Memorisation, retention and learning

Teachers often assume that because they are teaching and their students are sitting there in front of them - looking attentive - that they are actually learning. They could be right. On the other hand, it could be that their students are just performing the role of student - but not learning.  Even if they are learning, how long will they reta...

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Of leaders and leadership: the variety of types and their impact

It's a widely recognised fact that the quality of our schools, our teachers and leaders varies too much. Good leaders are proven to transform schools and so demand for top 'superheads' has soared, leading to salaries that are nothing short of eye-watering.  But the latest research, hot off the press from the Centre for High Performance, throws...

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Five failsafe ways to help your students develop a growth mindset

Byline: Bradley Busch What impresses you more, natural ability or hard work? A lot of people in education and sport claim to value the importance of graft, but research suggests we could secretly hold a "'natural talent bias". In a fascinating study, Harvard University researchers told professional musicians about two pianists who were equal in cur...

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Focus on ... Professor Robert Coe and the importance of evidence-based education

A small group of UK educational researchers have been trying to promote 'evidence-based' education for some time. With the establishment of ResearchED and the Educational Endowment Foundation - and its teacher-oriented toolkit reviewing the relative cost and benefit of different interventions - research informed practice is now firmly on the politi...

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'Good teachers can be made' says Doug Lemov

The central assertion of Doug Lemov's philosophy is that 'good teachers can be made'. Lemov is author of Teach Like a Champion, a book which has rapidly earned the status of 'teaching bible' among new teachers.  Lemov is also managing director of Uncommon Schools, a chain of 42 charter schools in the United States. His influence is spreading a...

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