Tag Archives: Challenge

Everyday challenge

Posted on January 10, 2019 by classteaching

As part of a series of blogs focused on Durrington’s six teaching principles, this piece deals with the underpinning principle of challenge.  It marries with Andy Tharby’s blog on the Durrington Research School website. A transformational moment for me when clarifying what … Continue reading →

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Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Why a Knowledge-Based Curriculum Could be the Future

Posted on January 19, 2018 by classteaching

Last November at Durrington, we dedicated some of our INSET day to thinking about knowledge organisers: what they are; why they should play a major role in teaching and learning; how to create them; and how to use them most effectively … Continue reading →

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What is self-efficacy and how can we help our students to get more of it?

Posted on June 18, 2017 by classteaching

“If you think you can, you probably can.  If you think you can’t, well that self limiting and self-fulfilling belief might well stop you doing something you’re perfectly capable of doing.” Albert Bandura Last week I was fortunate enough to … Continue reading →

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Why playdough is not the way forward when teaching geography

Posted on May 17, 2017 by classteaching

Many thanks to Durrington geography teacher Hannah Townsend for this post, where she reflects on the importance of challenge and high expectations in KS3. * I recently read a post on a GCSE geography teachers’ forum asking for advice about how … Continue reading →

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Planning for Challenge – Part 2

Posted on March 8, 2017 by classteaching

At our last INSET day, Andy Tharby talked about using a planning framework for high starting point students, that focused on three areas – content, thinking and shaping – you can read about it here.  Like many schools, we have been … Continue reading →

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Planning for Challenge

Posted on January 31, 2017 by classteaching

At our INSET day yesterday, Andy Tharby talked about a framework teachers can use, when planning for high starting point students – content, thinking and shaping.  You can read more about it here (and I strongly suggest you do, it’s an excellent … Continue reading →

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Teaching Talk – Tom Pickford and Ryan DeGruchy on challenge in PE

Posted on January 31, 2017 by classteaching

In this episode of #TeachingTalk, Tom Pickford and Ryan De Gruchy talk about how they are developing challenge in PE. TT6 Pickford and DeGruchy – Tailoring Challenge in PE from Jason Ramasami on Vimeo. Produced by Jason Ramasami Posted by … Continue reading →

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What do teachers do to help the clever ones get even better?

Posted on January 29, 2017 by classteaching

On Friday, Andy Tharby and I walked around the school.  We visited lessons of Y11 high starter students, who were doing particularly well in that subject.  We noted some of the things that these teachers were doing, that would probably contribute … Continue reading →

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What to do with the clever ones?

Posted on November 27, 2016 by classteaching

Last Friday we had an INSET day.  Our focus was thinking about how we can push and challenge those students with a high stating point, so that they make even more progress.  Our starting point was to think about something … Continue reading →

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Supporting students with a low starting point

Posted on June 9, 2016 by classteaching

Tonight’s 15 minute forum was led by Deputy Leader of Mathematics Shane Borrett.   Last year Shane taught a Y11 class, all of whom had a very low starting point in maths.  At the start of the year, they were all … Continue reading →

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