Category Archives: Teachers

Working with the Enemy

Posted on April 6, 2017 by suecowley

I have a confession to make. I have taken my children out of school for educational reasons. Personally I’d never do it just ‘to go on a holiday’, especially not to Disneyland (which they’d hate anyway). Even though we have … Continue reading →

Posted in Parents, Schools, Teachers | 2 Comments

The Duck Wedding

Posted on February 19, 2017 by suecowley

I once asked the kid who her favourite ever teacher was. Yes, I know I shouldn’t have, because all of her teachers have been great, and it’s not a competition. But I was curious about what her answer would be. … Continue reading →

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Celebrating the Blob

Posted on August 17, 2016 by suecowley

When Michael Gove made it fashionable to blame “the blob” for the supposedly disastrous state of our education system, he unleashed a powerful narrative on state schools. The narrative told us that progressive state education had been an unparalleled disaster … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports, Teachers | 2 Comments

Just 3 Teachers

Posted on December 23, 2015 by suecowley

Here are my ‘Just 3 Teachers’. Thanks to Michael Tidd for the inspiration. 🙂 1. The teacher I emulated. I’m going to cheat and pick two. First up is Miss Ladd, my secondary English teacher (we were so excited when … Continue reading →

Posted in Teachers | 3 Comments

W.A.I.T.*

Posted on November 30, 2014 by suecowley

* Why Acronyms In Teaching? In my first year as a secondary school teacher, there was something called AR&R. The school had a deputy head teacher responsible for AR&R. It was the phrase on everyone’s lips. Unfortunately, I had absolutely … Continue reading →

Posted in Systems, Teachers | 3 Comments

Masters of the Universe

Posted on July 7, 2014 by suecowley

Yesterday it was announced that a Labour Government would create a new designation of ‘Master Teacher’, as part of a ‘drive to raise standards’. Setting aside any questions about whether this is a good idea or not, when I run … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Language, Teachers | 22 Comments

Simply the Best

Posted on May 25, 2014 by suecowley

“access to the best that has been thought and written …” Michael Gove I’ve always been wary of the notion of a literary canon: a list of the best that has ever been written. In part, my concern stems from … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Literature, Reading, Teachers, Writing | 2 Comments

Somebody’s Child

Posted on March 20, 2014 by suecowley

One of the most striking differences for me between teaching in primary, and teaching in secondary, is the depth of the relationship that we can develop with each child. This is not to apportion blame: it is a simple fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Parents, Ratios, Teachers | 9 Comments

Too Many Hats

Posted on February 28, 2014 by suecowley

The Playwright sits in a darkened room, scratching thoughts, ideas, knowledge on a page.  The Actor brings the script alive (some audiences are tricky to please). The Artist turns a simple resource into the key to another world. The Kitten … Continue reading →

Posted in Ofsted, Skills, Teachers | 4 Comments

51 Weeks

Posted on December 30, 2013 by suecowley

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2527902/Schools-open-6pm-51-weeks-year-Gove-pushes-flexitime.html In the absence of anyone at the DfE being willing to think this one through before announcing it in the press, I am taking a few minutes out of my (thankfully very relaxed) holiday schedule to do it for … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Parents, Schools, Teachers | 3 Comments