metmaestro71

The Evolution of Primary Education in the United Kingdom

It would seem to me that, overall, the history of educational development in the United Kingdom is one of best intentions with attempts at promoting social mobility and justice rather sabotaged by questionable judgement calls and biases. Read on to see if you agree…

Research based methods for teaching, learning, planning and assessment

Given the current focus on the Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) and its impact on teaching and learning, I thought I would share my own thoughts, for what they are worth. They are informed by 30+ years of classroom practice and 20+ years of being a SENCO. Read on for details of the topics I intend to cover…

Discernment curriculum addendum

The ‘Curriculum and Assessment Review final report – Building a world-class curriculum for all’ asserts: ‘As our Interim Report noted, many aspects of the current system are working well. In comparison to other jurisdictions, we have a reasonably broad and balanced curriculum to age 16 which offers all children an entitlement to a core setContinue reading “Discernment curriculum addendum “

Knowledge Rich or Discernment Curriculum?

Almost all discussions about our National Curriculum seem to push the idea that we need pupils to be pumped full of knowledge. Surely our children would be better served if we were to teach them how to interact with and verify information – a discernment curriculum.

Pied Piper – Save the update!

Following some changes to the venue and programme for the concert, the premier performance of ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin’ (my setting of the Robert Browning poem) will take place at: Holy Trinity Church, Church Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, L15 9EQ The date is still Saturday 9th May 2026 7:30 p.m. and will feature: The secondContinue reading “Pied Piper – Save the update!”

The Baptism of the Lord

As we move into the first part of Ordinary Time, I have recorded the Prelude I wrote based on the hymn ‘On Jordan’s Bank’ as part of my St Paul of the Cross Little Organ Book project. It was originally intended for Advent, and so the running figure in the accompaniment (supposed to be theContinue reading “The Baptism of the Lord”

The Great ‘O’ Antiphons

(‘‘Twas the week before Christmas…’) As we move into the final days of Advent, I want to share my setting of the historic Great ‘O’ Antiphons. This is a collection of seven short verses used as a prelude to the reciting of the Magnificat at Vespers in the Catholic Church since the sixth or seventhContinue reading “The Great ‘O’ Antiphons”

Music Education – In Defence of the ‘Generalist’ Primary School Teacher

I’ve just come out of the Music Mark ‘Big Meet’ to discuss the recent announcements about the upcoming curriculum review. Amongst the honourable mentions were the standard passing implication of poor practice amongst primary schools. It continues to be a huge source of exasperation that those who set the agenda in a manner almost designedContinue reading “Music Education – In Defence of the ‘Generalist’ Primary School Teacher”

Music Education – The Ofsted Parable of the Sower

In light of the recent announcements about the upcoming curriculum review, I would like to share this story… One day, a Sower went out to sow some seeds. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the birds came and ate them up. Some fell on stony ground, where they hadContinue reading “Music Education – The Ofsted Parable of the Sower”

Pied Piper update!

Three months and 175 pages after I began, the first draft of my setting of the Robert Browning poem ‘The Pied Piper Of Hamelin’ for adult and children’s choirs is finally complete! It’s been a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun converting pages of notes and sketches into a (hopefully) satisfyingContinue reading “Pied Piper update!”