Category Archives: edfest

Rob is speaking on getting teachers better. We begin with what does better look like? Rob asks whether the teachers in the room know what they need to do to improve, how to do it, why to do it, and … Continue reading →

Tom’s first session is about great teaching: mechanics with soul. He says his message is about mixing traditional and progressive pedagogy, rather than seeing them as separate poles. There are various websites that try to compare the two, but largely … Continue reading →

Wilshaw begins by likening the marquee to the Star Chamber, with its twinkly ceiling. He is speaking about comprehensive education and competitive sport. He wants to reclaim and celebrate the comprehensive ideal. He disagrees that the best way to address … Continue reading →

Speaking on Skype about a conservative curriculum for disadvantaged children. He realised that a certain amount of background knowledge is assumed and called this cultural literacy, and that this is what should be taught in American high schools. Lindsay Johns … Continue reading →

Fergal Keane chairs. Toby Young first, free school founder and journalist. He thinks there should be less emphasis on skills and more emphasis on knowledge. Forget the child-centred stuff! We should break down what children ought to know, even from … Continue reading →

The room is packed for @headguruteacher speaking on Rigour, Agility, Awe and Joy. Ten great lessons he has seen. Effectiveness, excitement, high quality. The room is rammed, with people crowded round the door to hear it. Tom shares pictures of … Continue reading →

Not too many notes for this one: too busy listening! Gove succinctly summarises the current debate in education, between knowledge and skills, saying that he feels the more traditional agenda has had a resurgence of late, that the child-centred approach … Continue reading →

Dylan is talking about leadership for better teaching. He starts by pointing out issues with educational research: it tells you what was, not what might be, and mostly doesn’t consider the conditions under which the research is carried out. Feedback … Continue reading →

This promises to be interesting. Claxton on skills vs Christodoulou on knowledge vs Jan Hodges, CEO of a vocational education foundation. Where are schools going to be in 15-20 years time, asks Ian Fordham, chairing. Daisy starts by being optimistic. … Continue reading →

Claxton was so popular in his first session that Katie Price was bumped into lunch and he’s repeating his session, which is again full. He starts by talking about useful attitude for life. This is familiar from Bill Lucas at … Continue reading →