This paper examines the implementation of unplugged tasks across different school settings developing computational thinking skills and concepts at upper primary school children in Spain without programming and without using electronic devices. The study is based on qualitative case study design. Across the three case studies/schools --…

The primary aim of this study was to identify levels of fundamental movement skills (FMS) proficiency in primary school children. A secondary aim was to establish if these FMS proficiency levels differentiated between children born in different quartiles of the school year. The results demonstrated overall levels of FMS proficiency were low in…

The word "humanities" does not appear in the current Northern Ireland Curriculum (NIC). Geography and history are taught within an Area of Learning called "The World Around Us" which also contains science and technology. The curriculum has a strong emphasis on an integrated, "connected learning" way of teaching and…

In the context of an on-going project emphasising the centrality of speaking and listening in the primary curriculum, the present article turns to vocabulary development: to the wide differences characterising primary age children in this regard, to their consequent unequal access to the wider curriculum, and to means by which such deficiencies…

This paper presents reflections from recent research on the opportunities and barriers for education in Nepal in the context of federalisation. Public administration of services including education is subject to major reorganisation as a national priority. By 2019, new structures of local governance will be established, presenting an opportunity…

To the outside observer, physical education in many primary schools, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally, continues be practised in ways that students of the 1970s would recognise. The only significant change would arguably be the introduction of an increased regime of testing, and a narrower focus on physical health agendas. This is…

With career-long professional learning increasingly seen as a significant element of teacher education, this paper proposes that there is a need to acknowledge the complex nature of the professional learning process. The paper explores lessons learnt from over a decade of professional learning efforts by the Developmental Physical Education Group…

The Forest School approach to Early Years education, originally developed in Scandinavia, is influencing learning outside the classroom in England. An inner city primary school in Yorkshire investigated the nature and purpose of Forest Schools in Denmark, through a study visit, prior to developing their own Forest School in the midst of an urban…

This paper reports on the initial stage of an exploratory project based in six primary schools in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK)--and on plans for its extension. The potential value of the project as a curricular initiative is set out, from both practical and research perspectives. Its framing as a vehicle for the continuous professional development…

This article reports on the findings from a study into high-performing leadership teams in English primary schools. The schools, in the sample, received "outstanding" Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) grades overall, and for leadership and management, in their most recent school inspection. The evidence suggests that developing…

The focus of this article is on children who are "looked after" or adopted. Specifically it explores some of the possible effects of early life traumas and insecure attachments on brain development and subsequent learning in primary school. The article draws on a range of research which helps to outline possible difficulties which these…

Remodelling the roles, responsibilities and working practices of all school staff has been central to the government's modernisation agenda for English state schools. This is typified by a determination to review and change the distribution of tasks undertaken by teachers and teaching assistants (TAs). Whilst there has been a substantial increase…

At the moment primary history education in the Greek Cypriot educational system is mainly about providing substantive knowledge and promoting Greek national identity and other social goals. Debates about history education are mostly about the kind of the past that should conveyed to the students and the social aims which should be promoted through…

Primary-secondary transition can be a period of extreme anxiety for some children, with lowering of self-esteem and confidence. Creative drama has been reported to enhance self-esteem and confidence. This paper explores the possibility of using drama to facilitate successful transition. It focuses on secondary datasets from six primary schools in…

Study skills are a complex of skills and unlikely to be learned informally. They need to be taught skillfully and purposefully. Provides an overview of such skills and outlines the challenges their teaching presents to children and teacher alike. (Editor/RK)