Alex Pethick

Exciting news coming out of ELP headquarters ... we are getting ready to launch the Exemplary Leadership Programme, now in it's 7th year. Be the first to receive an enrolment pack and be part of 2026-2027 cohort. You won't regret it! knowledgehub.org.uk/elp

This is excellent news! A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this happen

24 hours to go. Dooooooo it.

@MrWiseCHS @WG_Education This looks great! We have seen some excellent Design and Technology in schools in Pembrokeshire too. At one primary, they had children who were gutted when it was a snow day because they wanted to go in and finish their DT projects!

Great to see Design and Technology flourishing at Cardiff High. A coherent and progressive curriculum that really helps pupils see the world in new and interesting ways. @WG_Education

FREE SESSION TODAY! Exploring PKC and the new Ofsted Framework With insights from leaders who have gone through inspections under the new framework. primaryknowledgecurriculum.org/event/explorin…

Simply wonderful!

Leading in the EYFS CPD - 21st Jan This online programme will delve into how a knowledge-rich early years curriculum can build firm foundations for future education. Sign up: primaryknowledgecurriculum.org/event/leading-…

From our Y1 Animals in Music unit:

I'll be sharing my experience of an inspection under the new framework from December:

Would you like to see the Primary Knowledge Curriculum in action...for FREE? We have an open day at a school in Peterborough in February. Sign up here: primaryknowledgecurriculum.org/event/pkc-open…

Read all about the latest developments and the great work being done by our community!  Last term's Trust newsletter can be found via the link on our profile.

My @Strickomaster account has been hacked & cannot be salvaged. I’m having to essentially start again. Retweets appreciated @teacherhead @RogersHistory @tombennett71 @BarryNSmith79 @m_chiles @MrChrisPassey @Counsell_C @MaryMyatt @DrSarahMullin

Would you like to see the Primary Knowledge Curriculum in action...for FREE? We have an open day at a school in Peterborough in February. Sign up here: primaryknowledgecurriculum.org/event/pkc-open…

As the term comes to a close, it feels worth returning to this quote by Professor @ProfCoe “Teaching is far and away the most important of all professions.” The difference teachers make is deeply felt, long after the lesson ends. As schools head into the break, this is a moment to recognise the importance of the work already done. What’s one thing from this term that reminded you why teaching really matters?

This confuses what reading is with how reading is taught. A recurring rhetorical move in the piece is to say, implicitly: “Reading is complex, rich, social, and meaningful — therefore instruction should look like that.” That’s a category error. Yes, skilled reading is complex and meaning-driven. No, novices do not learn complex skills by being immersed in their endpoint form. You don’t teach chemistry by asking pupils to “think like scientists” before they understand atoms. Reading is no different. The science of reading is very clear here: learning to read is not naturally learned. Children do not infer the alphabetic principle reliably through exposure to texts, however "engaging" those texts may be. Explicit, systematic instruction is not a “narrow approach”; it’s the instructional bridge that gets children to the rich reading the article claims to value.

Not sure if this counts as 'different' but... If a pupil can't decode after plenty of high-quality instruction, the appropriate response should be to assess what aspect(s) of decoding they are struggling with and target this with explicit teaching and plenty of practice. >>

There is no real inclusion without a strong curriculum.

@DrWHKitchen @Doug_Lemov @C_Hendrick @P_A_Kirschner @greg_ashman @dylanwiliam @daisychristo @tgeducation Our results at the Knowledge Schools Trust show how disadvantaged pupils following our knowledge-rich curriculum outperform non-disadvantaged pupils nationally. …are-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/139546/…

@Doug_Lemov @C_Hendrick @P_A_Kirschner @greg_ashman @dylanwiliam @daisychristo A penny for your expert thoughts. @tgeducation suggests knowledge-rich curriculum leaves the socially disadvantaged behind. His commentary matters here in NI. Would you care to comment?

An intriguing collection of essays on the idea of ‘knowledge rich’ curricula, teaching & learning. Essays include Naomi Pilling’s brilliant argument for ‘knowledge rich’ art curricula & @bennewmark on ‘knowledge rich’ for children who can struggle most. civitas.org.uk/content/files/…

As part of their learning on Islamic Art and Architecture, Dragonfly Class created beautiful tiles @PKCKST