Author Archives: Joe Kirby

 Revise with self-quizzing books for every pupil across all subjects What should teachers do about homework? And what should pupils do about revision? Homework and its Discontents Homework is a tough ask for pupils and teachers. Pupils have five hours … Continue reading →

Specify subject knowledge in meticulous detail What’s the difference between a knowledge curriculum and other curricula? A knowledge curriculum specifies, in meticulous detail, the exact facts, dates, events, characters, concepts and precise definitions that all pupils are expected to master … Continue reading →

Teachers who think knowledge, memory and practice have been neglected in schools, tend to be seen as adamant traditionalists – to quote one blogger recently, “the shock-troops of neo-traditionalism!” Whilst I think it’s important to bring the best of tradition … Continue reading →

I often ask pupils at family lunch at Michaela what their favourite subject is. Many of them reply, ‘I love every subject, sir!’ What we choose to teach plays a big part in how much our pupils love learning.  At … Continue reading →

A knowledge curriculum can be a powerful force in combating educational inequality. One of our ambitions at Michaela Community School, which opened this year in Wembley, is to place knowledge at the heart of education. We believe, as Francis Bacon … Continue reading →

It felt like the blogosphere increased in ‘noise’ in 2014. The Echo Chamber went from under 2,000 blogposts in 2013 to over 6,000 in 2014. Teacher voice online is proliferating, spurred on by the astonishing energy of the edubloggers’ commander-in-chief, … Continue reading →

   ‘Mastery, autonomy and purpose are part of everything we do.’   Blaine, Guide, Year 8   ‘I’d like my legacy to be: she was a world-leading anthropologist’   Saleka, Guide, Year 9   ‘It’s not revolutionary; the difference is, if we … Continue reading →

‘the dark irony and cruelty of hegemony is that teachers take pride in acting on the very assumptions that work to enslave them’ Graded observations must go. I’ve argued before that they are this year’s brain gym; I’ve shown the damaging … Continue reading →

‘Spirituality is nothing more than the ancient and abiding quest for something greater than ourselves – something greater than our own egos.’   JUDGE DANFORTH: A person is either with this court or against it, there be no road between. … Continue reading →

I was 18 when England won the Rugby World Cup. Watching Jonny Wilkinson’s tournament-winning drop goal in extra time in the final at the Telstra Stadium, Sydney, Australia, from 4am in the morning in London, with 50 school friends leaving … Continue reading →