This is a qualitative research study which investigates the curriculum decision-making of four primary school history subject-leaders in the North-West of England. A grounded theory approach was utilised. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the subject-leaders and an audit of their schools' history curriculum completed. The curriculum…

This paper considers the implications for teachers and teaching of the Ofsted Curriculum Research Review for Languages [Ofsted. 2021. OCRR Series: Languages. Published 7 June 2021. Available online OCRR series: languages -- GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Accessed 8 June 2021.] (OCRR) and the content of 24 Languages Subject Inspections (LSI) in primary…

Learning History in upper primary requires the development of at least two key skills: historical perspective and historical empathy. Picture books might offer one approach to supporting the development of these skills with these children. Informational Picture Books (IPB) indicate positive results linking the use of the IPB with improved critical…

Questions of children's agency have experienced a resurgence in education theory over the past years. Yet, there have been few attempts to examine children's agency in the context of a primary classroom from the viewpoint of the curriculum. This gap is being addressed by a longitudinal project exploring the impact of the National Curriculum for…

This paper aims to raise awareness of the relevance of the philosophy of Charlotte Mason to primary school education today. First a biography of Mason, tracing her development from an orphaned pupil apprentice to an internationally influential figure, puts her philosophy in context. This is followed by an overview of her philosophy, with a focus…

This article covers the contribution reading and stories (children's literature) have made to reading, its study, its material world, and the implications for teaching and learning to read -particularly with picturebooks -- at the heart of that practice. It first explores the category of children's literature as a possible 'lie', but also its…

Children, and the adults who are responsible for their education, demonstrate an increasing lack of environmental understanding and knowledge. This is important because the development of societal environmental literacy will be key to the responses that we make to the current climate crisis. Many teachers perceive themselves to lack the skills,…

The modern primary school is a complex institution containing a growing community of individuals and organisations with potentially competing agendas. Within this environment, subject leaders are typically looked upon for advice and guidance within a given subject area such as Physical Education. Yet for those endeavouring to provide Physical…

This paper invites the reader to consider the notion of the 'local in primary history' and the impact of placing the child at the heart of all primary history, thus considering 'the child as the local'. It argues for children to be engaged, inspired and empowered in their learning, a move is needed from the traditional approach of 'local history'…

The Cognitive Acceleration (or Let's Think) approach to mathematics teaching is a Piagetian programme drawing on Vygotsky's research, developed at King's College London over 30 years ago, along with its associated professional development (PD) programme. This project sought to replicate the original studies conducted 10-15 years earlier and before…

This paper invites the reader to investigate the importance of developing an understanding of the 'Big Picture' that puts specific events or periods within an historical context. It argues for the importance of developing wider historical perspectives for children to begin to make relevant connections, locally nationally and globally. It is only…

Coming some four years after the introduction of the new National Curriculum, this article considers the media storm and debate around the concept of chronology and how it should be taught in schools. Drawing on empirical evidence, the article strongly suggests that young children are capable of grasping complex temporal concepts, specifically…

The National Curriculum for History in England (DfE (Department for Education). [2013]. 'The National Curriculum for England, History Programmes of Study: Key Stages 1 and 2'. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_-_History.pdf, 1) states that the purpose of studying history is to inspire pupils' curiosity, to 'ask…

Recently, creativity has begun to be talked about as a twenty-first-century competency [UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). 2006. "The World Conference on Arts Education: Building Creative Capacities for the 21st Century: Working Document", Lisbon, Portugal, 6-9 March 2006". Lisbon: UNESCO].…

The aim of this article is to highlight some conceptions of ethical competence identified in interviews with teachers in religious education in Sweden, and within analyses of policy documents in a Swedish and an Icelandic educational context. As a starting point we take seven interviewed teachers' comments about what they view as important ethical…