Teaching & Learning

Teaching and learning is a broad area, encompassing everything from curriculum development to classroom conflict. The specific topic areas within this section deal with the many different aspects – click on the 'Articles' tab at the top of the screen, and scroll down to see the full list of topics. If you're interested in teaching and learning generally, you may prefer to browse the most recently added items here, as a starting point.

Free concert tickets for budding music critics with Bachtrack | Teaching and Learning

Invite your pupils to become published music critics with the Bachtrack Young Reviewer programme

Lessons from America | Teaching and Learning

Last year 12 sixth-form teachers applied to TEAM (The European-Atlantic Movement) to take part in a sponsored study trip to America to deepen and broaden their knowledge of US politics, government and culture. One of them shares his experience

Making counselling accessible to schools | Teaching and Learning

Counselling services need to be made a normal part of school provision, as new research into UK school counselling shows

A different approach: teaching through the arts | Teaching and Learning

Gallions Primary School teaches the entire curriculum through the arts, with fantastic results. Co-heads Paul Jackson and Emma McCarthy explain how it's done

Defining strength: emotional literacy in young people | Teaching and Learning

Julie Leoni, emotional literacy coordinator at The Marches School, explores how we help young people to understand the difference between aggressive power and positive power

The implementation of SEAL | Teaching and Learning

What can be achieved by SEAL over three years? Educational psychologist Cate Summers takes a look at results in the London Borough of Westminster

The road to a creative curriculum | Teaching and Learning

Have you taken ownership of your curriculum yet? David Morley examines how to break free, particularly with themed creative events

Bridging the home-school divide | Teaching and Learning

The role of family link workers is to encourage parents' participation and interest in school life. Fiona Taylor shares her school's experience in the benefits of developing this role

Making provision for how boys learn best | Teaching and Learning

In early years especially, boys should not be forced into a "girl-like" model of learning, explains Steve Mynard

Case study: restructuring lessons to advance learning | Teaching and Learning

Deputy head Betty Port discusses how she looked at restructuring lessons to transform learning across her school

Personalised learning: promoting engagement and reflection | Teaching and Learning

With increasing pressure to deliver personalised learning, John Blanchard offers strategies for putting it into practice where it counts: the classroom

A day in the life of a youth justice worker | Teaching and Learning

Working in a multi-agency environment to positively engage targeted young people, Paul Rogers explains why no two days are ever the same

How to approach 'failure to educate' claims | Teaching and Learning

The rulings of two recent legal cases indicate that a pupil's attitude and application will now be key in assessing educational negligence claims, writes Mark Blois

The benefits of introducing young children to ICT | Teaching and Learning

Crispin Andrews looks at how staff at two children’s centres are reaping the benefits of information communication technology

How to use ICT to support young children's learning | Teaching and Learning

Early years practitioners have used ICT to support young children’s learning in diverse ways, writes Julie Steer

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.2 Inclusive Practice | Teaching and Learning

Early Years Update provides a range of ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards. Here we focus on the importance of inclusion

A day in the life of a primary mentor | Teaching and Learning

Primary learning mentor Ayub Malik explains why he is proud to be working with children experiencing barriers to learning

Support for all: extended and outreach services | Teaching and Learning

Headteacher Bernadette O’Brien describes the core themes of extended provision at Priory School and Sports College

Supporting parents of teenagers | Teaching and Learning

Jenny Barton, lead learning mentor at Norham Community Technology College, shares her experience of developing and facilitating a support group for parents of teenagers

Learning to learn: changing the curriculum | Teaching and Learning

Staff at the Grammar School for Girls, Wilmington, decided it was time for a change. Six months later there is a real sense of staff and students working together for the future. Chris Love describes how learning to learn was introduced to his school

Student voices: Year 7 pupils leading the plenary | Teaching and Learning

A project aimed at raising the profile of plenaries at Sandringham School, St Albans, has evolved into a catalyst for change that allows students to make their voices heard in the school. Deputy head Ceddy de la Croix explains

Making written feedback effective | Teaching and Learning

Comment-only marking is vital in helping students to reflect on their own learning, but implementing it can be a challenge. Jason Edwards, vice principal at Priory Community School, Somerset, describes how his school has overcome the initial problems

Working in groups: an under-used strategy? | Teaching and Learning

Professor Maurice Galton, from the University of Cambridge, examines the benefits of group work and its possible contribution to improving the current classroom climate

Raising standards - what does it really mean? | Teaching and Learning

The intention of raising standards is one that seems to run through all sorts of current ideas about education. But which 'standards' are being referred to and in what sense (if any) are they being raised? Pam Woolner examines the issues

Creative thinking: a personal, learning and thinking skill | Teaching and Learning

If the spirit of creativity were allowed to flower, could we cope? David Leat looks at the way that everyday constraints leave schools ill-equipped to teach creativity and the way that it can flourish when those constraints are removed

Creating research-informed practitioners: the BERA Professional User Reviews | Teaching and Learning

The BERA Professional User Reviews, published in 2003, aimed to critically inform the thinking of practitioners about research. Kate Wall uses them as a focus to argue that the closing of the theory-practice divide is becoming more and more relevant in 2008

Motivating underachievers: techniques and tactics | Teaching and Learning

John Blanchard looks at the importance of distinguishing underachievers and slow learners and gives examples of techniques and tactics you can use to help pupils reach their potential

Enhancing the contribution of business and finance staff through ECM | Teaching and Learning

The contribution of support staff to student achievement must be recognised and promoted, says Paul Ainsworth

Health and safety for work-related learning: What schools need to know | Teaching and Learning

Many schools are happy to leave assessment of health and safety on work experience placements to outside agencies, but does this allow them to properly exercise their duty of care? Ruth Bradbury examines the problems and provides practical advice on how schools can play a more active role in the process

Investing in e-books for children | Teaching and Learning

Ensuring that all pupils can read by the time that they leave primary school is a priority for headteachers across the country. Ben Barton looks at how new technology might make this easier

Creating an outdoor learning environment for the early years | Teaching and Learning

Jan White provides a range of practical ideas for creating enabling outdoor environments that support young children's health, wellbeing, development and learning

Meeting the challenges of outdoor provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage | Teaching and Learning

Jan White, consultant in outdoor play in the early years, looks at implications of the EYFS for the development of outdoor environments for young children

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.1 Child Development | Teaching and Learning

Early Years Update provides a range of ideas to underpin the information provided in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards. Here we focus on development and learning

Teaching religion: the duty to be impartial | Teaching and Learning

What are the legal restrictions on how we should teach religious studies in school?

The 'lesson study' model of classroom enquiry | Teaching and Learning

Lesson study is a form of classroom enquiry from the Far East that focuses on improving an aspect of teaching and learning through collaborative long-term study. Pete Dudley describes its background and how it has been adapted for use in England

The cool 'no hands' approach to assessment for learning | Teaching and Learning

Miraz Triggs found that random name generation as a way of choosing who would answer questions focused students’ attention and led to a higher level of participation

Learning (how) to learn | Teaching and Learning

Kate Wall and Elaine Hall explore some of the commonalities and difficulties with concepts associated with learning to learn

Evidence-informed practice | Teaching and Learning

Teachers are being encouraged to use evidence to improve their practice. David Leat looks at three forms of evidence-informed professional enquiry – tinkering, action research and design research

Energising literacy through collaboration | Teaching and Learning

Collaborative work can have an energising effect across the curriculum. Jo Counsell describes a collaborative project that used dance to enhance literacy learning

Encouraging young children to take risks | Teaching and Learning

Julie Leoni, emotional literacy coordinator at the Marches School in Shropshire, reflects on the need for teachers to take risks if they are to encourage creative risk-taking in their students

Teaching happiness at Wellington College | Teaching and Learning

The happiness programme at Wellington College in Berkshire is described by Anthony Seldon, the master, Ian Morris, head of philosophy, and two Year 12 students

Lesson plans for key stage 2: Olympic Island | Teaching and Learning

Key stage 2 lesson plans for exploring the Beijing Olympics to meet learning objectives in geography and citizenship, provided by Caroline Coxon

Peer and self assessment | Teaching and Learning

AfL strategies can be invaluable in providing feedback for pupils and developing insight into G&T learners' individual needs. Clare Smale provides some practical tips for teachers

Learning and thinking skills through drama | Teaching and Learning

David Allen and Iona Towler-Evans look at an innovative system of teaching thinking skills through drama

Parents as partners in children's early learning and development | Teaching and Learning

Helen Wheeler describes how the PEAL training programme helped practitioners to develop parents' involvement in their children’s learning

Helping students to become storytellers: Games and activities | Teaching and Learning

Storyteller Taffy Thomas provides games and activities to stimulate children's and young people's capacity to tell stories

Shaping a CLASI learning environment | Teaching and Learning

Antidote’s development director Marilyn Tew describes how schools can encourage learning by promoting 'CLASI-ness' - where children feel capable, listened to, accepted, safe and included

High level questioning skills in young children: part 2 | Teaching and Learning

Steve Mynard, editor of Primary Headship, considers the practicalities of helping young children to develop higher-order questioning skills

Creative and sensitive teaching of religious education | Teaching and Learning

Angela Youngman turns her attention to religious education, potentially the most difficult and divisive of subjects to teach creatively and sensitively

Guy Claxton's character curriculum for the learning age | Teaching and Learning

Guy Claxton invites debate on his eight character strengths and virtues for the learning age

Success in Staffordshire: achieving the NACE Challenge Award | Teaching and Learning

Blake Technology College has gone from 'challenging circumstances' to achieving the NACE Challenge Award for G&T education. Lesley Griggs describes the improvements to teaching and learning and the approach to G&T provision in the school which led to this success

Raising achievement with assertive mentoring | Teaching and Learning

Eamonn Farrar, chief executive and former head of Hurworth Comprehensive School in Darlington describes how he developed unique systems of mentoring to transform a low-performing school into one of today’s top performers

Centralisation and decentralisation of the curriculum | Teaching and Learning

David Leat considers a recent study comparing nine countries which shows that policy on teaching and curriculum tends to swing between centralisation and decentralisation

Creating partnerships | Teaching and Learning

Ann Briggs, professor of educational leadership at Newcastle University, examines the issues surrounding the current policy drive towards creating 'partnerships'

Learning outside the classroom: examining the school grounds | Teaching and Learning

David Storrie describes a course on learning outside the classroom that has allowed teachers to critically examine their school grounds

A global career with global choice | Teaching and Learning

Teaching abroad is no longer seen as a sideways move that could harm career progression. Steve Caulfield of the Alice Smith School, Kuala Lumpar, describes some of the opportunities

Scheme of work: Thinking actively in a social context Year 6 science | Teaching and Learning

Peter Leyland describes how he used TASC to teach his Year 6 class about measuring time

Assessing the capability of Overseas Qualified Teachers | Teaching and Learning

This week's poll asks a question about Overseas Qualified Teachers. Lynne Smith asks fellow Tex readers to have compassion for these teachers, who can find it difficult to get information about teaching in the UK

The benefits of skiing trips - at home and abroad | Teaching and Learning

Lisa Symonds looks at the benefits that skiing can offer schools and provides some tips on arranging a school skiing trip

Inspirational athlete - Sonia O'Sullivan | Teaching and Learning

Tina Ryan meets Sonia O’Sullivan – Ireland’s middle distance runner and most crowned sportswoman

Sport and equality - South Africa | Teaching and Learning

Fifteen years ago South Africa was allowed back into world sport. The reborn sporting nation has had remarkable national team success and has hosted major sports events – but is it being matched by integration? Chris Green reports

Boxing in schools - an anti-bullying scheme | Teaching and Learning

Rob Bowden looks at how boxercise classes and boxing clubs in schools are being used to improve fitness and behaviour as well as tackle bullying and racism

Primary homework | Teaching and Learning

Having found himself in a governors' free-for-all on the subject of homework, Roger Smith describes that experience and shares his own thoughts and that of researchers on the subject

Be creative with maths | Teaching and Learning

Angela Youngman has found some exciting new approaches to the teaching of maths

Video conferencing | Teaching and Learning

Video conferencing is becoming an invaluable tool for many schools, says Angela Youngman

Higher level questioning skills in young children | Teaching and Learning

We tend to take questioning skills for granted; they certainly seem to develop quite readily in young children. Steve Mynard, editor of Primary Headship, explores the reasons why we might choose to guide our children towards higher-level questioning skills

Communication friendly spaces - early years | Teaching and Learning

Elizabeth Jarman looks at the impact of the physical learning environment on young children’s speaking and listening skills

Creating the Picture: assessment in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) | Teaching and Learning

Early Years Update looks at the principles, process and purpose of assessment in the early years

Numeracy lesson plan: probability Key Stage 2 | Teaching and Learning

In this numeracy lesson plan Paul Ainsworth describes how learning about probability can provide excellent opportunities for speaking and listening and incorporate plenty of challenge for the most able

Learning detectives: learning to learn | Teaching and Learning

Mandi Horwood describes how a project to investigate how students saw their learning and how they can have a say in it revealed the vital contribution that they have to make

Community learning in action | Teaching and Learning

Providing an extended schools service with a community learning centre brought about unexpected synergies for Mitchell High School. Shaun Morgan describes the changes

Activities for overcoming fear of number | Teaching and Learning

John Senior highlights the importance of helping learners to have fun with numbers and develop positive attitudes towards mathematics

Thinking skills: Thinkathon | Teaching and Learning

What if we all looked the same? This was just one of the topics used to get pupils thinking at a competitive event organised by Luton LEA and attended by Peter Leyland

From personalised to person-centred | Teaching and Learning

Michael Fielding, professor at London’s Institute of Education, argues that we need to think a lot harder about what we mean by personalised learning if current developments are to engage people actively in their learning

Meeting the needs of new EAL arrivals | Teaching and Learning

It can be daunting and isolating for children with few English language skills to start a new school. Education writer Dorothy Lepkowska reports on a new programme designed to help them achieve their potential

Activities to develop gross motor skills | Teaching and Learning

Gross motor skills are the movements of the large muscles of the body. These activities will help to develop and improve gross motor skills.

Activities to develop social communication skills (pragmatics) | Teaching and Learning

Pragmatics refers to the ability to communicate in social situations. These classroom activities will help all children to develop social communication skills.

Activities to develop grammar (syntax and morphology) | Teaching and Learning

These classroom activities can help develop grammar skills, particularly syntax and morphology

Primary pupil voice: collecting views | Teaching and Learning

How can we get primary-aged children to give us feedback about their classroom experiences? Iwona Glowacz used the prospect of getting published as a way of collecting pupils' thoughts

Questioning skills as a tool for participation | Teaching and Learning

Jo Smith provides some practical tips on how to develop questioning skills as a tool for promoting participation and learning

Students supporting each other | Teaching and Learning

Trainer Netta Cartwright outlines the principles that make peer support programmes sustainable in primary and secondary schools

Study Plus: helping pupils achieve their potential | Teaching and Learning

Education writer Dorothy Lepkowska reports on how Study Plus – a course designed to support students who have the ability to improve their academic performance – is being implemented and received in the classroom

Legal basics: giving your pupils advice on sex and contraception | Teaching and Learning

Ingrid Sutherland outlines controversial new guidance on the provision of sexual health services in schools

Making secondary SEAL work | Teaching and Learning

Raising Achievement Update summarises the useful learning that emerged from the secondary pilot of the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning programme

Managing gender difference issues in the D&T workshop | Teaching and Learning

Is it possible to create a more 'gender balanced' learning environment? Natalie Griffiths explains how she investigated the effect of gender on learning in the D&T classroom and developed strategies to benefit pupils of both sexes

Opening minds: a competency based curriculum at Campion School | Teaching and Learning

Helen Boyle, AST and lead teacher for Opening Minds, Campion School, describes the school's successful development of a competency based curriculum with L2L at its heart

Learning to learn: a competency based curriculum | Teaching and Learning

Jackie Beere looks at how schools can help learners to become self motivated and independent

The meaning of 'learning environment' | Teaching and Learning

Pam Woolner looks at the variety of ways in which the widely-used term 'learning environment' is employed

Transforming teaching and learning: the practicalities | Teaching and Learning

David Leat considers some of the practical problems that will arise in managing innovation

Listening to the views of very young children | Teaching and Learning

Some people think that children under five are too young to express opinions, but Sara Bryson and her colleagues found ways of ensuring that babies and children were at the heart of the decision-making process

Risk and challenge in the early years | Teaching and Learning

Katrina Foley describes how young children’s independence and self-management skills can be promoted in an environment which celebrates risk, challenge and empowerment

Ideas for topic-based learning in science | Teaching and Learning

Crispin Andrews looks at the increasing emphasis on topic-based learning and offers some ideas to teach science through the topic of birds

Renewed Primary Framework for Mathematics | Teaching and Learning

Kath Donovan looks at the Renewed Primary Framework for Mathematics

Renewed Primary Framework for Literacy | Teaching and Learning

Sara Wernham looks at the Renewed Primary Framework for Literacy and discovers how it will affect teachers

The learning journey for maths | Teaching and Learning

Lorraine Barber, a numeracy adviser from Worcestershire, explains the importance of effective and exciting maths teaching

Literacy: fabulous fridge magnets | Teaching and Learning

Trevor Millum outlines a truly novel way to get pupils to enjoy manipulating and using words

Self-evaluation and PE | Teaching and Learning

Penny Cottee offers some top tips on self-evaluation and the teaching of school sport

Key concepts: the new secondary PE curriculum | Teaching and Learning

Crichton Casbon, curriculum adviser for PE at the QCA, explains the new PE curriculum changes to Penny Cottee

Delivering dance in primary schools | Teaching and Learning

Dance specialist and SSCo Kim Spiller offers advice to primary teachers about delivering high-quality dance

Teacher training for primary PE specialists | Teaching and Learning

PE and Sport Today talks to primary link teacher Lorraine Livingstone who, despite the inadequacies of PE training for primary teachers, has become something of a specialist

Providing quality PE in primary schools | Teaching and Learning

Crispin Andrews talks to assistant headteacher Karen Collinswood about the role of school leadership in developing high-quality PE in primary schools

Boxing comes back into schools | Teaching and Learning

Tina Ryan explores the reinvention of boxing as a school sport

Young sporting ambassadors | Teaching and Learning

In the countdown to 2012, the Young Ambassadors programme is striving to ensure the much-vaunted legacy of the London Olympics becomes a reality

Argument for a truly physical education | Teaching and Learning

Andrew Cushing argues the case for a new programme of physical education in schools

Inspirational people: Abebe Bikila, long distance runner | Teaching and Learning

Inspirational people: PE and Sport magazine looks at the legendary Abebe Bikila, the first of the great Ethiopian distance runners, who won back-to-back gold medals in the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games

Motivating every learner | Teaching and Learning

Educational psychologist Alan McLean summarises his model for understanding how teachers can motivate their students

Emotional intelligence helps transition | Teaching and Learning

A study conducted by Pam Qualter and her colleagues at the University of Lancashire explores the role of emotional intelligence in supporting students as they move to secondary school

Making time for intimacy | Teaching and Learning

Waiting for the birth of her second baby boy, drama teacher and head of emotional literacy Julie Leoni reflects on the difference between teacher time and mummy time

Improving teaching and learning | Teaching and Learning

Roger Smith considers tried and tested ways of improving teaching and learning and a few new ones

Developing collaborative enquiry as a part of strategic CPD | Teaching and Learning

Corina Seal describes how research lesson study was established at her school and has become embedded in its research and development activities

Teaching and Learning Research Project - ten key messages | Teaching and Learning

Mary James, the Teaching and Learning Research Project (TLRP) deputy director, describes the most important messages that have arisen out of this national multi-faceted exploration of teaching and learning practice

Pedagogy - what does it mean? | Teaching and Learning

Jo McShane used to think that pedagogy was just a stuffy academic way of saying ‘teaching’, but after attending a conference on the subject she finds that it means a great deal more

Including G&T pupils in the primary classroom | Teaching and Learning

Marcelo Staricoff describes an inclusive approach for meeting the needs of G&T pupils in primary classrooms

Differentiation - some practical suggestions | Teaching and Learning

Jo Smith suggests practical ways of building challenge into every lesson

Pupils respond to a teacher's marking | Teaching and Learning

Canvassing pupils’ views can inform their learning as well as our teaching – as Paul Ainsworth discovered when he asked one of his classes to comment on his marking

Hands-on science | Teaching and Learning

A murder investigation, crisis in outer space and stick insects! Peter Leyland reports on a chemistry competition that really gets pupils thinking

Encouraging musical creativity in the early years | Teaching and Learning

Patricia Lee explains how supporting children’s musical creativity can contribute to their sense of self-worth and emotional wellbeing

Early years: role of the key person | Teaching and Learning

Aisha Ashante of Langtry Children's Centre describes the thinking behind the centre’s approach to quality provision for young children

Attachment: Supporting young children's emotional wellbeing | Teaching and Learning

Juliet Neil-Hall discusses the importantance of attachment and meeting the emotional needs of young children and their parents

The statutory requirements of the EYFS | Teaching and Learning

Early Years Update highlights the key management issues contained in the EYFS Statutory Framework

Early years - an end to mediocrity | Teaching and Learning

The steering group of the NQIN has produced a set of overarching principles designed to guide the future development of quality improvement processes and quality assurance schemes

Effective governance and excellent leadership | Teaching and Learning

Mo Laycock, Headteacher, Firth Park Community Arts College describes the effective model of governance which has contributed to three Ofsted results of 'outstanding' leadership at the school

Engaging governance: teaching and learning involvement | Teaching and Learning

Rather than see governors as a nuisance to be endured, schools instead should be working with them as an invaluable source of help and advice, argues Colleen Arnold of the National Governors Association

Students have their say on learning | Teaching and Learning

A recent research review reveals exactly what pupils want from the curriculum

Heads welcome flexibility of the new Key Stage 3 curriculum | Teaching and Learning

Education writer and former head Gerald Haigh talks to Dr Keith Bothamley, deputy head (curriculum) at Horsforth School, and Richard Brown, principal of Minsthorpe Community College in Wakefield, about the new KS3 curriculum

The Key Stage 3 review | Teaching and Learning

Primary headteacher David Dixon applauds many of the changes that the Key Stage 3 review heralds, arguing that many of them will bring about practices already embedded in the best primary schools

Write a Letter Week 2008 | Teaching and Learning

Schools across the UK are being invited to participate in an exciting national campaign to help children develop their handwriting skills

Penguin huddling | Teaching and Learning

The gentoo penguins of Antarctica love to swim in sub-zero temperatures...and they keep warm on land by 'huddling'

Nativity plays and ideas | Teaching and Learning

Our new blogger Libby Reid shares the results of her websearch for nativity ideas

Tools to ensure healthy relationships | Teaching and Learning

Annie Beaumont says that honesty, respect and trust are the foundations for getting on together

Young people support family diversity | Teaching and Learning

Barry Griffiths summarises key points of an online debate about family relationships

African-Caribbean views on slavery | Teaching and Learning

History can help young people to see the ‘big picture’ about enslavement, says E Kay Traille

Creating a generation of lifesavers | Teaching and Learning

Jon Handcock outlines the latest British Red Cross initiative for acquiring first aid skills

Bridging the gap between health and the early years | Teaching and Learning

Linda Bartholomew and Cathy Kennedy describe their initiative to capitalise on the links which health visitors can create between early years providers and families

Helping young children understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle | Teaching and Learning

Franz Atkinson describes a whole-school approach adopted by a small rural primary school

Involving students as researchers in the setting up of a school council | Teaching and Learning

Lois Canessa describes how she actively involved students in setting up a school council

Cognitive acceleration | Teaching and Learning

Philip Adey, one of the original proponents of CASE (cognitive acceleration through science education), reviews developments in the approach and critically examines its use in schools

Physical support in games and PE | Teaching and Learning

Kris Lines surveys this highly litigated area — and suggests a step-by-step approach to safety within the law

SEN and personalised learning in secondary curriculum review | Teaching and Learning

The curriculum review section of most direct interest to SENCOs concerns organising the curriculum. SENCO Update reports

Creativity in the science curriculum | Teaching and Learning

Many of your teachers will not be science specialists. Angela Youngman has been looking at innovative approaches to the teaching of science that help encourage children’s inquisitiveness

What's new about personalised learning? | Teaching and Learning

Is personalised learning really all that new? Roger Smith investigates

Key Stage 3 curriculum review | Teaching and Learning

Brian Rossiter, headteacher of Valley School, Worksop, North Nottinghamshire, offers his take on the KS3 curriculum review

Shakespeare in the 21st century | Teaching and Learning

Georghia Ellinas, Secondary National Strategy regional adviser, describes an initiative that allows pupils to enjoy a Shakespeare play in their own time and space

What makes a good teacher for gifted and talented students? | Teaching and Learning

Listening to what students themselves have to say about their education is an important part of high-quality G&T provision. Year 8 pupil, Beth Hancox outlines her thoughts on the qualities of a good teacher for gifted and talented students

Pirates ahoy! A literacy lesson plan | Teaching and Learning

How can teachers ensure that there is appropriate challenge for G&T pupils in every lesson? In the first of a series of lessons plans, Caroline Coxon provides some ideas

Extended services – the inside story | Teaching and Learning

Liz Rowbotham, Full Service Extended School Manager at Hengrove Community Arts College, explains her methods of running and evaluating extended services with the help of partnerships

Risk taking, trust and disclosure | Teaching and Learning

Julie Leoni, head of emotional literacy at the Marches School in Shropshire, found her thoughts about attachment and trust challenged by the experience of acting as a support for a girl giving policy testimony about being sexually abused

Students as partners in learning | Teaching and Learning

Teacher and trainer Michelle McGrath argues that the emphasis on students as partners in their learning is a fundamental challenge to the current model of teaching and will require significant shifts in attitudes at all levels in schools

How to personalise learning | Teaching and Learning

A recent conference considered how schools can put personalisation at the centre of their strategies for raising achievement

Building emotional safety in groups | Teaching and Learning

Raising Achievement Update looks at a book that describes practical ways of meeting the challenges of implementing circle time in secondary schools and why it can be so valuable

SEAL strategy for secondary schools | Teaching and Learning

Raising Achievement Update looks at what the eight school case studies included in the secondary SEAL resources had to say about how schools can shape an emotionally literate ethos

Involving students as researchers in the setting up of a school council | Teaching and Learning

Lois Canessa describes how she actively involved students in setting up a school council

From thinking skills to thinking schools | Teaching and Learning

David Leat reflects on the contribution of cognitive acceleration through science education (CASE) and the way in which initiatives such as this can contribute to thinking communities

Soundtracks for concentrating | Teaching and Learning

Some people find it easier to work with steady, gentle background sound rather than absolute silence, writes Mark McKergow

Soundtracks for visualising | Teaching and Learning

Do you like to use moments of quietness and reflection in your classes? Do you like to tell stories while the pupils listen attentively? If so, consider using music as a soundtrack to boost visualisation and imagination, suggests Mark McKergow

Case study: Restructuring the curriculum | Teaching and Learning

Restructuring the curriculum can enhance personalised learning, risk taking, creativity and Key Stage 3 and 4 results, as Mo Laycock, Headteacher, Firth Park Community Arts College, reports

Values education resource: the National Curriculum Statement | Teaching and Learning

The National Curriculum statement of values has been misunderstood, says Graham Haydon

Education in the Commonwealth | Teaching and Learning

Empowering young people throughout the Commonwealth to become active citizens is one of the goals of the Council for Education in the Commonwealth. Gertrude Shotte reports on its work

Sustainable development and global citizenship in Wales | Teaching and Learning

Liz Thomas describes how a holistic ESDGC strategy for action operates in Wales

Educational equalities: raising the stakes | Teaching and Learning

Schools can develop strategies to improve fairness and freedom, says Diane Bebbington

Build skills and stop gang culture | Teaching and Learning

Entrepreneurial activities can help young people gain respect, says Madeleine White

Storytelling – lessons for life | Teaching and Learning

Fred Redwood explains how storytelling offers a range of opportunities for learning

Sports equipment: action to avoid negligence claims | Teaching and Learning

Setting out and packing away heavy equipment can be dangerous. Kris Lines sets out safety precautions that will minimise the risks to pupils and staff

Building partnerships to boost creativity | Teaching and Learning

Incorporating more creativity in your curriculum will take staff out of their comfort zones, but will pay dividends in raised motivation and achievement for students, writes Becky Swain

Developing a drugs education curriculum for nursery-age children | Teaching and Learning

Joanne MacDonald describes an innovative approach to drugs education for young children

Supporting young children to engage with risk and challenge | Teaching and Learning

Margaret Edgington highlights the importance of providing children with appropriate levels of risk and challenge to enable them to develop skills for learning and for life

Lessons from Learning to Learn | Teaching and Learning

What are the right conditions for teacher learning? Teachers need a working space where they have freedom to think, innovate and learn, say David Leat and Kate Wall

Delivering early years services | Teaching and Learning

Looking at the benefits and challenges of different models for providing childcare and early education service in children’s centres and extended schools

Constructivism | Teaching and Learning

Everyone seems to be a constructivist these days, but what do people mean by 'constructivism' and what are the implications for education?

Learning to learn: improving the quality of teaching | Teaching and Learning

Kate Wall describes the main findings of the Learning to Learn in Schools Phase 3 project evaluation and looks at some of the implications for schools

Visions of social enterprise in Liverpool | Teaching and Learning

Students in St Margaret's High School in Liverpool have designed and successfully marketed a computer game. David Dennison and Les Hankin report on a striking demonstration on economic wellbeing as a diver of school activity

The challenge of modern foreign languages | Teaching and Learning

Following the publication of Lord Dearing’s recommendations Angela Youngman explores the implications of every KS2 child learning a modern foreign language

Influential language patterns | Teaching and Learning

Just by saying a few words in the right way, you can send people into wonderful places, influence the way they think or help them to find their own solutions to any problem they face, say Richard Churches and Roger Terry

Soundtracks for creativity | Teaching and Learning

Mark McKergow suggests ways of using music to stimulate creativity in your pupils

Reaping the benefits of going global | Teaching and Learning

As the government increasingly recognises the importance of schools developing international links, headteacher Jim Donnelly looks at how these links can be established and what benefits they bring

Logovisual thinking | Teaching and Learning

Steve Paget explains how logovisual thinking (LVT) can stimulate higher-order thinking

Making tutor time work for G&T pupils | Teaching and Learning

How form tutors can raise achievement for all pupils and support the gifted and talented. Aim Higher coordinator Martin Ransley reports.

Injecting pace into lessons | Teaching and Learning

Good planning will enable you to stretch pupils without exhausting yourself, says Jo Smith

Shaping the climate for learning | Teaching and Learning

In an extract from his book, Making School Work, headteacher Andy Buck describes how he views the challenge of shaping a climate for learning at Jo Richardson Community School

Focus on social development | Teaching and Learning

It will take understanding and patience to shape a situation where all schools focus as much on wellbeing as on attainment argues Colleen McLaughlin, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education in Cambridge

Putting wellbeing at the centre | Teaching and Learning

Yeading Junior in Hayes has evolved its strategy for putting emotional health and wellbeing at the centre of the curriculum. Headteacher Carole Jones describes how

Facing up to loss | Teaching and Learning

How can we help young people deal better with the losses they experience? Secondary drama teacher and SEAL coordinator Julie Leoni reflects on her own experiences

Strategies for closing the student achievement gap | Teaching and Learning

A summary from the Everyone Wants to Learn conference (Feb 2007) of the elements that participants considered should be part of any strategy to shape a school community where everyone wants to learn

Saving your voice | Teaching and Learning

Lesley Hendy examines how you can look after your voice when teaching outside and also gives some tips on reading aloud

Time management: the STOP technique | Teaching and Learning

Mike Munro Turner summarises the STOP technique for time management

Soundtracks for learning review | Teaching and Learning

Mark McKergow describes how music can be used at the end of your lessons, as a soundtrack for your students to review their learning

What is Mind Mapping? | Teaching and Learning

Barry Mapp introduces the capabilities of Mind Mapping and explains some of the features that make it unique

Primary assembly guidance part three: preparation | Teaching and Learning

Gerald Haigh concludes his series on primary assemblies by giving some tips on preparation, along with some advice on how to deliver an unplanned assembly

Primary assemblies guidance part two: the assembly leader | Teaching and Learning

Gerald Haigh continues his three-part series on primary assemblies by looking at the role of the assembly leader

Primary assemblies guidance part one: values | Teaching and Learning

Gerald Haigh begins a three-part series on primary assemblies by looking at values

Using the SEAL material in Peterborough | Teaching and Learning

Toby Wood and Nick Guest describe how they have encouraged implementation of the SEAL materials in Peterborough primary schools.

Promoting Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) | Teaching and Learning

Judith Harwood, senior regional adviser on the secondary strategy for school improvement, reports on the breadth of the pilot work being undertaken in secondary schools to promote Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL).

Reconciling emotional literacy and targets | Teaching and Learning

In the first episode of her diary, drama teacher Julie Leoni writes about reconciling her emotional literacy programme with the school’s focus on targets and achievement.

Putting SEBS at the centre | Teaching and Learning

Judith Harwood, senior regional adviser for the primary and secondary strategy, describes what one school has been learning from its involvement in the Social, Emotional and Behavioural Skills (SEBS) pilot.

Spreading SEBS in Gloucestershire | Teaching and Learning

Heather Clapp, until recently a behaviour and attendance adviser in Gloucestershire, presents thoughts and reflections on one authority’s experiences of engaging with the pilot programme for Social, Emotional and Behavioural Skills (SEBS).

From G&T pupil to G&T teaching assistant | Teaching and Learning

What is it like for a former pupil to return to her old school as a G&T teaching assistant?

Wellbeing: what is it and why does it matter? | Teaching and Learning

Graham Haydon responds to the prominence of wellbeing in the news

Informed decision making and IT | Teaching and Learning

New technologies offer an interactive approach to developing social skills in schools and colleges, as Les Cowan explains

Babysitting: an Irish Red Cross project | Teaching and Learning

Looking after other people's children is responsible work, says Sue Dale Tunnicliffe

Top tips for test success | Teaching and Learning

Christine Fanthome outlines practical strategies for students to aid examination success

Human Rights education | Teaching and Learning

Rights literacy is core to inclusion and wellbeing. It should underpin schooling, argues Hilary Hunt

Case study: implementing the International Baccalaureate | Teaching and Learning

A detailed look at how the IB has been launched in one school, by Rob Ford, Head of International Education and International Baccalaureate, The Ridings High School, Bristol

Delivering the International Baccalaureate: a curriculum with a world identity | Teaching and Learning

An outline of the content of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and what schools need to consider when deciding to apply to deliver the curriculum it offers. By Tristian Stobie

High-quality environments for learning | Teaching and Learning

Practitioners need to consider the way that space and resources can be used to encourage children’s investigations. Pat Brunton and Linda Thornton explain

Managing loss, grief and bereavement | Teaching and Learning

This sensitive area should be part of every setting’s PSE programme, says Margaret Collins

Global citizenship in school | Teaching and Learning

As the world in which we live comes closer together in some ways and further apart in many, Margaret Collins suggests ways in which we in schools can help to make it a better place

Learning mentors improve behaviour | Teaching and Learning

This article examines the role of the learning mentor and how they can be deployed in the school for the benefit of the whole learning community. David Morley reports

How inclusive is your school? | Teaching and Learning

Vision into Practice – Ensuring Every Child Matters is a self-evaluation tool for inclusive learning. Trish Lowson, school link officer for Inclusive Learning at Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, explains

Students as researchers: making a difference | Teaching and Learning

The contribution of students as researchers (STARS) to students’ learning and to school development can have numerous benefits. David Lucas and Dr Margaret Wood recount their experience at Deptford Green secondary school

Learner identities under pressure | Teaching and Learning

The pressures created by a high-performance culture made it difficult for the children at one primary school to learn and collaborate. Tamara Bibby, a lecturer at the Institute of Education in London, explains

Teaching through quality talk | Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning based around quality talk and taking the whole class forward together is a practical and effective approach. Headteacher Andy Buck explains

Flexible working at school and at home | Teaching and Learning

What happens when your child AND your partner are both at home sick? Secondary drama teacher Julie Leoni discusses the issues raised by her experiences

Getting parents on board with GCSE coursework | Teaching and Learning

A long-term, focused relationship with parents can pay dividends, says John Welham.

Evidence-informed teaching: the answer (or part of it) is out there | Teaching and Learning

The EPPI website is an excellent resource for informing your decision making, says David Leat.

Thinking Through School: building a learning community | Teaching and Learning

In this month’s in-depth focus Anne De A’Echevarria talks about the Thinking Through School approach to learning-focused innovation. She describes the model and, using examples, explores successful implementation in schools and how the impact can be seen to be more than school-wide.

Implementing the Thinking Through School approach at Corbridge Middle School | Teaching and Learning

Staff soon discovered that it was more than just a ‘learning to learn’ scheme. Liz Solomon describes the challenges and insights gained from trialling Thinking Through School.

Planning for teacher learning | Teaching and Learning

Planning for teacher learning has to be a key priority, says David Leat.

Personalised learning | Teaching and Learning

'Personalised learning' has been appearing with increasing frequency in policy documents and in discussion about teaching and learning for the last few years. But what is truly meant by 'personalised learning'?

Philosophical enquiry improves learning outcomes | Teaching and Learning

Evidence is emerging in Scotland that links secondary school pupils’ progress and emotional intelligence to the use of philosophical enquiry as a learning approach in primary schools.

How well is diversity promoted in the curriculum? | Teaching and Learning

Diversity and Citizenship in the Curriculum: Research Review is a recent DfES research briefing that looks at the way in which citizenship and diversity is taught across the curriculum.

A vision of personalised learning | Teaching and Learning

The 2020 Vision report calls for personalised learning to be designed to reduce the ‘persistent and unacceptable gaps in average attainment between different groups of pupils’.

Networking for whole-school improvement - case study | Teaching and Learning

In 2003, Blackburn with Darwen’s secondary schools decided to apply to become one of the National College for School Leadership’s (NCSL) Networked Learning Communities (NLCs). John Westwell, Des Callaghan, Joanne Emberton and Jenny England describe the background to that decision and how the Leading into Learning NLC has developed into a major force for professional development and improved attainment in Blackburn with Darwen.

Making connections: networking to improve teaching and learning | Teaching and Learning

Barbara Spender outlines the benefits for students that can come from schools collaborating with each other in a formal partnership where staff give mutual support and share resources

Sussing out the slave trade | Teaching and Learning

Julia Frankl argues that studying the abolition of slavery challenges discrimination

What does 'my space' look like? | Teaching and Learning

Daniel Raven-Ellison shows how geographical thinking makes sense of the world

World heritage - examining the threats | Teaching and Learning

Anjana Khatwa explores the implications of acquiring World Heritage Site status

Music Manifesto - the state of play | Teaching and Learning

Mike Rathbone reports on developments to make every child’s music matter

Teaching enterprise or enterprising teachers? | Teaching and Learning

Schools need to unpack ‘enterprise’ and ‘entrepreneurship’, say Jacek Brant and Alastair Falk

The 'fitness and wellbeing' MOT | Teaching and Learning

Fred Redwood reports on a fitness profiling computer system for schools and colleges

Raising aspirations in Year 9 | Teaching and Learning

How can teachers raise aspirations for students who have untapped potential? Martin Ransley follows the lives of a group of Year 9 students.

A personalised approach to targets | Teaching and Learning

At Belvoir High School staff help pupils set their own SMART targets while house days are used to help pupils develop strengths

Challenging pupils with a murder mystery | Teaching and Learning

Staging a ‘whodunit’ can provide great scope for enrichment, says G&T consultant Bob Cox.

Taking account of emotions in student-teacher relationships | Teaching and Learning

Sue Roffey describes her way of thinking about how to relate more deeply with students in the classroom.

Behaviour as communication | Teaching and Learning

Using attachment theory, educational therapist Heather Geddes elaborates on James Wetz’s idea that behaviour is a form of communication about social and emotional experience that we need to understand before we decide how we are going to intervene.

Sustaining the desire to learn | Teaching and Learning

Emotional Literacy Update takes a look at the learning aims that the secondary curriculum review hopes to put at the centre of the KS3 and KS4 curriculum from autumn 2008.

Including young people in our conversation | Teaching and Learning

Julie Leoni describes how she tried to do justice to the voices of young people in her presentation to the Antidote conference.

Emotionally intelligent schools | Teaching and Learning

This is what secondary drama teacher Julie Leoni and Bristol Learning Initiative director James Wetz said at a recent Antidote conference about the emotional factors that need addressing if we are to close the achievement gap.

Encouraging communication, curiosity and creativity | Teaching and Learning

Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton explore ways to use the children’s curiosity about their world to become self-motivated, independent learners.

Communicating with parents: hidden messages | Teaching and Learning

Do you always know what messages your parents are taking away with them? Carole Farrar examines some of the messages that you may be giving out.

Musical concepts and elements | Teaching and Learning

Patricia Lee explores practical ways for you to introduce children to musical concepts and elements.

Developing pencil control and mark-making | Teaching and Learning

Maggie Parker-Heys urges practitioners to appreciate the skills required to form even the simplest letters.

Community cohesion - will history help? | Teaching and Learning

‘Community cohesion’ is now a legal obligation on school governors and we must make the best of it, says Richard Bird, former headteacher and now legal consultant to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). He asks how teaching of history could contribute to this objective.

Robert Sternberg's educational theories | Teaching and Learning

In his continuing series on gifted thinkers, Charles Dietz looks at the work of Robert Sternberg and how he has influenced the teaching of gifted pupils

Howard Gardner: more than multiple intelligences | Teaching and Learning

Howard Gardner will forever be associated with his theory of multiple intelligences. Charles Dietz discovers that the Hobbs professor in cognition and education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education has a lot more to say on the nature of giftedness.