196. Q&A: Unannounced Learning Stalks, Parent Emails & Are SATs Pointless?

A teacher is getting emails from a parent at 10pm most nights with an expectation of a reply before school the next morning. Their SLT's advice? Just manage the relationship. Dylan and Hayden have slightly stronger thoughts on that.

Then unannounced learning walks, two-line feedback emails with no right of reply, and the working wall that was too busy one week and lacking evidence of learning the next. How is anyone supposed to win? Dylan and Hayden get into why this kind of observation culture does more damage to staff than it does good for children.

A listener writes in to defend SATs, and wants to know if they are in the minority. Every other year group does end of year tests. It narrows focus. It prepares children for formal assessment later in life. It can be done badly but that does not mean scrapping it entirely is the answer. Dylan and Hayden take this one seriously rather than just nodding along.

And following on from a recent video arguing that memorising specific facts is pointless, a listener pushes back properly. Is there still a case for children holding knowledge in their heads? Where is the line between rote learning that builds genuine understanding and rote learning that is just performance? Dylan and Hayden try to draw it.

Four great questions, four proper answers.

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