What does progression in geographical knowledge look like? Not just remembering more, but developing increasing disciplinary understanding: • concepts • spatial thinking • evidence • application A KS3 framework for foundational knowledge in geography. open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...

📝 Delayed regional improvement plans will set out how schools should boost finances and use AI when finally published https://schoolsweek.co.uk/much-delayed-rise-local-plans-set-for-summer-release/

Foundational knowledge seems to be on everyone’s lips at the moment - but what does it look like though a subject lens? open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...

*** NEW POST *** How do we build progression in writing into a geography curriculum? I take a look at creating a framework to help pin down what this might look like. open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...

One of the most influential academy trust bosses is set to step down after more than two decades in the job https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ark-boss-lucy-heller-to-step-down-after-22-years/

This is something I'm seeing more and more of too. We need to think very carefully how we are handing things over to the pupils.

"What makes this knowledge powerful is not its difficulty, nor its association with tradition, but its generative quality and the way it opens up thinking that would otherwise be unavailable" 👇

Second, @ensermark.bsky.social has been incredibly busy this week and this piece on what a knowledge-rich curriculum is and isn’t was superb. enserm.substack.com/p/lack-of-kn...

Some children are being labelled with special needs 'early' when their needs could be driven by experiences of poverty, the government’s strategic SEND adviser has suggested schoolsweek.co.uk/send-lenehan...

"The careers content lacks depth because it is not rooted in disciplinary understanding." ~ We're working a lot to get students to understand what being a historian is through better disciplinary practice. I hadn't even considered the careers application.

A follow-up to yesterday’s article on a knowledge-rich curriculum - applying it to careers education and in particular the always tricky Gatsby Benchmark 4. open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...

*** NEW POST *** The phrase knowledge-rich gets thrown about by its detractors and supposed supporters alike, but what does it actually mean and where does the confusion lie? open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...

*** NEW POST *** There is increasing scrutiny on the way schools consider the 'whole child' - but are schools set up to achieve this? I take a look. www.tes.com/magazine/ana... via @tesmagazine.bsky.social

This stuff is always odd because you can't make exams "fair." Why should a kid with hayfever get an advantage over one who went to a bad school or doesn't have a supportive family? Exams aren't fair. It's not what they are for.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is now agreed by both houses so will go to Royal Assent. (I think - it’s somewhat tricky to figure out what’s going on.) Regulations and guidelines still need to be consulted on and agreed before the CNIS measures can come into force. Watch this space.

"The point of the “I do” phase is not simply to show pupils what the finished product looks like. It is to make the thinking behind it visible" 👇

*** NEW POST *** A reply from Alex Standish to a recent piece I wrote. While I argue that the curriculum should be future-facing, Alex reminds us not to forget the importance of learning about, and building on, the past. enserm.substack.com/p/without-kn...

This is something I'm seeing more and more of too. We need to think very carefully how we are handing things over to the pupils.

*** NEW POST *** When 'I Do, We do, You do' goes wrong - and how to put it right again. open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...

In this article, for TES Zoe Enser (@greeborunner.bsky.social) explores how building stronger reading habits in our schools and at home, shouldn’t rely on pleasure alone: buff.ly/9z9vFYy You can also buy her latest book How Do They Do It? Here: buff.ly/ZOklP1c

My focus is practical, sustainable improvement - not writing a report and disappearing. If your school, trust or organisation could use support, feel free to DM me here. Shares appreciated. 4/4

I’m available to support schools, trusts and organisations with: • Curriculum development • CPD • Quality assurance • Subject leadership support • Department improvement over time 3/4

Recently I’ve been fortunate to work on: • A national curriculum project + resources • Curriculum development across a MAT • The Discover Geography textbook series 2/4

Three major projects have recently come to a natural end, which means I now have capacity for new work. 1/4

Early morning at Lanty's Tarn near Ullswater - with @greeborunner.bsky.social

The government has invited ed tech companies and AI labs to work with teachers to develop “safe, personalised” AI tutoring tools https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-invites-bids-from-ai-tutoring-pilot-partners/

*** NEW POST *** How can questioning be used to better support disciplinary thinking in geography? open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p... #Geogchat

Schools have been told to avoid 'prolonged staggered starts' for children who are starting reception in new DfE guidance https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dont-prolong-staggered-starts-for-reception-pupils-schools-told/

Exclusive: Scrapping extended writing coursework because of fears of artificial intelligence cheating is 'never off the table,' Ofqual’s boss has warned schoolsweek.co.uk/rise-of-ai-c...

Richard Bustin has written a great book on it www.amazon.co.uk/What-are-Tea...

What’s the point of geography? I’ve been trying to answer this more precisely. Not in terms of content, but in terms of what geography allows pupils to do. This was the focus of my @geographicalassoc.bsky.social conference talk. open.substack.com/pub/enserm/p...?

This talk explores building a future-facing curriculum through: – meaningful questions – powerful knowledge – place and enquiry It’s also the thinking behind the Discover Geography series with @harpercollins.bsky.social. collins.co.uk/collections/...

"In our trust’s secondary phase, we have refocused on reading for a range of purposes, ensuring that we give students lots of reading experience but without adding a value judgement like 'pleasure'." @greeborunner.bsky.social explains, in @tesmagazine.bsky.social: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

Lunch of kings. Love injera.

Heading off for a morning stroll across Sheffield to find the Geographical Association conference. I'm presenting at 2pm - exploring how to create a future-facing geography curriculum.

Made it to Sheffield for @geographicalassoc.bsky.social conference. Woop woop!

I'm heading to Sheffield tomorrow ready to join the @geographicalassoc.bsky.social conference on Friday. I'll be presenting ideas on making geography curiculums future-facing and embracing geography's powerful potential.

Excellent as always from @greeborunner.bsky.social

Perfect day for walking in the hills. Up Penyghent with @greeborunner.bsky.social

📝 An academy trust broke rules after using a confidentiality clause while cutting ties with an employee 🔢 This is the first known case of a trust falling foul of the new rules https://schoolsweek.co.uk/first-academy-trust-rapped-for-confidentiality-clause/

Much to enjoy as well as think about.

Is it time to ditch the ‘reading for pleasure’ drive in secondary? @greeborunner.bsky.social explains how her trust has refocused its reading strategy on giving students the experience, vocabulary and reading tools they need

Today's adventures - touring the Dales and finding different places to make coffee in.

Hop into savings this Easter! Our CPD bundle brings together 6 thought-provoking and practical books to support #educators develop and grow in their careers! Get all 6 for just £50! 💐: buff.ly/tE8rLfb

Saw otters for the first time in the wild today. They are cool

Special school Ofsted inspection report cards will no longer compare their cohorts to national mainstream averages after complaints from heads https://schoolsweek.co.uk/special-school-ofsted-report-cards-drop-mainstream-comparisons/

Good

Only 40 per cent of disadvantaged pupils identified as high-achieving at the start of secondary school go on to achieve top GCSE grades, new research has found https://schoolsweek.co.uk/high-achieving-disadvantaged-pupils-less-likely-to-get-top-gcse-grades/

York Minster looking lovely in the setting sun

A new careers advice service for schools and colleges will replace the functions of the Careers & Enterprise Company, government has confirmed, but the organisation plans to bid to run its successor https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ministers-plan-new-careers-service-but-current-provider-plans-to-bid/