Podcast
Listen to Mike on Ian Timbrell’s pod cast “Staffroom Soapbox”, where Mike talks about who the classroom belongs to and how we can change our practice to give ownership to the pupils.
●An Uncharacteristically Personal Reflection
I am known for keeping personal and professional lives separate. Mike and Mr Glavin were separate. Even my wardrobe was segregated. Top rail Mike. Bottom rail Mr Glavin. In work,…
Beyond My Relationship With A Phonic Fairy.
I have visited the land of letters and been exceptionally jolly when teaching phonics. I have read and written, and even had a long-term relationship with a phonic fairy. Nevertheless…
Enabling The Enablers
Facilitating the work of those that assist teaching. It wasn’t a planned journey. It wasn’t even a journey I had anticipated. Nevertheless, I found myself journeying into the world of…
●Lesson Observation: ‘Catch Them Out’ or ‘Catch Them Being Good’?
In my work with schools, I increasingly see lesson observation used for accountability purposes in a way that leave teachers feeling as if the observer intent is to ‘catch them…
●Can’t see beyond Covid and the curriculum?
Whilst politicians and others desperately try to convince everyone that schools are back to normal, the reality is very different. They are back to the new normal. One headteacher I…
●School Improvement With Head And Heart.
Despite increasing sophistication, washing machines have a limited number of washing cycles. Attempts have been made to ensure that there is a cycle suitable for all types of clothes but…
●(Expectations of Formal Leadership Practice) Wales v England (Headteachers’ Standards)
There is nothing quite like a rugby match against England to bring out the patriotism and ‘hwyl’ in the Welsh. Many of my good friends are English, I love many…
●‘My’ Oh ‘My’- Whose Learning Environment?
Perhaps everyone remembers the interview for their first job. I certainly remember mine from 1988. A formidable primary adviser of the time asked me how I would set up my…
●Vaccination for school staff: It would be ridiculous to consider protecting some parts and not others.
As the last of snow thaws away, the craving for the light and warmth of the sun grows. The pandemic may mean that beach holidays are a long way off…
●Education, Vaccination, Vaccination.
Those of us that remember 2007 may recall the slogan that Tony Blair used as he stated his priorities: Education, Education, Education. My suggestion for current leaders is that they…