seen.
What is not in doubt, for me, is the lesson we should take from it. We need to question ourselves. We must look at what we do, and refine it, discuss it, and be open to suggestions, ideas and even criticism. Let's think differently.
It's hard, but it will make us stronger. Not only that, it will make us better. And even better than that, it will make the people we work with better prepared for their futures in this cold, harsh world.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Hit It Hard.
We're entering a crucial period of time. No, not unelected governments made of bankers being imposed on sovereign European nations. Not even excuses being readied for war against another Middle Eastern nation. Not even England fluking a win against an underwhelming Spanish side.
No. It's more important that all of that. It's time to prepare about 200 pupils for their English exams - for some their final chance, and for some their first. Either way, it's vital for them, vital for us, and an exciting / nerve-wracking time for all. It's something we can do well; it's something we have done well. With specific teaching, aimed with laser-like precision at each pupil, we will triumph and we our charges will feel empowered to take on the whole world.
After this week, we will be having a break from department meetings to get extra revision sessions on the go. We'll all contribute to this, whether it is teaching a small group a specific skill or helping a larger group to work in a more self-directed way. Together, we will make a huge difference; 18% of Year 11 are currently on a D. If we can get these pupils, some of whom missed entire questions in last January's exam, perfectly prepared, we, as a school, will be in a great position from which to boost attainment through targeted intervention and retaking of Controlled Assessment next year.
We've held it well this year, and now is the time to hit it, hard.
Risk taking was the theme of last week's blog, and I asked during the week if anyone was planning on taking any risks. A few of you mentioned certain things in passing, and I saw some excellent teaching this week - challenging, innovative, engaging, and all things in between. Risk taking can pay off. Of course, it can fail miserably; however, if you take well judged and thought out risks, you're more likely to succeed. Last week, I took risks with my Year 8 group, who could be described as lively, needy and interesting (in many good ways!).
It didn't look good at first. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were painful. Thursday was better. And Friday... well, I wouldn't say I was in love, but it was impressive. I'm sure it will be bumpy, but if we're going to make a difference, a striking and powerful long term difference, we need to be brave enough to stick to our guns and keep trying things, keep encouraging and keep building on what we have already developed.
Avoid complacency, keep striving, and big tings a'gwan!
No. It's more important that all of that. It's time to prepare about 200 pupils for their English exams - for some their final chance, and for some their first. Either way, it's vital for them, vital for us, and an exciting / nerve-wracking time for all. It's something we can do well; it's something we have done well. With specific teaching, aimed with laser-like precision at each pupil, we will triumph and we our charges will feel empowered to take on the whole world.
After this week, we will be having a break from department meetings to get extra revision sessions on the go. We'll all contribute to this, whether it is teaching a small group a specific skill or helping a larger group to work in a more self-directed way. Together, we will make a huge difference; 18% of Year 11 are currently on a D. If we can get these pupils, some of whom missed entire questions in last January's exam, perfectly prepared, we, as a school, will be in a great position from which to boost attainment through targeted intervention and retaking of Controlled Assessment next year.
We've held it well this year, and now is the time to hit it, hard.
Risk taking was the theme of last week's blog, and I asked during the week if anyone was planning on taking any risks. A few of you mentioned certain things in passing, and I saw some excellent teaching this week - challenging, innovative, engaging, and all things in between. Risk taking can pay off. Of course, it can fail miserably; however, if you take well judged and thought out risks, you're more likely to succeed. Last week, I took risks with my Year 8 group, who could be described as lively, needy and interesting (in many good ways!).
It didn't look good at first. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were painful. Thursday was better. And Friday... well, I wouldn't say I was in love, but it was impressive. I'm sure it will be bumpy, but if we're going to make a difference, a striking and powerful long term difference, we need to be brave enough to stick to our guns and keep trying things, keep encouraging and keep building on what we have already developed.
Avoid complacency, keep striving, and big tings a'gwan!
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Evening...
Good evening, one and all.
How are we all on this fine Sunday? You'll be relieved to know that this is intended to be a slightly more simple blog than other weeks. I merely want you to think about risk taking.
Not this type of risk taking. This type of risk taking.
What risks will you be taking this week? How will you seek to engage and inspire? In what way will your lessons provide an engaging respite from a diet of mini-plenaries and progress checks, whilst cunningly doing both? How will you be differing from the depressingly didactic diet dictated and directed to our descendants, denizens of self-created and thrilling words forced to endure standardised, centrally controlled 'education'?
Hopefully, we can make this week what it can be - original, inspiring and enjoyable. Dare to differ.
How are we all on this fine Sunday? You'll be relieved to know that this is intended to be a slightly more simple blog than other weeks. I merely want you to think about risk taking.
Not this type of risk taking. This type of risk taking.
What risks will you be taking this week? How will you seek to engage and inspire? In what way will your lessons provide an engaging respite from a diet of mini-plenaries and progress checks, whilst cunningly doing both? How will you be differing from the depressingly didactic diet dictated and directed to our descendants, denizens of self-created and thrilling words forced to endure standardised, centrally controlled 'education'?
Hopefully, we can make this week what it can be - original, inspiring and enjoyable. Dare to differ.
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