196: Broad and balanced curriculum Q&A with Dr. Tony Eaude
Towards a balanced and broadly-based curriculum was the theme of the National Association for Primary Education conference in March 2021. The keynote lecture was given by Dr. Tony Eaude.
This is a follow up Q&A that I hosted and taken from a subsequent Facebook live event. NAPE has been a long term supporter of the Education on Fire podcast and I have been involved with the association for over 5 years, the last 18 months as vice chair. I thought this discussion was very insightful and wanted to give you the opportunity to hear it.
The original full lecture can be found on the NAPE YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/YI_tiHvKxOk
Tony suggested four main arguments for a balanced and broadly-based primary curriculum:
- that the law states that schools must offer this (as it does) and that Ofsted expect this (at least from 7 years old);
- one based on how children create coherent, robust and flexible identities, enhancing their well-being and founded on a sense of agency;
- one based on a conception of democratic citizenship in which children are increasingly enabled to deal with complex ideas right from the start; and
- a social justice one that such a curriculum will open up opportunities from which many children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, will otherwise be excluded.
Questions & comments from conference delegates
Retired Headteacher
- Dr Eaude’s argument for a balanced and broadly based curriculum is compelling. Moving forwards, is it possible for schools to work with the current National Curriculum Framework to achieve this?
- Do Academies, rather than Local Authority schools, have the most potential and freedom to develop such curriculum experiences?
- Where (in England) is curriculum innovation to be found at present?
- What is the National Association of Primary Education’s role in this argument?
As a student in my final year of an undergraduate course, I am currently working on an assignment about my own educational philosophy which very much aligns with Dr. Eaude’s Schiller speech. Embarking into my NQT year in September I know the best way to change this is starting in my own classroom. However big questions arise with that:
- What can I do beyond that? If there is not enough support or like-minded colleagues,
- How can I reach out to ensure this way of teaching the curriculum is opened up on to all the children in the community?
- Where can I find more support?
For more information about Dr. Tony Eaude please visit his website https://edperspectives.org.uk/
More information about NAPE is available at https://nape.org.uk/
To find out more about Christian Schiller HMI please click on the link below
https://nape.org.uk/publications
The Schiller Book, published by NAPE, ‘In His Own Words’, can be purchased for only £5.
The full lecture can be found on the NAPE YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/YI_tiHvKxOk
160: The Trust Revolution in Schools with Jeanie Davies
Teachers are some of the kindest, most altruistic and smartest people on the planet yet they create some of the most claustrophobic and toxic cultures within which to work. Not with the children, but with one another. Why is this? How is this? What are the impacts? And, crucially, how do we resolve it?
I explore how to do this with author of The Trust Revolution in Schools – Jeanie Davies.
Ofsted, accountability, funding, workload and societal difficulties have led to a response in many schools that is fear based, generating staff cultures that affect teacher wellbeing and are leading to large numbers leaving the profession. This impacts not only staff morale and wellbeing but also has a highly detrimental effect on teacher performance and the outcomes for pupils and students. This book examines what underpins these patterns and sets out a practical model for embedding a trust-based culture in all schools.
Drawing together four key psychological concepts, the book explores what a trust-based culture looks like and the conditions that are needed for this to develop. It looks at the paradoxes that lie in how staff create harmonious and collaborative cultures and the practical steps that are needed to create a culture where staff that crave and give open, robust feedback are pro-active, learn from failure and have the ability to thrive through challenging questions.
Providing a comprehensive blueprint for schools to follow, this is essential reading for school leaders and thinkers who want to create a rich, healthy environment where collaboration, creativity and excellence in teaching and learning can flourish.
Jeanie Davies has worked in education for nearly two decades in the guise of teacher, school senior leader, coach and teacher trainer. She has run her own consultancy for the past six years, specialising in coaching, culture change, team building and school improvement, and promotes a trust-based approach to school leadership through coaching and bespoke school support.
Twitter – @jeaniedeens
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/jeanie-davies-55016424
Resources Mentioned
The Executive Function Online Summit
Price increases Aug 25th @12pm PST.
You can get still get an all access pass for $99 and save $100. Click my affiliate link here for this great offer.
https://educationonfire–sethperler.thrivecart.com/tefos2020/
Show Sponsor
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom.
044 : Award-winning interactive guitar, bass, keyboard & drum lessons with Gigajam
I interview Brian Greene from Gigajam about how he created his online music school.
Music Hubs, Colleges & Schools
Quality whole class instrumental lessons
Give every student in your class and school the opportunity to play guitar, bass, keyboard & drums. Teachers lead the class and support learning, students work with their instruments and computers; individually, in groups, or at home.
Your students can learn with Gigajam anytime, anywhere by logging on to our online music school. You can be assured of Gigajam’s quality as our award winning lessons and software now support internationally recognised music grades awarded by The University of West London/London College of Music.
Using Gigajam will support the core aims of the National Plan for Music Education as well as meet key Ofsted priorities for music education. Try our guitar lessons, bass lessons, keyboard lessons and drum lessons in your school.
Online Music School
Learn to play Guitar, Bass, Keyboard & Drums
You will love our award-winning interactive guitar lessons, bass lessons, keyboard lessons & drum lessons. they have been designed to get you playing right from the first lesson! Suitable for learners of all ages, you can learn anywhere, anytime, with our online music school.
Videos, play-along files and online assessment guide you from Debut grade to Grade 5, awarded by The University of West London/London College of Music.
Our guitar lessons were developed with guitarist David Young, Bass Lessons are from Terry Gregory and the Drum Lessons were created by Brian Greene. The Keyboard Lessons were also developed by Terry, focusing on an approach which supports Keyboard players and those learning Keyboards as a second instrument.
Full details of our ‘Music and the Arts’ Season for schools at EducationOnFire.com
033 : Season 3 Launch Show. What do children think about their schooling? – Overstone Primary
Welcome to Season 3. I am asking 10 questions to students from around the world to find out ‘what children think about their schooling?’
Today I chat with pupils from Overstone Primary School, Northampton, UK.
You can also listen to episode 003 where I interviewed Janice Mardell the Headteacher of Overstone and get a real insight into how the ethos of the school is having such a positive effect on pupils.
Listen to me explain more about season 3 on episode 031
Here are the 10 questions about schooling I am using to frame the season around.
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?