Consulting Services
Richard Peppin provides primary education consulting services in South East England. He offers many services, so click to learn more.
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Richard also writes a regular education blog. Click to catch-up on the latest and past articles. Featured news is also available on here.
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The Academies agenda- A force for good, or exclusive, elitist and divisive?
Revisiting Michael Gove’s speech to the Schools Network on December 1st we come across some insights into his thinking and a remarkable adage. If you want to improve things just cut the guidance. Joubert says “never cut what you can unravel.” It does not matter whether the bits that are cut are useful or not. We will never know, because …more
Moving English Forward
The recent Ofsted publication “Moving English Forward” gives a very clear picture of what is going well in the teaching of English and what the steps for improvement should be. It begins “there can be no more important subject than English in the school curriculum.” Agreed! What a shame then that government ideology destroyed the National Strategy for English, which …more
Removing the Satisfactory Judgement is a Mistake
The latest government proposal to scrap the word "satisfactory" in Ofsted reports and change the judgement to “requires improvement” is a big mistake. It is, however, fully in keeping with the recurrent theme of good analysis, but poor solutions. Sir Michael Wilshaw, the new chief inspector, says that the move is designed to tackle the number of coasting schools that …more
Nick Gibb’s Speech on School Improvement-or-Not
What depressing reading this speech, supposedly about school improvement, makes. The coalition theme of good analysis, but poor solutions could not be more clearly demonstrated. Ask almost anyone what the major elements of school improvement and raising attainment are and they are likely to say leadership and management and teaching and learning. There is very little about either of those …more
Teachers’ Standards for 2012 or No Independence Please, We’re British!
The government has introduced 8 new standards in the National Standards for Teachers to be introduced in September 2012. In addition 4 standards linked to Personal and Professional conduct have been added to the 8 teaching standards. These will, together, form the backdrop for the proposed new arrangements for teacher appraisal announced on Friday.more
Primary Education Courses
I am proud to announce that I will now be offering a series of primary education sessions at Guildford Children's Centre and The Wheatsheaf in Virginia Water starting in February.more
Thoughts on Michael Gove's Cambridge University Speech
A primary school teacher or head teacher reading the transcript of Michael Gove’s speech to Cambridge University this November could be forgiven for asking what on earth any of this has got to do with them. It’s not just the abject pomposity of the pronouncements: “I look back with admiration at the great Victorian statesman (sic), their intellect and cultural …more