Primary

Tuesday

29th Mar 2022

Schools White Paper: Why school leaders have been left so frustrated
Michael Tidd outlines the contradictions, confusion and frustrations in the Schools White Paper for school leaders – from grammatical errors to policy ideas that lack detail or the cash to make them a reality
Schools White Paper: Why school leaders have been left so frustarted

Friday

4th Mar 2022

Where does grammar fit in the pursuit of developing writers?
A good knowledge of grammar leads to better writing, says Jon Severs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean pupils should be drilled in technical terminology
Grammar, primary

Tuesday

15th Feb 2022

Phonics, spoken language and stories key to reading development
Minister for school standards Robin Walker says phonics is crucial to reading development but ‘learning to decode words is just one element of becoming a fluent reader’
Language, developement

Monday

14th Feb 2022

He made a promise to a teacher - and 26 years later, he kept it
Author Kenny Boyle’s quest to find his P7 teacher sent the internet into overdrive at the weekend. He explains why he was determined to find Mrs McGlennan, and what happened next
Book, promise

Monday

7th Feb 2022

Levelling up targets could erode inclusivity
Moves to put targets on literacy and numeracy sound laudable but the consequence will likely see more children with SEND pushed into more inclusive settings – heaping yet more pressure on their staff and finances
Numeracy, literacy, inclusivity

Wednesday

8th Dec 2021

3 long-term areas of focus for primary catch-up efforts
An author of a major NFER report on primary attainment over the pandemic outlines three key areas where policymakers and schools should focus future efforts to have the biggest impact

Monday

6th Dec 2021

Omicron, nativities and the DfE: Another fine mess
Schools are being told what to do by those with no concept of the reality of running a school – and it’s only making an already tough situation a lot harder, explains Geoff Barton

Friday

5th Nov 2021

Why aren’t primary pupils getting extra catch-up cash?
The increase in school funding announced in the Budget was widely welcomed – but why are only secondary-age students getting extra catch-up funding, asks Mary-Louise Clews

Friday

22nd Oct 2021

Squid Game: should we worry about pupils watching it?
The fact that six- and seven-year-olds are claiming to have watched violent TV show Squid Game raises the issue of children accessing inappropriate content, says Henry Hepburn

Monday

18th Oct 2021

KS1 and KS2 assessment changes: the key details
Head Michael Tidd looks in depth at the new Assessment and Reporting Arrangements documents for KS1 and K21

Thursday

14th Oct 2021

My primary pupils have seen Squid Game - what do I do?
Parents need to get better at policing what their children watch – and schools must help them, says this primary teacher

Monday

4th Oct 2021

School census and catch-up funding: the key details
As the October census deadline looms, Michael Tidd explains the new reporting requirements on catch-up spending to clear up any confusion