Here are my 10 key takeaways for secondary English professionals from the Curriculum & Assessment recommendations. Arguably, we're on the "revolution" end of the evolution / revolution spectrum! twinkl.co.uk/blog/curricu... @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social #twinklbeyondenglish

Twinkl's subject-by-subject review of the Francis CAR recommendations can be found here: twinkl.co.uk/curriculum-a... What does it mean for teachers and schools? We cover all of the main takeaways. @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social #twinklbeyondenglish

@twinklresources.bsky.social are launching a new podcast series for leaders and teachers, and episode 1 is here! It was great to pick @sammywright.bsky.social's brain on the shape and texture of English schools. www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1hjk03 @twinklbeyond.bsky.social #twinklbeyondenglish

FREE webinar - Wednesday 22nd @ 4pm: "How Can We Encourage Our KS3 Pupils to Read for Pleasure?" www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-can-we... Looking at the evidence for RfP and discussing classroom and whole school strategies. #twinklbeyondenglish @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social

Get your FREE tickets for a teachmeet coming up on Reading for Pleasure at KS3 (www.eventbrite.com/cc/twinkl-te...). I'll be talking about context and offering tips for embedding reading habits. @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social #twinklbeyondenglish #readingforpleasure

I wrote a blog for the Twinkl Tutors team last week to publicise this season's run of CPD teachmeets: tinyurl.com/5abmpshp. We need to get better at understanding pupils' prior journeys and sharing strategies across phases. #twinklbeyondenglish @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social

I'm running a webinar on "KS3 reading for pleasure" on 22 Oct, and I'd love to hear from schools that model good RfP practice so I can shout-out some exemplars. Share your experiences below or DM me at [email protected] @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social #twinklbeyondenglish

Final plug for the first session of these teachmeets. It's on Wednesday 17th Sept at 4pm. All sessions now available to book independently on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/cc/twinkl-te... #twinklbeyondenglish @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social @twinklslt.bsky.social

Here at Twinkl we're running a teachmeet series on Supporting Struggling Readers @ KS3. Free to join, sign up on Eventbrite. The first session is next Wednesday 17th Sept. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/improving-... #twinklbeyondenglish @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social

Here at Twinkl we're running a teachmeet series on Supporting Struggling Readers @ KS3. Free to join, sign up on Eventbrite. The first session is next Wednesday 17th Sept. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/improving-... #twinklbeyondenglish @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social

Sam Denno samdenno.substack.com?r=4fdix6&utm...

The last episode of Obsessed with Assessment podcast! Emma and I are bowing out by looking back over our 10 month, 35 episode run. Apple: tinyurl.com/y76yzzec Spotify: tinyurl.com/cxpskjwr Amazon: tinyurl.com/4s8msmaw YT: youtu.be/joqEarN7hhQ @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social

I talk to OCR exam board in today's podcast. They argue that their proposed reformat of the Maths GCSE could revitalise secondary maths and solve the resit burden. @twinklresources.bsky.social @miss-agd.bsky.social @ocrexams.bsky.social Apple: tinyurl.com/57tnunb6 Spotify: tinyurl.com/3s2rsvyk

New podcast out today! James Beadle of @cambridge.org argues that assessment literacy is important for EVERYONE - educators, pupils and parents. Apple: tinyurl.com/4twu8jnw Spotify: tinyurl.com/53ch9587 Amazon: tinyurl.com/msajrtet @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social

New podcast out today! James Beadle of @cambridge.org argues that assessment literacy is important for everyone - educators, pupils and parents. Find out more on the links below: Apple: tinyurl.com/4twu8jnw Spotify: tinyurl.com/53ch9587 @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social

Last week on the podcast, I was joined by James Beadle of @cambridge.org to talk about why we should have different approaches to formative and summative assessment. Terrific chat! @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social Apple: tinyurl.com/mpr4be7r Spotify: tinyurl.com/3dhtn8ks

This week's podcast: is your assessment valid? An important question. We explore what needs to be considered before delivering any sort of test - in low or high stakes settings. @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social Apple: tinyurl.com/tpvnfvxj Spotify: tinyurl.com/2nt3x6xf

Great to hear the Sec of State speak on literacy at @literacy-trust.bsky.social 📚 🔹 9/10 employers say youth literacy must improve 🔹 Govt aims to spark reading for pleasure early 🔹 Schools & homes must unite—literacy is a shared responsibility @twinklresources.bsky.social backs #VisionForLiteracy!

In today's episode I talk to edu trailblazer @daisychristo.bsky.social about comparative judgement - is this marking form more efficient and more accurate than traditional methods? @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social Apple: tinyurl.com/3j25wbd4 Spotify: tinyurl.com/ydtnkvcf

We grilled peer assessment last week on the podcast. This time, it's self assessment's turn to get a thorough interrogation! Emma and I dig into the research and bring the insights. @twinklresources.bsky.social Apple: tinyurl.com/5ymustn6 Spotify: tinyurl.com/4d3y5n83 Amazon: tinyurl.com/yhewcp6v

It's another 2 podcast week this week! In this episode I chat with 3 STEM specialists about the alarming gender gap data in the TIMSS report, and what we can do about it. @twinklresources.bsky.social #edusky Apple: tinyurl.com/4656khef Spotify: tinyurl.com/bd8mep3k Amazon: tinyurl.com/3bzwx5ds

This week on the podcast: peer assessment- a staple of the 21st century classroom. But is it actually that effective? And how can we make the most of it? @twinklresources.bsky.social @twinklbeyond.bsky.social Apple: tinyurl.com/34mxzxak Spotify: tinyurl.com/yckm36c2 YouTube: youtu.be/Oz2lBgf3UiY

This week's podcast is essential listening for any educator, and important for any human being imo. Academic, Dr Lewis Doyle, talks us through our unconscious biases, how we can come to terms with them, and ways for moving forwards. Spotify: tinyurl.com/4jyyxusw @twinklresources.bsky.social

We're talking about sharing best practice and reframing teacher judgement in our conversation with Dr Mick Walker this episode, the last of four episodes chatting with Mick. Go back and listen if you've missed any! @twinklresources.bsky.social #edusky Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2krx...

The penultimate episode in our Dr Mick Walker sequence of podcasts is about ensuring we're asking students the right questions. Very important insights. @twinklresources.bsky.social Spotify: tinyurl.com/a7uxwcau Apple: tinyurl.com/ehcp2t33 Amazon: tinyurl.com/2xmnderk YouTube: youtu.be/gomB4Tqz_qE

Another chat with Dr Mick Walker on the pod. As a former curriculum designer himself, Mick has some fascinating insights into the latest curriculum and assessment review. #curriculumandassessment #edusky Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7phJ...

Here's an exciting, bonus midweek podcast release! Emma and I get to work on reviewing Ofsted's report card proposals. Where does our judgement come down😉? #edusky Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/79fsI8m...

A great privilege to be joined on the pod by assessment royalty, Dr Mick Walker. Mick's insights into the England educational assessment system at the highest levels are invaluable, as is his guidance for teachers and school leaders. #edusky Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3o5V...

Are you familiar with the National Reference Test? It's a Y11 test that is mandatory for schools and yet very few people know about it - eh? Emma and I take a good look in this podcast episode... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1glF... Amazon: tinyurl.com/d4fpvwxr Apple: tinyurl.com/yx45x835

A gate-swallowing tree near Sheffield, too. This time it has snuck in while the gate is OPEN and taken its opportunity!

This week we’ll be at the #PiXL National Conferences! We can't wait to chat about all things primary and secondary. Plus, learn how #Educake helps build confidence with auto-marked quizzes. 🗓️ 30th January - Primary 🗓️ 31st January - Secondary Will we see you there? 💜 #PiXLNationalConferences

The latest Obsessed with Assessment podcast dropped this morning. Emma and I talk about the functions of assessment and what this all means for day-to-day educators. Engaging stuff, tell your friends! #edusky open.spotify.com/episode/3NkS...

Interesting blog @daisychristo.bsky.social . The speed of AI marking is an intriguing point... even if it's not the most optimal tool, it's a tool that we're going to have more readily and it will offer us incredible efficiency. Using it to bolster other practices, is definitely a neat concept.

*FREE RESOURCE* We are excited to share the 2nd piece in our "Leading with..."series! Get advice & best practice including a must-have assessment calendar for 2025. Read more 👉 www.twinkl.co.uk/l/11rdl3 @twinklresources.bsky.social @jpembroke.bsky.social @samdenno-twinkl.bsky.social

“To save man from the morass of propaganda...is one of the chief aims of education. Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction." (The Purpose of Education, 1947) #MartinLutherKingJr #MLK #EduSky

Fabulous to be listed alongside such esteemed voices. A pleasure to contribute to this document, which very concisely captures some of the key strands that we need to weigh up as we approach classroom assessment.

Really enjoyed recording this podcast. Absolute vs relative grading, and considering where the England system sits and why it all matters. Fascinating conversation! #edusky Spotify: tinyurl.com/muj6mz4n Amazon: tinyurl.com/33j6zrtn Apple: tinyurl.com/3symufbr YouTube: youtu.be/L6uZWoqAyls

The reports condemning the SEN system are piling up now. It's important these things are said; we also need to give the DfE time to conclude its curric review. Here's an article from today: www.twinkl.co.uk/news/extent-.... And here's my podcast from Dec: open.spotify.com/episode/2IJO... #edusky

In this week's podcast, Emma and I bring our Finland / Denmark / Norway mini-series to a close and draw our conclusions on Nordic education and assessment. Do you agree? #edusky Spotify: tinyurl.com/ycy4fvnc Apple: tinyurl.com/4uv295zy Amazon: tinyurl.com/ysu3dkwv YouTube: youtu.be/BuT85OKs7tY

Happy new year @edusky.bsky.social gang! I'm kicking off with a brand new Obsessed with Assessment podcast episode on education and assessment in Finland. Loved doing this deep-dive; let me know what you think!: open.spotify.com/episode/5hak...

The government doing some real soul-searching, between the #curriculumandassessment review and this inquiry. Hopefully there is cohesion! We released a podcast earlier in Dec, with a focus on day-to-day solutions for assessment when working with SEND pupils #edusky: open.spotify.com/episode/2IJO...

A teaser for the latest Obsessed with Assessment podcast. Full episode here: open.spotify.com/episode/2IJO... Will we be feeling more optimistic in 12 months' time?

Wow. This isn't working. Time to throw a curriculum review at it.

Most importantly - I fear I have lost my 500+ day @teachertapp.bsky.social streak 😭

Here's our take on the SEND crisis, from an educational assessment angle. Practical steps offered for working with SEND & assessment at the end of the podcast: open.spotify.com/episode/2IJO... #assessment #edusky

And that's a fascinating thought that "high stakes" is subjective depending on the customer. So when we talk about high stakes casually in, say, a Curriculum & Assessment Review scenario, then for everyone's sake, it's worth defining what is meant by it in that particular instance. #edusky

Secondly, "high stakes" / "low stakes" are terms that us educators bandy around quite freely, but rarely define (guilty as charged). That's a podcast waiting to happen - "when is high stakes not high stakes?" #edusky anyone brave enough to offer their own definition?!

Hey Tom. Firstly, the blog was based on a lit review rather than 1st-hand experience, so there are some gaps. My understanding was that the test was an indicator for best-fit pathway, but that students can ignore results and follow an alt route. #edusky any Finns out there who can advise?

We clearly couldn't lift a Finland-like system wholesale and drop it into England, but there is a lot to be learnt about teaching professionalism, low-stakes assessments, smooth transitions and inclusive attitudes. I blogged on this recently, too: www.twinkl.co.uk/blog/obsesse...