Teach Secondary - Issue 13.2

Publishers: Joe Carter, Sam Reubin, Richard Stebbing Editor: Callum Fauser, callum.fauser@artichokehq.com , 01206 505115 Group Advertising Manager: Samantha Law, samantha.law@artichokehq.com , 01206 505499 Advertising Manager: Ria Bentham, ria.bentham@artichokehq.com , 01206 505928 Deputy Advertising Manager: Hannah Jones, hannah.jones@artichokehq.com , 01206 505924 Senior Account Manager: Alfie Bennett, alfie.bennett@artichokehq.com , 01206 505996 Art editors: Richard Allen, Sarah Barajas Subscriptions: subscriptions@artichokeHQ.com Accounts: artichokemedialtd@integral2.com Published by: Artichoke Media, Suites 2 & 4, Global House, Global Park, Eastgates, CO1 2TJ CONTENTS School of thought 19 MELISSA BENN The government might consider its work on education to have been a success, but a demotivated profession and spiralling pupil absence rates tell a very different story... 25 NATASHA DEVON Ofsted’s new HMCI has indicated that in the wake of Ruth Perry’s death, it’s listening and looking to change – but are the lessons being learnt by the regulator the right ones? Regulars 17 DICTIONARY DEEP DIVE David Voisin examines the hidden origins and surprising behaviours concealed within our everyday vocabulary 12 THINK PIECE We know there’ll be a UK general election this year, but what will that mean for the teaching profession? Toby Marshall runs through the possible outcomes... 15 TRUST THE EVIDENCE…? Harry Madgwick and Kirstin Mulholland look at the risks teachers should watch out for when navigating the education research landscape 21 MAKING SENSE OF … TRIGONOMETRY Colin Foster shows us how to stop students getting stuck when performing trigonometric calculations with right- angled triangles 39 WHAT WE’VE LEARNT ABOUT. . . TEACHERS’ POLICY PRIORITIES What would teachers look to do first if they were made Education Secretary? The answer probably won’t surprise you... 44 OFF THE SHELVES Brilliant titles for you and your students to explore 82 “SIT DOWN AND BE AMAZED” John Lawson considers how the best teachers are those who combine authority and passion for their subject, without letting one overshadow the other Features 37 HEALING THE DIVISIONS Steve Chalke reflects on what schools can do to reassure diverse and mixed cohorts in the face of horrifying news from conflicts around the world 47 OBSTACLES TO READING We want students to read for pleasure, says Luke Palmer – but if we’re not careful, that eagerness can become counterproductive… 49 MARKING BY TALKING We can continue to write feedback on students’ work at length, only for it to fall on deaf ears – or we could embrace a different, more verbal way of doing things, suggests Gordon Cairns 52 FRAMES OF MIND Just as one man’s meat is another man’s poison, so it is that one student’s fun classroom diversion is another student’s menial task, notes Colin Foster... 66 MEANWHILE, BACK IN CLASS. . . Arguments over whether or not comics deserve a place in schools have raged for years – but as Lucy Starbuck Braidley points out, modern comics have a great deal of latent educational potential to offer... 68 DIVINE INTERVENTION With RE teachers reeling from a withering Ofsted verdict on how their subject is currently being taught, Andy Lewis asks what went wrong and what it will take to get things back on track 72 PORTS IN STORMS Stress may be common in schools, but we rarely seem to discuss the kind that affects students, and particularly those with autism, writes Pete Wharmby TS Special – Careers 28 ‘WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?’ It’s one thing to support students with clear career goals, but what about those whose plans are still hazy? Here are some classroom activities to get them thinking big 31 NEVER TOO EARLY Nikki Cunningham-Smith outlines why encouraging KS3 students to start thinking about their futures in career terms can pay dividends later on 32 THE WAY FORWARD Debby Elley presents eight points of advice to help ensure neurodivergent students receive careers advice that’s robust, practical and suited to their needs 34 APPRENTICESHIPS OVER ACADEMIA University isn’t necessarily for everyone, writes Hannah Day – but are your students fully aware of that, and the alternative options available to them? TS Focus – STEM 58 NETWORK EFFECTS Skills, knowledge and aptitudes picked up from studying other subjects can be applied to the process of coding in unexpected and compelling ways, observes RobWraith 61 SCIENTIFIC MATHEMATICS If you want to see your science students realise their full potential, start organising regular meetings with your maths department, advises Daniel Harvey 62 COLLECTIVE ENDEAVOUR We find out how St Leonard’s Catholic School enlisted some outside help and training to make its already robust science offer even better Learning Lab 75 BE INSPIRED The stress-busting breath exercise that can help you prepare for that next difficult class; what every educator needs to know about the process of teaching EAL learners; and the teacher’s guide to harnessing, developing and maintaining students’ working memory MAR/APR ‘24 The views in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. We try to ensure the veracity and integrity of the companies, persons, products and services mentioned in this publication, and the details given are believed to be accurate at the time of going to press. However, no responsibility or liability whatsoever can be accepted for any consequence or repercussion of responding to information or advice given or inferred. ©Artichoke Media Ltd 04 teachwire.net/secondary