Key Stage 3

Creating enthusiasm for reading: mini book clubs

4th Mar 2015

How do you solve the problem of reading for pleasure? Drop everything and read? Books in bags? Form-time reading?  Reading lesson? Reading ambassadors? Get caught reading?  There is, of course, no one magic answer and it will be the combined impact of a number of these strategies (and many more)… Read More

Ed Walsh on Secondary Science Education: Predictions for 2015

22nd Jan 2015

Now that the dust has settled after the New Year break, Ed Walsh offers up his predictions for secondary science education in 2015. What do you think? Let us know in the comment box below or on Twitter @freedomtoteach! Read More

Working with Bali Rai

23rd Dec 2014

Working with Bali Rai is like being around a fizzing ball of energy with a completely infectious enthusiasm for books, reading and writing. Spend 10 minutes with him – it is impossible not to get drawn into his world. In 2013/2014, Bali and I ran a book club for year… Read More

Hear from a Librarian about Bali Rai

23rd Dec 2014

Last academic year, our school took part in an after school book club at the British Library.  Its purpose was to kindle a love of reading for a selection of year 7 and 8 students who were struggling due to either lack of ability or interest. The author working with… Read More

What is the point of GCSE Mathematics?

15th Dec 2014

Here are some mathematics learning objectives. The question is this. Are they taken from the programme of study for key stage 3 or the GCSE subject content and assessment objectives? Define percentage as “number of parts per hundred”; interpret percentages and percentage changes as a fraction or a decimal, interpret… Read More

Giving the answers: a way to teach different interpretations in poetry.

11th Dec 2014

When teaching poetry, I often come up against a multitude of defensive barriers that teenagers have erected to prevent them from having to engage with the poems in front of them. And the reason for these fortresses of resistance? They are scared of getting it wrong. This is the challenge… Read More

Multiplier effect – using word limits to improve students’ writing.

8th Dec 2014

In my new school, I have found three things are hindering my students ability to write. The first is that a lot of them have quite a limited vocabulary. The second is that they never know how to get started. The third is that they are terrified by the… Read More

Teaching Ebola – pt 1. Pandemics throughout history

10th Nov 2014

The Ebola outbreak in western Africa has been making headlines for the last few months. Help your secondary science students understand the science and history behind the spread of disease with this great article on pandemic diseases throughout history. Plus there are ideas for classwork, links for reading around the subject and examples of relevant syllabus content. Read More

Ed Walsh: Form and function of testing at KS3

15th Oct 2014

In his October blog, Ed Walsh looks at the different approaches to testing for measuring progress at Key Stage 3. Read More

2014 Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry

13th Oct 2014

Article and activities on the research developments behind this year's winners of the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry. Read More