August 2014

In September 2019, the Ofsted inspection framework will change, but what does that mean for assessment?

Thanks to John Dabell, trained teacher and former Ofsted inspector, for the following article.

Although work is ongoing, and Ofsted is still preparing for the 2019 changes, there are some signs we can draw on which help shed some light on what the future holds.

Ofsted strategy: 2017-2022

Ofsted reminds us in it 2017-2022 strategy that everything it does is first and foremost to champion the interests of children and students, acting as a ‘force for improvement through intelligent, responsible and focused inspection and regulation.’  It also tells us that it is nimble and adaptable to change and does not have preferred styles of teaching.

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To celebrate National Poetry Day, Charlotte Raby (author of Rising Stars Vocabulary) explains why poetry is the quickest way to capture a child's imagination. 

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Thanks to Ruth Duckworth, Year 6 teacher, for the following article.

The most effective teachers not only refine starting points, but also make regular adjustments to planning during the learning journey.

As the new term starts and classroom timetables settle down to 'real' lessons, it is easy to roll with the planning as it is - especially if you're teaching in the same year group as last year. It's comfortable to start with the same topics, for example reading and exploring a novel you're familiar with, often teaching virtually the same lessons all over again.

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The recent workload report, the DfE highlights the importance of reducing unnecessary tasks so more time can be spent focusing on teaching.  With instant and unlimited access for every teacher in your school, Assessment Bank makes creating and sharing tests with your colleagues easier than ever.

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In this first Wednesday Words blog, we bring you a fun Year 4 vocabulary teaching activity to help children to describe an 'intelligent predator'. In this case, the predator is the octopus.

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Now you’ve decided the intent of your maths curriculum, read on for tips about successful implementation planning.

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Come along to a free open day event in Luton and find out more about how other schools are using our resources! Read more »

We're super excited to tell you all about the launch of the Rising Stars Reading Planet Summer Challenge!

In this blog we'll tell you all about how you and your child can get involved and be in with a chance of winning a £50 book voucher. We'll also take a look at why and how you should be encouraging your child to read for pleasure.

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