schools

Standardised Tests: A Comprehensive Guide to Educational Assessment

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Standardised Tests: A Comprehensive Guide to Educational Assessment 1

Understanding Standardised Testing in Education Standardised tests, also known as standardised assessments or standardised examinations, represent structured evaluation methods administered and scored consistently across all test-takers. These assessments measure students’ academic capabilities, knowledge, and skills against predetermined criteria, ensuring that testing conditions, questions, and marking schemes remain uniform for all participants. What Defines a Standardised … Read more

Effective SENCO: Having a Whole School Impact

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Effective SENCO: Having a Whole School Impact 2

Effective SENCO: Impact on School Culture Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) play a critical role in ensuring that every student in their school receives the support they need to thrive. In order to be effective, SENCOs must not only be experts in their field, but also have the ability to influence and drive change across … Read more

Why AI Cannot Replace Teachers.

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Why AI Cannot Replace Teachers. 3

Why AI cannot replace teachers and classrooms: As a teacher and leader with nearly two decades of experience in UK schools, and I passing interest in the uses of A.I I have seen first hand how “online learning” and “remote education” failed to prepare students for life, not all. For some who have school based … Read more

The Impact of Lockdown on Autistic Children’s Mental Health

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The Impact of Lockdown on Autistic Children's Mental Health 4

The Impact of Lockdown on Autistic Children The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have had a profound impact on’s lives, including children and adolescents. At the time of writing this article, June 2023, we are seeing the challenges and outcomes of this upheaval including much-reduced attendance. It feels like there has been a subtle shift … Read more

Retraumatization and Restrictive Practice in Schools.

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Retraumatization and Restrictive Practice in Schools. 5

Trauma-Informed Behaviour Management in Schools To give you context as to my potential bias in choosing and responding to these questions I am a special education teacher. This means I have a huge amount of flexibility and support when supporting children with a range of additional needs. I do not generally support reward or sanction … Read more

Assessment for PMLD

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Rethinking assessment for PMLD

Rethinking Assessment for PMLD learners. In 2015, Cherry Garden School decided their assessment and reporting procedures were no longer fit for purpose. Although we had just received our third consecutive Outstanding judgement from Ofsted, we were aware that our assessment ‘data‘ wasn’t always meaningful, and that many of our children didn’t make typical linear progress. … Read more

The Influence of School Leaders on Inclusion

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The Influence of School Leaders on Inclusion 6

Improving Inclusion Through School Leadership This post builds on the input of 30 school leaders during an SLTChat educational discussion. It also references two papers (see references section) Inclusive education has become a global priority, with countries worldwide seeking to provide quality education for all students regardless of ability, disability, language, culture, gender, or background. … Read more