An election?

10 December 2014 | Blog

Anyone would have thought that there was an election soon. Oh there is! Silly me! Driving into work this morning, having watched yet another bit of “teacher bashing” on breakfast news it occurred to me that I couldn’t imagine anyone doing a similar drive to their own workplace thinking “I know what I need to ... Read more

Read More

Ofqual teachers’ update

7 December 2014 | Blog

I have been sent the Ofqual teachers’ update no. 10 as I wasn’t aware that it existed, but there is an interesting comment hinting that there will be further revisions to the guidance issued to exam boards which will mean that they have to take this into account if and when it’s published (I’ve identified the ... Read more

Read More

“Mr Stephens made my brain hurt” – Simon Singh

2 December 2014 | Blog

When I agreed to a guest post I have to admit to being a little, um … nervous, yes but also … um … “star-struck” is the wrong word … it’s just weird to think that someone who I’ve admired in terms of his ability to write about maths in such “readable” way, had agreed to write something for my little ‘ol blog ... Read more

Read More

Guest Blog … Get prepared for this …

26 November 2014 | Blog

Have I told you that this is MY BLOG? I thought I’d just say it before I take a deep breath and say the next bit … **paper bag close at hand just in case I hyperventilate** Next week I will be letting Simon Singh (I KNOW!!!) loose on the blog for a special guest ... Read more

Read More

Lesson Objectives

25 November 2014 | Blog

I’m just putting this out there … I really struggle with objectives, outcomes and success criteria in maths. Don’t even try to explain the differences to me … others have tried and it just ain’t sinking in. Over the last few years I’ve had lots of discussions about them, and seriously, I swear I was listening ... Read more

Read More

Dirty Maths

22 November 2014 | Blog

I thought that title would get your attention! Fool that I am, I brought home all my books for years 7, 8, 9 and 10 to mark. OK so it’s not really to mark the books, it’s to do the “teacher” feedback following their tests last week. We had originally considered spreading out the assessments ... Read more

Read More

Midweek Post

20 November 2014 | BlogUncategorized

… and so it ends. Today I received a letter that has left me in tatters … it was from the executor of my dads will following the sale of the family home where I was born. It’s done. Dusted. Finished. Now don’t be imagining me as the heir to a fortune (when I said ... Read more

Read More

Making mocks “real”

15 November 2014 | Blog

I love other teachers! there! I’ve said it … This week the amazing Simon Gibbs contacted me about whether I had done a best guess paper for a previous paper (I have something that will fit the job and just needs tidying up and tweaking) as he wants to make his upcoming mock as real as possible. In ... Read more

Read More

A few thank you’s

15 November 2014 | Blog

Back in September my thoughts were on all the exciting stuff like getting the classroom and corridor sorted and today I sat back and reflected on how much it’s changed. In the “after” photo you may be able to spot the efforts of some tweeps who I’d like to thank (Thank you each and every ... Read more

Read More

“Geekexcitement”

9 November 2014 | Blog

So the first week after half term is done and dusted and it was a great week … well let’s just say that no-one has been injured (even after Seager invaded my blog!) Actually it was a very good week. It’s been an opportunity for me to get on with putting the finishing touches to ... Read more

Read More
Secret Link