Blogs

• Tuesday 30 April 2024 Effective retrieval in the classroom. Are we considering its impact on cognitive load? In this blog, Andy Barker, Tutor for A Level Sociology and Early career Teacher Induction Tutor at Oldham Sixth Form College, exemplifies the evidence around retrieval practice and cognitive load theory and discusses the potential lethal mutations if we oversimplify these concepts in the classroom.
• Wednesday 24 April 2024 Utilising the power of manipulatives to support progress in computing The 2014 primary curriculum brought about lots of changes including the shift from ICT to computing, and within that the emphasis on Computer Science. Ria Drabble, Deputy Director of Pinnacle Learning Research School and Year 6 teacher/?Computing Lead at Broadfield Primary School in Oldham, applies the evidence around using manipulatives in maths to the subject of computing.
• Tuesday 23 April 2024 Transforming feedback in Design and Technology: Building a Culture of Reflection and Growth In this blog Sarah Dawson, Curriculum Leader for Design and Technology at Hathershaw College, champions strategic, student-focused feedback that fosters reflection, growth, and practical excellence.
• Monday 22 April 2024 Vital Vocabulary: putting research evidence to work Charlotte Caldwell, ELE and part of the English Development Team at Front Lawn Primary Academy, reflects on how using the evidence from the EEF helped develop the teaching of vocabulary across the school.
• Monday 22 April 2024 Implementation matters: leadership learning on NPQ programmes and putting evidence into practice in schools Two young leaders from Unity Schools Partnership reflect on how key learning drawn from studying the EEF implementation guidance within NPQs is impacting on their leadership practices in their school context.
• Tuesday 19 March 2024 How to ensure children who arrive from another school, or from abroad, with English as an additional language make rapid progress Werneth Primary School is an increasingly diverse school, based less than a mile from Oldham town centre.
• Tuesday 12 March 2024 Hung Up: why clarity and boundaries are crucial in managing mobile phone use in post-16 settings The recent Department for Education guidance on mobile phones in schools provides a good opportunity to reflect on approaches to mobile phone usage in post-16 settings. Whilst schools are able to take many options including an outright ban on mobiles, this is more complex when students move on to college education. Corbett (2018) is referenced in this article from Impact which stresses our responsibility to teach responsible use of such devices. Doug King, Vice Principal at Oldham Sixth Form College, explains how important it is to model high expectations to students and have consistency across all classrooms.
• Tuesday 12 March 2024 Empowering positive learning behaviours in a special school setting Claire Bones, Maths Curriculum Lead and Research Lead Practitioner at Hollinwood Academy in Oldham, demonstrates the need to consider a range of guidance reports and recommendations when developing learning behaviours, exemplifying this in a special school context.