#FridayFive

1. Rain. The Beatles
2. A Rainy Night in Soho. The Pogues
3. Protected From The Rain. Grandaddy
4. Morning Rain. I Am Kloot
5. Walking in the Rain. Sweet Baboo

Very interesting. I don’t tend to find too much disagreement on purpose. Most agree we want to help pupils make sense of the world around them, critique, shape and thrive in that world. Or variations of that.

Where I feel we do lack consensus is on the best way to achieve the purpose.

But this part of the guidance is about key principles that are essential for “meaningful learning” for all ages. So therefore I read this as “play based learning is essential for all.”

Have I got that wrong?

I’m not suggesting exams are perfect. Far from it. But increasing the amount and weight of NEA is problematic on many fronts, not least the impact on pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. I’ve yet to hear a convincing argument as to why it’s happening. And I’ve asked a lot of people.

1. He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s the Pilot. Grandaddy
2. The Cedar Room. Doves
3. Slow Life. Super Furry Animals
4. Dry the Rain. Beta Band
5. Sea Within a Sea. The Horrors

#FridayFive

Combined, that should give us a real insight into progress, what the next steps are and we can support that.

All pretty logical really!

Teach-check-respond cycle can be…

Short cycle: informal, minute by minute during lessons. Constant checking for understanding and responding.

Medium cycle: half termly or so, sampling learning from that period.

Long cycle: once or twice during the year, sampling from the whole year

Yes. Essentially aligning curriculum & assessment. The clearer we are on what we intend pupils to understand and be able to do, the easier it is to assess whether they understand and can do those things. Then we respond based on what we discover. A continuous cycle of ‘teach-check-respond’!

1. Seldom Seen Kid. Elbow
2. Pumping On Your Stereo. Supergrass
3. Something 4 The Weekend. Super Furry Animals
4. The Breeders. Cannonball
5. Patio Song. Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci

#FridayFive

Based on a lot of reading and exploration that we’ve done (CfW guidance, Dylan Wiliam, Daisy Christadoulou) from which we’ve developed assessment approaches and a system that aligns with our curriculum and school culture.

Ours are essentially continue to develop curriculum and pedagogy further, embed new assessment system across the school and strengthen culture of ‘ambition for all’. Research underpinning what we do in all areas.

Ydy. But be aware that you’re there to provide the coffee first and foremost. If (and only if) two sessions become available may you present. And even then, coffee comes first during those sessions. Popeth yn iawn?