How important is good spelling, really? Is it still vital in a world of typed documents, emails and auto correct? Isn’t it the quality of writing we should be worried about, rather than the spelling of the words themselves? Perhaps, as Mark Twain observed, ‘anyone who can only think of one way to spell a […]
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Well that’s that over for another year. But what now? Amongst the class trips, leavers’ plays and special assemblies, here are some ideas for making the last few weeks as enjoyable and valuable as possible for everyone involved. With the children: Get the class outside – extra PE sessions, studying the natural world, drawing plants […]
Read moreWith Easter fast approaching, teachers with Y6 classes will be increasingly conscious of the National Curriculum tests which their pupils will be taking in the summer term. Parents will also be anxious to know what’s changed under the revised curriculum and how they can best support their children over the statutory assessment period. Although the […]
Read moreWith Easter fast approaching, teachers with Y2 classes will be increasingly conscious of the National Curriculum tests which their pupils will be taking in the summer term. Parents will also be anxious to know what’s changed under the revised curriculum and how they can best support their children over the statutory assessment period. Although the […]
Read more“Teachers in England have grown used to living in a world of targets. But we need to look at how we got here and what we are now doing – and how the 2014 National Curriculum marks a departure from things we have taken for granted.” In the first of a series of videos available […]
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In May, Year 2 children will be assessed for the first time on the new curriculum in England. To save you time, we have taken a look at the new sample tests and frameworks and given some key pointers below. What’s in the test? The new Key Stage 1 English Reading Test will consist of two papers. Paper […]
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In 2016, children will sit the new national tests for the first time. We’ve taken a look at the sample tests and frameworks to see what’s in store for them (and for you). Arithmetic Paper The introduction of the arithmetic paper is a key change for the Key Stage 2 National Tests (the mental maths test is no […]
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In 2016, children will sit the new national tests for the first time. We’ve taken a look at the sample tests and frameworks to see what’s in store for them (and for you). Arithmetic Paper The introduction of the arithmetic paper is a key change for the Key Stage 1 National Tests. It is not strictly timed, but […]
Read moreIn May, Year 6 will be tested for the first time on the content of the new curriculum for grammar, punctuation and spelling. We’ve taken a look at the sample tests and test frameworks to see what’s the same, what’s different, and what to watch out for. Paper 1: Grammar and punctuation Like the 2015 paper, children will have […]
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After taking a look at the new performance descriptors for reading and writing, we now turn our attention to mathematics and science. Mathematics At KS1 there are three performance descriptors- ‘working towards the national standard’, ‘working at the national standard’, and ‘working at a greater depth within the national standard’. At KS2, there is just […]
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