…the man bends over in order to see through the gate into the inside. When the gatekeeper notices that, he laughs and says: “If it tempts you so much, try it in spite of my prohibition. But take note: I am powerful. And I am only the most lowly gatekeeper. But from room to room … More The Gatekeepers

“…It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” Dickens: Tale of two Cities We live in an age in which those who have knowledge, the thinking goes, have power. Nations compete with nations to climb up the greasy PISA tables in the yah boo sucks gameplay of our kids are better … More The Death of Classroom Conversation

If you want to look for advice as to what some of the best practices in teaching and learning are you needn’t look far beyond the 16 Century. In fact much of what passes today as ‘cutting edge’ theory and practice was already old hat by the renaissance. In ‘The Didascalicon’ Hugh of St Victor wrote much that echoes down … More Keep it Simple

I think it is vital to discuss the purpose and quality of education, so you might think that I welcome the Commons Education Select Committee’s Inquiry as to what it might be… but I don’t. The worry is that they might reach a conclusion and it is here that the danger lies, for a committee deciding … More The Great Leap Forward