The evil offspring of APP

Refreshing…sigh of relief…I agree!

Ramblings of a Teacher

It’s not often I quote the words of education ministers with anything other than disdain, but just occasionally they talk sense. Back in April, Liz Truss explained the ‘freedoms’ being given to schools to lead on assessment between key stages, and commented on the previous system of APP. She described it as an “enormous, cumbersome process” that led to teachers working excessive hours; a system that was “almost beyond satire, […] requiring hours of literal box-ticking“.

Not everybody agreed with the scrapping of levels, but the recent massive response to the Workload Challenge has shown that if there is one thing that teachers are in agreement about, it is the excessive workload in the profession. Now at least we had a chance to get rid of one of those onerous demands on our time.

And yet…

Just this evening I came across two tracking systems that have been produced by…

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Primary teachers: a call to arms

Ramblings of a Teacher

The draft performance descriptors have been published a couple of weeks now, and the consultation is still open for 5 more weeks, but I’m concerned by how few responses there seem to have been.

There is a significant overhaul proposed of the current teacher assessment, that will affect every primary school up and down the country, not to mention millions of students. My personal view is that the performance descriptors are a disaster. But three weeks into the consultation, when I submitted my consultation response I got an email with identifier number 83. Surely more than 83 teachers, schools and organisations across the country must have a view on at least one of the five Yes/No questions asked?

So I urge you to take a look at the consultation document, and then respond to the consultation. There are only 5 main questions, and you don’t even need to answer them…

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Feeling Inspired…

I was recently inspired. A presenter at a training course on Friday delivered his message with enthusiasm and humour and hooked us all in. It prompted a thought however, I could not remember the last time working in education had inspired me. Now, don’t get me wrong at this point – I love, LOVE my job! I can’t imagine not doing it or ever stopping working with children. Building them a better future is incredible!

I think that I have allowed myself of late to become swallowed up with that data driven, target driven, work for works sake ethos that can overtake a struggling school. Well, no more! This post today serves more of a reminder of what should ALWAYS be number one on the priority list and also as a book review. If this book (from the trainer and already on its way from Amazon!) does no more than to inspire me, it has already paid for itself. I doubt that it will stop there though. I have faith that this book will serve to enhance practice in our setting and even go some way to change our stars. Oh for that fabled day when I get to see a happy and inspired staff again…

If you have children or are an educator I urge you to look him up…@Hywel_Roberts

Be Well 🙂