STEM: Why we should do more tinkering How can we foster creativity, open-mindedness and resourcefulness while still working towards key academic outcomes. The Royal Academy of Engineering says the answer is to tinker. Rhys Morgan explains
Computing: Resources, ideas, advice The move from ICT to computing continues to challenge schools, especially those relying on non-specialist teachers. Fiona Aubrey-Smith looks at some useful resources and offers three steps to help move your computing curriculum forwards
School trip tips: Effective planning and organising Gill Harvey offers her advice on planning and running educational and safe school trips, including tips for schools that decide to work with a tour operator or other provider
Learning environments: Finding the Catch Zone... How effective is your school’s learning environment? How do you organise your classroom and school displays for maximum impact on learning? Fiona Aubrey-Smith discusses the secrets to success and introduces the Catch Zone...
Oracy: Speaking up for speaking Plans are afoot to create an All-Party Parliamentary Group on oracy. Primary school leader Anthony David considers the importance of speaking skills for children of all ages
Successful approaches to the computing curriculum When the new computing curriculum was introduced there was concern about the capacity of primary schools to deliver it. Suzanne O’Connell speaks to two schools, both possessing Naace’s ICT Mark, about how they prepare their pupils to be IT literate in the 21st century
What is your approach to promoting learning skills? As a headteacher, what are your priorities when beginning at a new school? For Frances Robertson, the focus must always begin on children’s learning skills and the school’s teaching and learning ethos...
Evidence-based resources: Do they make a difference? Many teachers find it hard to engage with and act on research evidence, even when they know it can help them to improve teaching practice and student outcomes. Dorothy Lepkowska explains
Simple science ideas The Wellcome Trust’s free Explorify programme is helping to boost primary school science lessons. Louise Stubberfield discusses how headteachers can support excellent primary science provision
Some playground game ideas Helping children to engage with playground games has clear benefits for their enjoyment of school life and their education, says Jenny Mosley. She offers some ideas and advice
Case study: A library in every classroom With a small school library that was not fit-for-purpose, Tom Donohoe set about a new approach – creating a well-equipped mini-library in every single classroom...
Literacy: Who is the Secret Storyteller? Milton Primary School’s Secret Storyteller project, which brings parents into school to read to children, has been an enormous success. Christine Dean explains how it works
Quick wins in the English classroom Success in English is the key to success across pupils’ education. Expert David Maytham offers some quick ideas to help engage children and accelerate progress in English 1 comment
Practical ideas and strategies to improve writing skills Drawing on the work of a number of schools, Fiona Aubrey-Smith shares some practical ideas from headteachers and class teachers to improve writing skills – especially for boys
Moving primary school lessons into the museum A King’s College research project has investigated the learning, social and cultural outcomes when significant parts of primary education take place in museums and galleries. Headteacher Russell Dwyer, who took part in the research, explains
Do you set homework, or just ‘busy work’? How much homework in your school is simply ‘busy work’? Cindy Blanes explores how we can make homework both meaningful and engaging
Literacy, oracy and language with Shakespeare Robinsfield Primary School has been delivering Shakespeare to its five and six-year-old pupils with a specific focus on literacy, oracy and language. Headteacher Naomi Leaver explains how they approach this work
Barriers to a growth mindset Over the last few months, Ross McWilliam has been looking at adopting growth mindset approaches, particularly for key stage 2 pupils. In this final article in the series, he considers some of the barriers to this way of teaching
The growth mindset in key stage 2: Part 3 In the third part of his four-part series on growth mindset approaches to teaching in key stage 2, Ross McWilliam looks at whole-school strategies to involve pupils, staff and your parents
Case study: The arts across the curriculum Balancing high-quality arts provision with meeting core academic measures is a challenge for primary schools. Jane Ryder discusses how this is tackled at Sidegate Primary School and offers some examples of their practice
Positive male role-models For many pupils, having a positive male role-model in their lives can make a big difference to outcomes. Kim Jones suggests hosting workshops to give your fathers a chance to engage with their children and the school
Music education: An evaluation of In Harmony The In Harmony project has received £3 million in government funding to bring music opportunities to primary pupils in six disadvantaged areas. Dorothy Lepkowska looks at a new evaluation of the scheme’s impact so far
Teaching memory skills Memory champion and school leader Jonathan Hancock has always been amazed that more schools don’t focus on memory skills. He argues why they should and offers some ideas for memory games and other approaches
A character education SEF Make a difference to personal development, behaviour and welfare – Matt Bawden explains how character education might set the tone across a school and offers a self-evaluation framework
Pupil leadership in action The importance of pupils taking ownership of their learning and having greater roles within school decision-making is increasingly recognised. Jo Corrigan looks at the principles of effective student leadership and examines the work of pupils at Eastlands Primary on its anti-bullying programme
