Just Saying Part 1: 2017

Over the last couple of years I’ve written a couple of blog posts that I end up referring people to when faced with queries just to save myself repeating myself and this is one of them .. to be honest this one has been in my draft folder and I’m trying to edit and then publish it after … Read more

GCSE 9-1 New content – Venn Diagrams

For those of you that have been around a bit … (I mean teaching for a while and I’m not insinuating anything else 😉 !!) you will have taught these before. They’re a bit of a hokey-cokey topic – one minute they’re in the formal programme of study as dictated by the DFE then they’re out … Read more

Mathematical fiddle “things”

Ever since I watched the above clip from Vi Hart I’ve been fascinated with flexagons and so one night this week I made my very own trihexaflexagon. It was after I’d marked a test for one of my classes and even though we’ve spent lessons and lessons on circles there were still some students that … Read more

GCSE Maths: Preparing for your exam

For the last couple of years Graham (Cumming .. of course!) has been sending out some additional reminders for both students and teachers a few weeks before the exams. This year has been no different and he has kindly given me permission to share on here too (to which I’ve added a little extra that you … Read more

GCSE 9-1 New content – Product rule for counting

I’ve been thinking about some of the new content in the GCSE and wanted to delve a bit deeper into some of the topics – not only to make sure that my understanding of the “learning objectives” are correct but if I’m honest I also think I have a hang up about subject knowledge, because … Read more

Dual entry ?

Back in December 2015 the DFE published a document ->  GCSE_Early_Entry_Guidance that clarified some rules about “early entry” – you may remember when new early entry rules for key stage 4 qualifications were announced on September 29 2013 (I remember it well!) that only a pupil’s first entry to a key stage 4 qualification would counts towards their school’s … Read more

Thinking

Whether or not you agree with the 4/5 change that was announced last week (some people do! read the comments at the end of my blog post -> here ), the fact is that Nicky Morgan (and yes I know she’s gone!) together with Nick Clegg (him too!!) pledged as part of their commitment to teacher workload that … Read more

Secret Link