Why schools and trusts should ‘grow their own’ teachers Developing support staff to step into teaching roles is an effective recruitment solution, writes Sam Gibbs, but the challenge lies in creating the right pathways to let talent grow and flourish

Is your trust having difficulty recruiting teachers? One answer lies in ‘growing your own’, says MAT development lead @samgibbs.bsky.social – and this is how to do it

Thrilled that we have been able to contribute a case study to the government's White Paper for schools. @gmetrust.org So proud that @trustcpdleads.bsky.social is also recognised for its contribution to sector-led improvement.

This took a long , long time to put together and it was great to see the (largely) sensible debate it prompted over the month after it was published a few months back.

The scientific debate is still where it was, but the cultural debate has certainly become even more polarised.

All we're going to learn is that rich and powerful men of all political and cultural stripes exist in a murky world where bad stuff happens without ever knowing who did specifically what.

Absolutely love Sam Fender!

Teacher recruitment is turning a corner - let’s accentuate the positives Positive ITT data should be welcomed by the sector - and used to shape a narrative about why it’s a great profession to build on ‘fragile’ green shoots, says Sam Gibbs

"If we believe that teaching changes lives, we must sound like a profession that believes in itself." @samgibbs.bsky.social in @tesmagazine.bsky.social : www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Teacher recruitment is turning a corner – let's accentuate the positives Positive ITT data should be welcomed by the sector – and used to shape a narrative about why it's a great profession to build on 'fragile' green shoots, says Sam Gibbs

Positive ITT data should not be ignored – it’s a chance to shift the narrative on teaching and nurture fragile green shoots of growth, says @samgibbs.bsky.social

One from me today on why we need to talk to the positives on teacher recruitment.

This is the @engmediacentre.bsky.social response to the CAR. It's a relief & pleasure to find so much to welcome in it. I hope that DfE gets firmly behind the key recommendations & especially that the changes to GCSE English can be brought in as quickly as possible. @beckyfrancis.bsky.social

‘Major concerns’ over Ofsted data changes Schools that volunteered to be first for new inspections should be allowed to withdraw because of changes announced by Ofsted just days before the new system begins, say heads’ leaders

It’s the first day of (volunteer) Ofsted inspections today, but leaders have been told about changes to how the watchdog uses performance data just days before.

@ascl-uk.bsky.social say it’s reason enough for volunteer schools to pull out entirely.

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Thanks, Bob - and hope you’re well!

What the curriculum review means for schools As the profession digests the curriculum and assessment review’s recommendations, thoughts turn to putting them into practice, write Tracy Goodyear and Sam Gibbs

"...to work together, listen deeply and keep the needs of children at the heart of every decision."
A great piece by @samgibbs.bsky.social & @missgoodyear.bsky.social in @tesmagazine.bsky.social: www.tes.com/magazine/ana... 2/2

"Real reform is rarely dramatic, but it is always collective. We must see this review as a chance to recast teaching as a profession that privileges professional thought and agency. As we look ahead, our challenge is simple..." @missgoodyear.bsky.social @samgibbs.bsky.social 1/2

What the curriculum review means for schools As the profession digests the curriculum and assessment review’s recommendations, thoughts turn to putting them into practice, write Tracy Goodyear and Sam Gibbs

"Experience tells us that ownership, not compliance, drives meaningful change." Great piece from @samgibbs.bsky.social and @missgoodyear.bsky.social in @tesmagazine.bsky.social: www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Focus on curriculum reform with the Education Secretary The Education Secretary answers your questions on curriculum reform.

In case you missed it: The Education Secretary is holding a live online event at 4:15pm on Wednesday 12 November, where she will discuss the Curriculum and Assessment Review and the government’s response.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/focus-on-c...

Nice response to the curric & assess review. In case it’s paywalled for you, @missgoodyear.bsky.social & @samgibbs.bsky.social conspicuously don’t go down the ‘implementation’ of ‘what works’ (ie data-farming) path, but instead go with attuning to & meeting actual needs.

Happy #neuroqueering! 🦋

Thanks so much for sharing 😀

Another one from @missgoodyear.bsky.social and I - why we think ‘the readiness is all’ when it comes to the CAR.

Edition 409 done and dusted:

A curriculum and assessment review SPECIAL ...

PLUS:

Government plans £3m SEND research centre

Do schools really have too many assistant heads?

Ministers scope out plan to help schools boost investment returns

Curriculum review: what does it say about your subject? The newly published review of curriculum and assessment makes a series of recommendations across different subjects. Find out how your subject could change if the government takes forward its proposal...

I want to pass on my sincere thanks to Professor Becky Francis and her expert panel.

I knew from opposition that Prof Francis was the person I wanted to revitalise & renew our curriculum.

She has been unflinching in her drive for high standards for all.
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Francis review: the recommendations rejected by government The DfE wants full rather than phased implementation of curriculum reform - from 2028 - and puts the brakes on inclusion of RE in the national curriculum

Which of the curriculum and assessment review proposals has the DfE rejected or will not implement as prescribed?

There are only a few areas of disagreement - @cerysturner.bsky.social has the lowdown below

www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Looking forward to a day of planning with our Trust Subject Leads tomorrow…and especially to exploring how we might develop our didagogical approach, based on the work of @teacherdevtrust.bsky.social.

Devastating news about the train attack. A journey I make regularly and it must have been utterly terrifying. Thoughts with everyone affected.

My son was in a wheelchair for a few months when he was 12. He said the same thing - people stared at him, or ignored him - he still remembers it and says he has much more empathy for others as a result.

SEND Reforms At Risk Of Further Delay As Government Tries To Avoid Backlash There is growing concern that long-awaited reforms to the special education needs and disabilities system risk further delay, PoliticsHome understa...

Bridget Phillipson confirms long-awaited SEND reforms will not be published until 2026

In September @politicshome.bsky.social reported warnings from multiple sources familiar with the process that the delays could be as late as January/February

www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Is ‘didagogy’ the key to better CPD for teachers? The study of how teachers learn is unique enough to need its own terminology, finds a new report – and that has implications for how we understand teacher training and CPD

Teachers make unique learners, a report from @teacherdevtrust.bsky.social has found. But what does this mean for how schools and trusts approach training and CPD?

Too much CPD is still ineffectual, despite huge sums of money being spent across the sector.

Collectively, we need to acknowledge that current approaches are not working for too many teachers.

Delighted to have co-authored this piece with Andrea Bean, where we propose a way forward.

Is ‘didagogy’ the key to better CPD for teachers? The study of how teachers learn is unique enough to need its own terminology, finds a new report - and that has implications for how we understand teacher training and CPD

Most CPD fails to understand a teacher's context and it doesn't meet a teacher where they are in that moment in terms of knowledge or need.

A didagogy model fixes those problems.

This is the view of @samgibbs.bsky.social and Andrea Bean They explain why below.

www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

Thrilled to be speaking at the @teacherdevtrust.bsky.social national conference today - sadly without my partner-in-crime @missgoodyear.bsky.social who is here in spirit!