Teaching and learning is crucial to the success of a primary school. Our best practice articles and case studies focus on how school leaders can support their teachers to sustain high quality teaching and learning.

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Case study: Turning around a curriculum

When turning around a school, a focus on creating the right curriculum is the most important priority, according to headteacher Nadia Paczuska

Literacy: What can we learn from PIRLS?

Fifty countries took part in the most recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), the world-wide study of reading at ages 9 and 10. Rachel Classick looks at some key findings from England and Northern Ireland and what lessons we can learn

Improving pupils' working memory

Achieving effective differentiation in the classroom and improving your pupils’ working memories are key priorities for teachers. Margaret Reeve offers some quick CPD ideas

Maths Mastery and the National Maths Hubs

The national network of Maths Hubs are recruiting schools for the 2018/19 Teacher Research Groups. We hear from the London North East Maths Hub about this year’s work on Maths Mastery

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Give them a challenge outside!

With the summer here, it’s a good time to take the children outdoors. Suzanne O’Connell summarises what the Education Endowment Foundation has to say about the benefits of outdoor adventure learning

The battle to take back control of the curriculum

With the momentum growing behind evidence and research-based teaching practice, arguments to give back control of the curriculum to the profession are becoming louder – led, perhaps surprisingly, by Ofsted’s chief inspector...

Case study: Making PE and sports a priority

With today’s educational climate focusing on literacy and numeracy, PE can sometimes be left behind. Not so at Birchwood Primary. Suzanne O’Connell finds out how deputy headteacher Melanie Alexander and her team have made PE and sports a priority

Helping quiet pupils to find their voices

In each class, half a dozen children dominate and half a dozen are rarely heard. Jason Buckley advises on how we can help the ‘silent six’ to find their voices

Maths Mastery: A journey towards a new curriculum

A trip to Shanghai inspired one primary school leader and her team to transform maths teaching as part of an approach to a ‘knowledge-rich’ curriculum. Liam Donnison explains

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...

Case study: Teaching practice – review, analysis and innovation

St Michael’s CE Primary thrives by giving its staff plenty of opportunities to review practice, innovate and take on responsibility. Drawing on the school’s outstanding maths practice as an example, Suzanne O’Connell explains more

Case study: Bring the countryside to the heart of the curriculum

The Food and Farming project at Sacred Heart RC Primary School engages pupils across all year groups with growing foods, cooking dishes, visiting farms and more. Emma Lee-Potter reports

Diary of a headteacher: The joy of residential trips!

Residential trips have come a long way since Tom Donohoe’s first experience as an NQT…

Case study: A focus on literacy and numeracy

Thorough implementation of reading and maths initiatives have paid off at Lea Forest Primary Academy. Craig Clarke explains

A calming, therapeutic classroom environment

How can you create a therapeutic and calming classroom environment that cultivates learning? Play therapist Shahana Knight offers some suggestions and guidance

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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

A curriculum to stimulate a sense of engagement

A curriculum focusing on independence, collaboration, creativity and expression has been the key to turning around a primary school in an area known as ‘little Beirut’. Headteacher Steve Kernan 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

Developing a reasoning-rich maths curriculum

In 2015, Kirsty Munns spent 10 days in China observing maths lessons. The experience inspired her to develop a whole-school ‘reasoning-rich’ maths curriculum. She reflects on the outcomes and the lessons learned so far

Teaching reading comprehension: Some useful advice

Drawing on evidence into the best approaches to teaching reading comprehension, experts Di Hatchett and Gill Jordan give us their advice and tips for effective classroom practice

How after-school coding clubs can benefit pupils

In an increasingly digital world, Suzanne Straw looks at research findings showing to what extent after-school coding clubs can support young people to develop skills and further their interest in coding

Literacy: A moral right

In a challenging article, literacy expert Debbie Hepplewhite bemoans the conflicting and often strongly held views on how we should teach children to read – and calls for the moral rights of the child to be placed above the professional rights of the teacher

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Case study: An inspirational approach to writing

Inspiration is a key priority for Wilmslow Grange Community Primary when it comes to writing. Suzanne O’Connell finds out more

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

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