Category Archives: Uncategorized

“Fantasy is an exercise bicycle for the mind. It might not take you anywhere, but it tones up the muscles that can.” Sir Terry Pratchett

I first came across Terry Pratchett’s writing in the mid 1980s, children’s books such as the Colour of Magic and the Carpet People. It was quite clear then that Terry (one of the few authors about whom I feel very … Continue reading

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“Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play.” – Henri Matisse

There has been a recent ‘epidemic’ of concern being expressed across our country that the nation as a whole is falling out of love with Art.  Visitor numbers are falling at the National Gallery and the Tate, and  and more … Continue reading

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Aiming to connect with learning…a tribute to Barlow and King!

Thursday 26 February (this week) saw ISA’s annual Junior schools’ conference visit the Institute of Marketing’s fine premises at Moor Hall, nearby in Cookham. The whole day was given over to looking at what assessing children’s achievement looks like in … Continue reading

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“Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine”

I have had a good half-term, dear Reader. During the business of academic life, it’s almost impossible to reserve the time to go to see the latest films. And there have been some stunningly good films out there passing me … Continue reading

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Growth mindset: What interventions might work and what probably won’t?

Originally posted on Evidence into Practice:
Whether discussed under the guise of ‘resilience’, ‘grit’ or ‘character’, there appears to be a great appetite for psychologically manipulating pupils’ personalities or their attributions about school. One concept which has particularly captured the…

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“If we knew what we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” – A manifesto beyond 2015.

There is no way Albert Einstein could have known where his research into Newtonian mechanics would take him into Space-Time, particle theory, the motion of molecules and that of the Universe. Reflecting on his life after the second world war, … Continue reading

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How not to save the Petrified Forest… a sideways look at Government School League Tables

In a belated effort to protect the Petrified Forest in Arizona, the Navajo Indian curators decided to put large signs up around the desert edge reminding visitors that “At the current rate of fossil theft by visitors, the Forest will completely … Continue reading

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I am Claires Court

The brutal murders of some 17 people last week in Paris has caused much outrage over the globe, yet another incident in a global war between those that consent to living in pluralist liberal societies and those that wage jihad … Continue reading

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“Everything’s already been said, but since nobody was listening, we have to start again.” Gide

I recently read a straight talking blog by Barry Smith that made me laugh out loud and made my day. You see I think teaching is really hard and that education is the most complex of industries. And to be … Continue reading

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2014 in review – A Principled view

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 9,200 times in 2014. If it were a … Continue reading

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