What Are the Advantages of Using Accounting Software “Never call an accountant a credit to his profession; a good accountant is a debit to his profession.” - Charles Lyell Are you an accountant or a sole trader who has to do their accounts? Remember that accounting software can help you save a lot of time […]
7 August 2021∙7 minutes to read
Should schools be relying on volunteers? There has been some rather alarming news recently about increases in the number of volunteers being taken on in schools, some being used for key roles that would normally be filled by a paid professional. Many schools, especially smaller schools with extremely tight budgets, have always relied on the […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Could we really scrap GCSEs? You may have seen reports recently in the press about scrapping GCSEs. GCSEs were designed to show a standard of education at 16, consequently an assessment of a youngster’s capability for life beyond school. But now the school leaving age is 18 are GCSEs relevant? And do they equip youngsters […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Should we abandon standardised testing too? It’s exciting to hear that New Zealand are to stop standardised testing in schools from an early age. Paul Goulter, the general secretary for primary heads and staff in New Zealand, explains in this short video. He says how they now feel that there is no merit in […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Read about the latest updates in the UK education system from our respected authors. Curriculum changes, examination boards, and OFSTED latest news.
What’s your view of fidget spinners? According to this author Fidget Spinners are the answer to what she describes as an epidemic of boredom! An epidemic, it’s said, that leads us to pursue unhealthy activities whilst we’re bored like shopping on Ebay (and consequently overspending). And maybe even boredom eating would come into that category, contributing […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Plans to improve the technical and vocational curriculum Along with the changes in the way budget is allocated to schools (see post here) there are other changes that will affect the children’s education which at first glance means that vocational and technical training is to receive a huge injection of cash. This funding will streamline […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
GCSE Further Maths: teacher shortage impacts exam entries Fewer than 3,500 pupils sat Further Mathematics GCSE in 2013. The qualification is aimed, as one of the exam boards puts it, at ‘students who have high ability in, or are motivated by mathematics’. These talented pupils may be few and far between – but there are […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Changing schools to academies There has been much coverage in the news about the government making all schools into academies and the re-emergence of Grammar schools. Academy status means that schools as we know them now; overseen and funded by councils, will instead have their funding go directly from the government to private bodies, […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
TEDx: A peek into the classroom of tomorrow Those of you that enjoy TEDx may have come across an interesting video by Louise-Amélie Cougnon from UC Louvain, who tells us how she sees the Classroom of Tomorrow. We are pleased to Louise-Amélie to share some of her ideas with us. Over to Louise-Amélie: I have always been tightly linked […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
The subject of social sciences Mysteriously, when the GCSE results are presented every year, the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) lumps together the results for law, sociology and psychology GCSEs into one ‘range of related subjects,’ which it calls Social Science Subjects. The numbers of entrants are admittedly not large – 42,637 students sat these […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Sociology: An easy option or the right option? Sociology was in the top ten A Level subjects taken in 2014, with 30,594 students sitting the exam. It was one of only four subjects where the proportion of students getting both A* and A star grades rose this year. The numbers taking Sociology A Level […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Can we educate against hate? You may have seen in the news that a new website has been launched by the government called Educate Against Hate. This is an approach by Nicky Morgan to counteract extremism and radicalisation, both very sensitive issues featured in the news fairly frequently recently, and to give parents, teachers and […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Why is Home Economics GCSE being scrapped? Recently the Government has proposed that GCSE Home Economics, along with various other GCSEs which have also been branded too ‘soft’, should be scrapped. It has stated that GCSE Home Economics will be discontinued from 2016, because it is reportedly not only too ‘soft’ but has too […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
The educational benefits of music The great philosopher Aristotle once proclaimed that music has the power of forming the character and should therefore be introduced into the education of the young. However, many teachers and parents are put off by the expense and amount of time required for musical progression. A recent report by the […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Should Google be allowed in the exam room? Imagine the scenario. You’ve spent a considerable amount of time preparing for your history exam, pouring through the set textbooks and learning about a variety of key debates. You’re extremely nervous when the day of the exam arrives. After all, your mark could make the difference between […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
The potential use of interactive games and models in helping children to learn Interactive games and models are a powerful tool, which can be used for various purposes, not limited to the realms of pleasure, recreation and leisure. Active or kinaesthetic learning using interactive models and games is an immediate, engaging and effective teaching method. […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Why the focus on Oxbridge anyway? As an education blogger, I read lots of articles that try and explain what’s wrong with our education system. Recently I came across one that is some of the best journalism I have ever read. In a piece for the Telegraph, Peter Tait – headmaster of Sherborne Preparatory School – […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
The increasing worry of pressure on our young learners It’s very saddening to read of yet another report about the pressures of our exam system pushing children to depression, self harm and thoughts of suicide. Professor Merryn Hutchings from the London Metropolitan University says that pupils are becoming anxious, stressed and disaffected because of the […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Are our children just political pawns? As election fever heats up I fear that education is being used as a manipulative tool to gain votes. But at what cost to schools, teachers and particularly our kids? Education is a concern for all parents. And of course all teaching staff and other educational professionals. We […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
The ‘School Fund’ – What can we do about it? It would appear that even in his private life, David Cameron has been not too far away from the headlines. The PM has apparently handed himself in hot water over his choice of school for his child Nancy – who will be starting secondary […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Did Wales’ curriculum changes just solve the fundamental problem in education? With all the squabbling in the government here in England, I bet the Welsh Assembly breathes a sigh of relief every time English teachers protest and fall to their knees at every half-baked idea to come out of the Gove/Morgan era. As one idea […]
8 June 2020∙5 minutes to read
Election News: Labour pledges to cut university tuition fees The affordability of university education has been hotly debated in recent times. This is hardly surprising given that the average student is expected to graduate with a debt of over £44,000. Of course, there is the financial safeguard of not having to start repayments before earning […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Cause for concern over new school league tables? Some of the UK’s most widely respected historians, novelists and technological innovators have studied at Eton and Harrow over the years. The teachers at these esteemed institutions have placed great emphasis upon the importance of outstanding academic achievement. However, there has been widespread surprise among the […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
The rise in pre-exam unconditional offers Picture this: you work incredibly hard for your first year and get your AS results. You begin the long-winded process of applying to universities through the UCAS system and begin the long hard slog through your A2s… Eventually, your UCAS is submitted and you begin that long wait. Then, […]
8 June 2020∙5 minutes to read
Will election fever disrupt our children’s education yet again? As election fever increases it’s inevitable that education is going to be used for leverage and the latest from the education secretary Nicky Morgan is a good indication. In the news at the weekend she says that all primary children should know their times tables […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Why science teaching at school has to improve ‘Boring’ and ‘irrelevant’ were two of the words to emerge from a Department for Education (DfE) focus group looking at opinions of teenagers towards STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths. It seems that this lack of interest has very real consequences, with too few candidates […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
More UK students studying abroad Push aside international placements and the like for a minute… You’d think it would be rather tricky to study abroad for the entirety of a degree programme. Truth be told, being an international student can be a potential minefield – you’ve got to think about visas and local languages, cultures […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
What Ofsted could do to Christmas! Read something funny for Christmas; pop over to this article in the Guardian and have a laugh! It’s a light-hearted look at what Ofsted could do to Christmas. It’ll be familiar to many teachers! The comments are enlightening too! Light-hearted it may be, but it certainly makes you look […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
The end of a year? Time for the odd resolution! This year has flown by, I have to admit. It’s been, from an educational perspective, quite dramatic and remarkable for me. I’ve been and studied in Grenoble and embarked on the final year of my degree. I even managed to sort out the one […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Teaching financial literacy – an important life skill Obtaining an education is about much more than learning to read and write; in the digital age, younger generations are being called upon to make a significantly greater number of financial decisions than in past years, which means that we need to ensure that our children […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
A look into disruptive technology based innovation in education Education has been the focus of political reform in the UK. Despite the introduction of Academies which seemingly are starting to drive up student performance, a landmark report published by the OECD has found that young people in the UK are lagging behind in literacy and numeracy skills. This situation needs […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Whether swimming or reading – what is the parental role? A recent report is calling for more to be done by schools in order to see that children are able to swim and stay safe around water. Swimming is part of the national curriculum but according to the Amateur Swimming Association many schools are […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Headteachers at war with Ofsted? In the world of education, it’s sadly predictable that we seem to have several warring factions. We’ve got the government fighting with the unions, parents and kids… Safe to say no-one is safe really. One of the ones I wasn’t expecting to flare up is Ofsted and school heads. You’d […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Educating with curiosity Children come already primed to learn, although many educators disregard that fact and therefore miss out on this potential. They are primed by their natural curiosity. Which is why they do all those irritating things when they’re toddlers like opening cupboard doors, pressing keys and tapping the Ipad when you’re using […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Is a ‘tough rigorous’ curriculum really what children need? Children going back to school will be learning with a new curriculum that according to the Prime Minister is “rigorous, engaging and tough” (see BBC report) But I’m worried, after looking at some of the components,whether it is more likely to put children off learning […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Am I alone in thinking that exams be abolished? What student does not dread exams? To quote that famous educationalist (err, maybe not) Eminem “His palms are sweaty, knees weak”, and that certainly sums up how I feel about exams. As somebody still stuck in the education system, enduring important exams every summer, and taking time […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Should schools be doing more about the skills shortage? We may be slowly recovering from the economic crisis but there could be another one looming as many businesses are finding it hard to recruit youngsters with the right sort of education and skills they need. Recent findings from the Prince’s Trust, (see the BBC’s report), […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
GCSEs and A Levels to be shaken up… again One way or another, the education system we’ve come to love/loathe isn’t going to stick about unchanged for very long. It would appear that this Government are trying their utmost to put their mark on British educational history, with Nicky Morgan now picking up the cudgel following […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
What do you want from an education minister? I have not come across anyone involved in education who had any respect for Michael Gove. Or the effect he’s had on education. No teachers, no tutors, not even a parent – but maybe that just means I’m mixing in the wrong circles! But it says something […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Top tips for tutors: Praising students It’s only natural. You are there as tutor to focus on helping a student get to grips with a difficult subject or topic. You are so focused on this that you forget the importance of praise. Praising students in a sincere and meaningful way can provide the extra push students need to do […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Birmingham schools investigation draws to a close – but what’s happened? It would appear that the initial case that we’ve all been following here at Superprof is drawing to a close. For now, at least. The Trojan Horse case, as it’s being known, as gripped educational analysts and commentators for the last few months […]
8 June 2020∙5 minutes to read
CCTV in schools: is this really a good idea? Blimey, there are so many teaching union conferences in April, maybe it’s the hint of some Spring sunshine. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) had their annual event at the beach in Brighton and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) holding their conference in the […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Augmented reality: a peek into the future of education “Augmented reality, what the heck is that?” Yep, I had the same reaction when I first heard about Augmented Reality (AR) and how it was effecting education. The purpose of this blog post is to put you in the picture about what AR is, how […]
8 June 2020∙5 minutes to read
The difficult question of the Voluntary Contribution Just when parents thought that school wasn’t so expensive enough, schools manage to find a way. don’t they? School uniforms are vastly overpriced – the blazers and jackets and ties are all painfully expensive from my experience, not to mention the fact I was a growing boy […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Formal exams and learning pressures: coming to a 4-year-old near you I’ve long used the term ‘exam factories’ to describe our education system. You go in one end, you learn all the exam-related material, you sit the exam, you leave. Your life seems to be simply preparing for the next exam, the next assessment. Suddenly, […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
The ATL and their views on what’s wrong with the education system I think it’s safe to say that teachers do need a bit of protection nowadays. The stresses of the job, the unruly kids (if we believe the reports saying that exclusions and the like are always on the rise), the constant pressure […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
The massive flaw in modern foreign language teaching Ever since Year 7, when I walked into secondary school as a fresh-faced 11 year old, I managed to get the knack for learning foreign languages. It just seemed to click for me. Vocabulary and verb structures all just seemed to make sense – on my last […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Do we really need an ‘ultra-high’ grade at GCSE? Every time we hear about the newest set of GCSE and A Level results, we find it is a time for reflection and celebration. Our kids have done well, cementing their legacy on their school and setting themselves up for the future. It’s really quite a […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Subject snobbery and making kids all the same Those with an eye on the education news may have noticed that it was announced that as part of the overhaul of the exam system the Arts subjects were going to be made more ‘rigorous and demanding’ This is the education secretary, Mr Gove’s attempt to […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Uneasy religious times in schools It would be safe to assume that, whatever your religious beliefs, Britain has managed to keep it fairly neutral for us. With philosophy lessons, comprehensive science lessons covering all aspects of the curriculum, freedom of expression and so on, it’s reasonable to say that whatever you believe in, you’re […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Salt, obesity and body image – the challenges of ‘healthy eating’ campaigns Schools desperately try to be more than just about providing education and knowledge for exams. Despite my assertion that many school systems are little more than exam factories, I will say that many do give it a fair bash at trying to make […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Longer hours and shorter holidays are not the answer for society Former Tory advisor Paul Kirby has suggested that the future for national greatness is to increase the length of school days and cut school holidays. He believes that a 45-hour week and a 45-week year would be just the ticket to economic success […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Infant school pupils to get free school meals – but will it actually work? Say whatever you like about school dinners, it does seem that our government has a lot of optimism on the subject. It is argued that gone are the days of poor food, terrible value for money and turkey twizzlers (the […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Government funding axed to thousands of vocational courses – but is it the right call? One of the more popular ways back into education or work is through the use of the vocational qualifications that are on offer. At present, there are quite a staggering number on offer, so you’re never short of different options, […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
School entrance lotteries and banding on the rise School admissions are one of the great mysteries of the modern education system, along with where sports science graduates actually end up, the results of students coming out of private schools… and how Michael Gove still has his job. Political commentary aside, it does remain an […]
8 June 2020∙5 minutes to read
Are we ever going to use what we learn? How many times did you ask yourself this question when you were at school? For many teachers, it should come as no surprise. After all, many kids find themselves in lessons that they don’t want to be in for much of their education and have […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
A call to develop character over more academic gain One of the many reasons cited by parents as influencing their decision to home educate is their concern over the narrow focus of the curriculum in school on purely academic outcomes. Many feel that this neglects the wider education of their young people, particularly with […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
School’s career services – letting students down Around the time kids are 14 or 15 years old, they are probably getting some rough ideas in their head as to what they want to do when they leave school. After all, those GCSE choices will open and close several doors for them – and that’s when […]
8 June 2020∙5 minutes to read
Tips for tutors: 12 teaching strategies for more effective tutoring Finding the best way to connect with a student is a skill. The purpose of this blog post is to provide tutors with information on the various teaching strategies available, and provide some practical advice. Make learning relevant: For many students, subjects such as calculus, […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Seriously, who thought this Academy idea would actually work? It seemed so easy, didn’t it? The government would encourage schools to become academies – they would be free of local authority control, be backed by external sponsors and have much more say in their operation: Staff pay and conditions are managed by the school, not […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
What can we take from the French style of university education? Being an Erasmus student has got so many advantages to it. Beyond the stereotype of meeting people from all over the world, learning new skills, travelling throughout Europe… I also get a first-hand experience of they way the education system is run over here. And […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Does it matter more what you studied… or just that you studied at university at all? It is a peculiar and somewhat unnerving prospect, isn’t it? You pack your bags as a Fresher and head off for three or more years of what people call the greatest time of your life. They’ll be parties and […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Thinking about a Montessori education? What should you expect There are many ways to educate a child. This is one of a series of articles in which we will be exploring alternative ways of learning outside the traditional state education system, and explaining what makes them different, and unique. This series starts with an in-depth look […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Testing times for our children Some new research and a couple of policy announcements have caught my eye just recently and it’s about time had my tuppence worth on the important issues raised. First off, a new report has found that one in five young people in the UK say they have ‘abandoned their ambitions’ […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Google has turned learning on its head – it’s time we caught up When I was at school, some 30 years ago, it was all about sitting quietly at desks with chewing gum under them and listening while the teacher talked. Occasionally we’d copy stuff down and sometimes there would be exercises to do. The […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Excellent apps and techy tools to aid exams and revision – part 1 When exams loom heavy on the horizon students do what they can to prepare themselves for the mental strain ahead: revising, re-revising, chewing at fingernails and pulling at hair. Happily, for screenagers everywhere the abundance of digital help on offer means revision […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
The Tutors Association: your chance to have your voice heard News hit us in May that the Centre for Market Reform of Education had come up with proposals for the introduction of The Tutors Association. Its focus would be to improve industry standards and provide guidance for those procuring tutoring services. The Tutors Association has started its […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Finally – a framework for professional regulation of private tutors? To the sound of cheers from industry professionals, parents and teachers the Centre for Market Reform of Education (CRME) is launching a consultation on plans for a new national association for tutors in an effort to push forward with plans to develop industry standards […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Twitter for schools – embrace the hashtag This month’s high school newsletter contained an item that caught my eye. The first of the 16 pages urged us to “tweet tweet”. It said: “Over the coming months, we will be piloting the benefits of using social networking site ‘Twitter’ to further improve communication with pupils […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Government axes survey on nutritional value of school meals Some of you may remember the story of Martha Payne, the Argyle schoolgirl who’s school dinner blog hit the headlines after she was banned from posting pictures of the lunchtime slop by Bute Council. At the time I blogged about it, Martha’s blog (NeverSeconds) had […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Votes for sixteen year olds? Aye, say I Yesterday, in a rare showing of common sense in the, err, commons, Labour and Lib Dem MPs cosied up to vote in favour of a proposal to lower the voting age in all UK elections from 18 to 16. After the deafening show of voter apathy […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Huge drop in University applications from white, working-class males Sipping through my vat of tea in the post-Christmas fug of a January morning, I was transported back to my happy days at university by Radio 4’s ‘The Value of Culture’ with Melvin Bragg. The series explores the idea and evolution of culture, and (though the […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
What are Academies? By now, most of us will be aware of the sweeping changes to the education system as schools move outside of local authority control and towards becoming publicly funded state schools – academies. Michael Gove has overseen a massive rise in schools reaching academy status It’s understandable that many parents are still […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
What is an EBacc and why is everyone talking about them? What is an EBacc? It’s a proposed new educational qualification, called English Baccalaureate Certificate in full. It is going to replace the GCSEs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. But EBacc sounds familiar? The term has been used for the past couple […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Cash for inspections Love them or hate them, Ofsted inspections are the time-honoured way our authorities independently check to see if schools are performing well for our children. Should schools be allowed to pay through the nose for Ofsted inspection tips? I remember it well from my schoolboy days – being swept up in a confusing whirlwind […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Stop whining about not being able to take your kids on holiday during term time Of course we want cheaper holidays and quieter beaches, but we can’t have them. It’s time to get over it. In England and Wales, education secretary Michael Gove has decided to ban parents from taking kids out of school […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Sponsoring education – is it time to let business into our classrooms? So Education Secretary Michael Gove reckons ICT is “boring and dull” and should be scrapped and replaced by computer science and more coding… brought in conjunction with technology businesses. There are already resources’ developed with Google and Microsoft. Hmm. At first glance ICT […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
It’s parents’ night and in some areas the school could do better As the mother of a first year pupil, I had my first experience of secondary parents’ night last week. From the day the letter came home from school it was clear the days of perching on too-small chairs and hearing kind words about […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
School websites are rubbish: it’s time they set a better example It’s clear that education had changed greatly since I was at school. In my day the girls did domestic science and the boys did technical stuff with wood and metal. Also way back then, computers were more theoretical than anything else. My secondary had […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Residential school trips – are they worth it? My son came home a few weeks after starting high school excitedly clutching a printed sheet headed RESIDENTIAL ACTIVITIES MAY 2012. The dog-eared state suggested it had been given much attention, as did the breathless way he discussed the contents. Now we aren’t talking about the class-wide, […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Who would make it into your Dream School? Love him or loathe him, Jamie Oliver’s wide-screen face will be filling T.V sets for the next few weeks as he embarks on his next moral conquest; this time tackling education with an all-star cast and the best staffroom sarnies ever to grace a fold-out table. His new series, Jamie’s Dream […]
8 June 2020∙4 minutes to read
Education reform and civil unrest, all on one day On a day in which thousands of students across the country march in protest at swingeing cuts and rising tuition fees, Michael Gove stood up and delivered his white paper on school reform. You can read the full proposal here. College Green protest Meanwhile, around Bristol and […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
Testing times in education I’m starting to think we’re obsessed with measuring. We measure what’s good for us; we measure what’s bad for us. We measure how many calories are in the foot-long we’re about to devour and we measure our expanding waistlines. We’re about to measure the happiness of the nation. Shouldn’t be too hard […]
8 June 2020∙3 minutes to read
Popular scheme falls victim to the cuts Pretty sad to hear this week that students’ automatic right to one-to-one tuition has had its funding pulled by the coalition government. In January we blogged about the Institute of London’s initial research into the reading and numeracy programmes which were to be rolled out nationwide in […]
8 June 2020∙1 minute to read
What’s the big idea? Superprof differs radically from traditional home tutoring – it puts you in control of your learning. There are no arrangements. There is no travelling. There is no hassle. Using instant messaging, Superprof puts you in contact with a tutor at the precise point when you need help – simply type in your question, select […]
8 June 2020∙2 minutes to read
