Delivering subject content through nine life themes
Dynamic, thriving communities are the bedrock of society. We urgently need to address the issue of community fragmentation and to strengthen social cohesion. One way to do this is by promoting community mindedness — and schools have a key part to play. Schools are… Continue Reading “An idea for post-Covid education catch-up points the way forward”
A new report suggests that a strong community spirit has been forged during the Covid pandemic and that nearly three-quarters of people would like society to be closer and more connected in the future. The report, called Our Chance to Reconnect, was published by… Continue Reading “People want to see a closer, more connected society, says report”
Our Streets Now is a grassroots campaign set up by two young women “demanding the right of women and girls to feel and be safe in public space”. Its aim is to end public sexual harassment in the UK by making it a criminal… Continue Reading “Two young women taking a stand against public sexual harassment”
Schools are the beating hearts of our communities. They play a crucial role in repairing the damage caused by community fragmentation. They bring people together, often acting as a vital support for people in need, as shown not least during the Covid pandemic when… Continue Reading “Involving the community can enhance and enrich children’s learning”
Schools across England are involved in initiatives to improve levels of pupil interest and engagement by modifying what they teach to better reflect the demographic makeup, background and concerns of the local communities they serve. For example, according to an article in The Guardian… Continue Reading “School-led reforms to improve levels of engagement and interest”
The England men’s football team booed by their own fans ahead of a major international tournament for ‘taking the knee’. A cricketer’s exceptional Test debut performance completely overshadowed by news of offensive tweets sent years ago. Two sports stories from this week. Both attracted… Continue Reading “Children are never too young to learn about respect, tolerance and diversity”
Thanks to a Waterstones email, I learned today that we are currently in the middle of Refugee Week — “a nationwide programme of events and activities that recognise the contribution of refugees to British society and the continuing importance of offering sanctuary to those… Continue Reading “Refugee Week is a chance to reinforce values of kindness and respect”
The dreadful scenes unfolding in Kabul and the terrible future that lies ahead for many Afghans — not least girls and women, and especially educated women — are a salutary reminder that ‘human rights’, ‘freedom’ and ‘democracy’ are not just abstract concepts and that… Continue Reading “Political literacy needs to be more than just a curriculum add-on”
The American Federation of Teachers website includes a feature on civics education in the USA which opens with the eye-catching statistic that only one in four Americans can name the three branches of government. If knowledge is an indicator of engagement, as surely it… Continue Reading “Helping children to learn about active citizenship”
The contrast could not be more jarring: just weeks after Team GB won a total of 25 swimming medals at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics (nine of which were gold), a report from Swim England is warning that 2,000 swimming pools in England could… Continue Reading “Why we need to invest in our local swimming pools”