Posts by Mark Taylor
041: Our primary music project with Andy Williams – Head of Music at Elizabeth Woodville School
Andy Williams is Head of Music at the Elizabeth Woodville School in Northamptonshire. Together we are creating a primary music project for local cluster schools to help improve transition at age 11 and parity in music. By supporting all the local schools to embrace music making, we hope to encourage a culture that the children involved will take into their secondary school years to enhance their lives.
We are going to offer:
- The creation of a massed ensemble of instrumentalists from all the cluster schools
- CPD for music co-ordinators and staff
- In person visits to assess, support and extend what can be offered in each school
- Opportunities to bring outside arts organisations to visit the cluster schools
- Help with transition from primary to secondary
- Specialist workshops in singing, rhythm and ensembles from EYFS to KS2
- Share concerts and events with secondary pupils
With many years of music and teaching experience we will be visiting the schools, offering practical hands on advice and answering any questions that arise.
Follow the progress of the primary music project by visiting the Education on Fire blog. The resources we create for this project will also be available for you to download, keep listening throughout the season as I offer exclusive opportunities for me to come and deliver a workshop in your school.
Keep up to date at www.EducationOnFire.com
Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust – our Music Hub
040: Season 4 launch show – Music and the Arts in schools
As a professional percussionist, instrumental teacher, educator and National Association for Primary Education council member I am very excited to share my expertise with you in season 4 ‘Music and the Arts in schools’.
We will explore the amazing opportunities available to you, as I interview some of the most prestigious arts organisations to find out what they can offer your school and how you can access them.
I will also document and share my journey of creating a new project with a local secondary school to support music provision within the cluster primary schools in my area. My hope is to share how you can embed music and the arts across your school to support all children in all areas of the curriculum.
Listen as we offer resources throughout the season.
Find out more about Mark in his interview with Bruce Langford on episode 32.
I will be at 2 events during the next few weeks if you would like to come and say hi!
Music and Drama Education Expo in Manchester on 4th October
EduTech Show 2017 in London Olympia on 6th/7th October supported by
National Association for Primary Education
For more information about the podcast and Education on Fire visit EducationOnFire.com
039 : My education expert Peter Cansell shares his thoughts in the Season 3 Finale
My resident education expert Peter Cansell joins me in the season 3 finale ‘What do children think about their schooling?’
We talk about the themes and ideas that have come from the children and some of the insights of their parents.
Peter has been in education professionally for 35 years, teaching in middle schools in Oxford, doing advisory work, teaching higher education and as a Primary Headteacher at Harwell Primary School. He retired from that post in September 2014, but has continued as Chair of OPHTA (Oxfordshire Primary Headteachers’ Association), was elected to become Chair of the National Network of Chairs of Headteachers’ Groups in June 2014 and was delighted to have become a NAPE council member this year, serving on the editorial board for Primary First. In January of 2015 he co-founded the Oxford School of Thought, an independent education think tank. He is a trustee and chairs the management committee of another charity, Full Circle, which is well regarded for its ground breaking intergenerational work.
We cover educational ideas from the industrial revolution, classroom layouts, school day structures and the general attitudes of children in the education system of today.
During this season I have spoken to children from around the world including the UK, USA and Hawaii
It is always great to have an education expert on hand to keep me grounded!
These are the 10 questions we asked:
1. If you could design your own classroom what would it look like? Eg Large open plan loft style, small rooms, sit in rows or groups? Anything goes be creative!
2. How would you create your day and spend your time? Eg How much time inside/outside, how much studying, exercise, time on your own/with others, playing, games, projects. Anything goes be creative!
3. How do you assess your progress? What do you do everyday to move forward towards your goals and dreams?
4. How often do you discuss and think about – what you eat, exercise, breathing, sleeping, mindfulness, gratitude, volunteering?
5. How often do you discuss and think about life? Babies being born or people dying.
6. How often do you discuss money, budgets, savings, financial planning?
7. Do you work with a mentor? Do you know what a mentor is?
8. How often do you lead a team of people?
9. Do you like working on real projects that are relevant to you? Eg Fundraising, events for the local community, school productions, concerts, sports events?
10. Of the things you enjoy most – do they happen in school time or are they after school clubs?
Find out more at www.EducationOnFire.com
Sir Ken Robinson – Finding Your Element.
038 : How understanding homeschooling can help you in your classroom with Dr. Maelisa Hall
Dr. Maelisa Hall shares her experiences of traditional education and homeschooling. We discuss how the personalised learning available at home can be used to positive effect in the classroom.
Having met Maelisa at Podcast Movement in California during August, we chatted about our respective podcasts. I thought Maelisa’s understanding of both school and homeschool would make an interesting conversation in my season 3 ‘What do children think about their schooling?’ I have been talking to children currently in school, but talking to an adult with a mixture of schooling experiences gave a different perspective.
On the podcast we talk about the positives of both options, how flexibility became very important for their family and how the understanding of personalised learning can benefit children.
Community plays a big part in our learning, so does our family. Discussing these issues brings up some very interesting ideas that you can implement in your own school or classroom.
Maelisa has a new podcast launching in October 2017 called My Biz Bestie about how having a biz bestie and support system can increase your profits!
You can find her on twitter at @HallMaelisa
For more information about season 3 visit
Barefoot Bytes – Free computing workshops
Following my interviews in season 2 about the FREE computing workshops provided by Barefoot, I thought I would update you and share their latest video series that gives you more information on their work.
Episode One of Barefoot Bytes series! Have you tried ‘World Map Logic’ FREE activity? Here’s a fun video to explain the lesson in simple steps!
To register with us for FREE, download this activity for FREE, and book a FREE workshop for your school, please go to: https://barefootcas.org.uk.
Presented by Jon Chippindall, Primary Teacher and Barefoot Resource Author.
You can listen to all 3 of my Education On Fire Podcast interviews below.
010 : Computing At School & The Barefoot Programme supported by BT
011 : What to expect in your FREE Barefoot Computing Workshop