Category Archives: Uncategorized

The ever-shifting foundations of Good Curriculum design and practice – using PISA/OECD data!

In December 2013, the OECD PISA triennial international survey hit the news stands and England was pilloried for being so far behind the leading nations in the world. In addition to their somewhat arcane abilities test in reading, maths and … Continue reading

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“It is in the shelter of each other that the people live” An Irish proverb

During our working lives at Claires Court, we plan a very good deal, check across the piece that the opportunities arising are fairly shared, and reflect yet further after the event to ‘mop up’ where needs be. Serendipity however has … Continue reading

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Improving the Claires Court newsfeed for 2014 – paper v web!

Regular and established readers of our Bulletins and weekly Newsletters will know that we have been metronomic for at least 2 decades in the writing and publication of weekly bulletins to nurture our various parent and pupil groups in the … Continue reading

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Facts v Skills and Knowledge v Wisdom – why Engineering still rocks!

Into my seventh decade of wandering the planet (sounds really old), and I continue to learn in this connected educational world in which I work. Commencing teaching under old style O levels and A levels in the 1970’s, I joined … Continue reading

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Weekly digital Newsletter 13 January 2014 – the ‘Shaking that bush’ edition http://goo.gl/fPwHDf

http://goo.gl/fPwHDf One of the greatest ever scenes in Movie History (OK a bit blokeish, I’ll admit) is this one in which our prisoner, Paul Newman (Cool hand Luke) manages to escape from the chain gang. I have used the Metaphor … Continue reading

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“We are spiritual beings having a human experience” Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

In UK Education we get a chance to reflect on new beginnings twice a year, because of course the start of the academic is divorced from the calendar by 4 months. This separation does allow me as a school leader … Continue reading

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Shared New Years resolution courtesy of Mark Twain via Lauren Laverne

@laurenlaverne: NY resolution 2014 c/o Mark Twain: “Let us endeavour to live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry” Shared via TweetCaster

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‘Defeat, failure, loosing, falling on your ass, are the only things, that can teach you how to win’ – Andy Murray

The relentless focus over 2 decades by politicians and educationalists on school improvement measures is laudable, because we all want school to be successful places of learning. Andy Murray’s take on ‘how champions learn’ challenges that notion somewhat; it could … Continue reading

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Good or Bad Education – An End of Year Review 2013

One of the Journalists I admire most is Ben Goldacre. Back in the day when the paperboy (most likely one of our own sons it must be said) trudged up the driveway to chez Nous to drop off a copy … Continue reading

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End of Term Newsletter December 2013

Herewith our end of term Newsletter. Enjoy.

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