Ep 54: Mixed Ability or Sets: Should We Group Classes Based On Ability?

Over the years, the narrative has changed as more and more research became available.
The overarching thought now is that setting in primary schools is not the way forward and that instead we should teach mixed-ability classes across the board.
But does this work in reality?
What are the drawbacks?
What is the ultimate best way to teach children?
We talk about the evidence, the lived experience, and all the possible options in detail during this episode.
Let us know what you think.
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachsleeprepeatpodcast
Key Ideas
Taking care of one's health is crucial for teachers to perform their best.
Handwriting is an important skill that should be given dedicated time and attention in the curriculum.
Teaching foundational skills in math, such as time-telling and mental arithmetic, is essential for students' overall mathematical understanding.
Certain areas of the curriculum, such as time-telling skills and reading time, are often disregarded but are important life skills.
The priorities in the curriculum should be re-evaluated to focus on skills that are relevant and beneficial for students' future.
Research suggests that setting in maths can have a marginal impact on attainment, with higher ability students benefiting more.
Teacher opinion is valuable in the decision-making process for setting, and tests can be used to support or inform decisions.
An ideal school system for setting involves considering the needs of individual students and using a combination of teacher opinion and empirical data.
An individualized approach to education is crucial, taking into account each student's needs and abilities.
School culture plays a significant role in creating a positive learning environment.
Sets should be fluid and based on ongoing assessment rather than predetermined.
Differentiation by outcome and support are important strategies for meeting students' needs.
Both mixed ability and setting have benefits and challenges, and a hybrid approach may be most effective.
Real-world skills and experiences should be incorporated into education.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Hayden's Illness
00:39 The Importance of Handwriting
03:23 Teaching Foundational Skills
05:19 Disregarded Areas of the Curriculum
06:36 Differences in Pronunciation
08:49 Teaching Small Goals and Celebrating Progress
09:31 Finding Time for Handwriting
10:00 Explaining the Purpose of Handwriting
11:26 The Impact of Laser-Focused Teaching
13:37 Disregarded Foundational Math Skills
16:09 The Importance of Time-Telling Skills
19:09 Re-evaluating the Curriculum Priorities
21:28 Future Episode on SATs and School Struggles
22:28 Instagram poll
24:04 Setting in primary schools
27:01 Takeaways from the Instagram poll
28:29 The debate on setting in maths and English
30:01 The impact of setting on attainment
32:25 The benefits of setting in maths
34:36 The challenges of mixed ability in maths
38:16 The benefits of mixed ability in English
41:23 The challenges of mixed ability in English
43:10 The dilemma of setting and the role of teacher opinion
45:05 The decision-making process for setting
47:07 Setting in an ideal school system
47:55 Mixed Ability vs. Setting
48:29 Individualized Approach
48:56 Importance of School Culture
49:24 Fluidity of Sets
50:20 Realistic Approach
51:15 Negative Effects of Mixed Ability
52:07 Differentiation
53:25 Differentiation by Outcome
54:10 Differentiation by Support
55:08 Limitations of Differentiation
56:07 Benefits and Challenges of Setting
59:19 Differentiation in the Past
01:00:17 Differentiation by Size
01:00:38 Differentiation by Support
01:01:50 Limitations of Differentiation by Support
01:06:01 Realism vs. Idealism
01:10:38 Example of Effective Streaming
01:11:46 Reacting to Children's Needs
01:12:36 Importance of Support in Education
01:13:06 Broadening Horizons
01:14:22 Importance of Real-World Skills
01:15:20 Summary and Call for Stories
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Hola, I thought.
So do they teach, sleep, repeat
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or me nombre.
Dillon.
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00:00:07,990 --> 00:00:10,790
Mean hombre, a Hayden.
And welcome back to that
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00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:11,760
episode.
Hey, how you doing?
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00:00:12,580 --> 00:00:14,370
I'm alright mate.
That was that was a bit random.
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00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:16,230
Where did that come from?
What do you mean?
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You started in.
I think it was that Spanish.
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Hey, was that you started back?
Do you not realise?
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00:00:23,020 --> 00:00:25,210
Mate, are you hallucinating
because you're selling?
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00:00:25,220 --> 00:00:27,450
Is that what's going on?
Are you are you feeling OK?
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00:00:27,500 --> 00:00:29,470
Ohh, anyone doesn't know?
Hey, this feeling a bit poorly
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00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:31,270
this week.
I'm not feeling, so I'm not
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00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:33,410
feeling so good, alright.
Anyone who watched the podcast
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00:00:33,420 --> 00:00:35,690
is in for an absolute treat
looking at.
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That.
Hiya.
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Hi.
I'm in an Addy.
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I'm comfy.
I'm cosy.
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I'm here recording the podcast.
Alright, leave me alone.
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Well, you might be wondering why
we're not in the same place.
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That's why I don't fancy his
lurgy.
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Hey, did you not already help
you feel better?
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You do fancy me, though.
Ohh Joe help you?
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Cool.
You need to drink cafe every
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morning that gut microbes again.
Get it going my friend.
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I don't know if you've seen, but
if you don't start the day off
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with an ice bath and a bit of
cafe, then you are simply not
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looking after your.
Body is that after going to the
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gym at 5:00 AM?
Yeah, exactly that.
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And do you know what?
I wake up early every morning.
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I wake up at 4:00 AM.
That gives ME3 extra hours.
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If you extrapolate that over a
week, that's 7 * 3.
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That's an extra day.
We get an extra day compared to
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you every single week.
That's just for a second.
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Let's just speak about that.
Don't you just hate those
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videos?
The honest to God they are so
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popular.
Every single person ever on
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Instagram is making videos.
Like I get up, I'm in the 2:00
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AM club.
It's getting earlier and
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earlier.
It's like you.
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Don't sleep anymore.
Sleep.
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Yeah, can't sleep.
Honest to God it did.
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You know, Hate him.
If you save 1 LB Every single
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day for a year, how much money
you have at the end?
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30,000 lbs?
Some believable.
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Just one pound every.
Day.
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What?
What?
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What?
Why are you saying that?
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That's.
Wrong.
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I'm a financial guru.
Just save 1 LB out.
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It's easy.
Anyone who's complaining about
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not being able to make it
anywhere, 1 LB a day, get up,
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have an extra day.
I've got an extra day every
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morning that everyone else gets.
I get that.
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And that's how you make gains.
Hayden, how you doing?
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How's your week?
Yeah, yeah, really good.
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Thanks for the advice that I
get.
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The analogy now on how good, how
good that advice is might be
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good other than the fact I've
got this.
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So if you know, got a cold
again, I'm feeling so great.
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Yeah, wearing a nerdy, not
feeling good.
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Didn't sleep you.
Do you?
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Honest, I'm just like, jokes
aside for a second, you do have
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the worst immune system of
anyone I've ever met, annoying
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or.
I don't know.
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It's not been, it's just been a
bit rubbish recently.
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Isn't it time?
Yeah, recently.
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I don't recently for you.
I didn't get COVID.
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That's right.
You you didn't do a test that
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told you you had COVID.
That's what you're.
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Saying I I did tests, they just
they came back negative.
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Ohh OK yeah.
Why everyone?
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Do you know why?
Because Hayden can't put a stick
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on his tonsils.
He physically can't do it.
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So he did.
Yeah.
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You could test.
I used.
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You would not put on your
tonsils yet.
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Ohh, I've not got it.
Did you did you do the part of
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the test where it would get the?
No, I didn't do that bit.
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Right.
Yeah, because they went to nose
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only.
They did go to nose only those
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sticks.
They were not for your tonsils
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anymore after like months.
So none of that.
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None other than you.
Little cold, cold, cold.
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How's your?
How's your week been?
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It's been alright.
We had we had our 500 mock Sats
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this week.
That's right.
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Yeah, yeah, Classic six.
We just ram them into a smaller
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time period because they do the
Sats before the end of the year
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for some reason.
That was all right, but it's
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just stressful, isn't it?
Marking papers.
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I always think, yeah, no
marking, I don't know what is
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wrong with me every time we do a
mock test week, right?
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I always think, oh, that's good
because we got no, like, actual
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lessons.
I'm like, yeah, easy week, no
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marking.
I always seem to forget that
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marking tests takes three times
as long as your actual marketing
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does.
But got it done.
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All good.
Bit of progress.
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Everyone's feeling good.
Kids are ready.
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It's you know which one weeks.
Do you do what?
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What papers didn't you do?
The 2023 papers, which were
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renowned for being really,
really, really hard.
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I don't know.
Yeah, I'm pretending we're not.
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No.
But yeah, the 2023 papers, I
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really hate them.
Like, I I do think I'm a classic
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person who like loads of
teachers do this every year.
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It's the worst year ever, right?
Every.
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Every year.
Ohh, so much harder than
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previous years.
We all do it.
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And I do think I'm one of those
people.
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But then I try and reflect after
and be like, OK, calm down, It's
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done Now.
Is it actually or is it just
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exactly the same as it is every
other year and having?
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Done that?
No, I was.
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Right.
Yeah.
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Well, not not completely, but
like there was just a few bits
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about it.
I just thought.
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I just thought the questions
weren't particularly well
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written, particularly in the
reading, like there was way too
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many questions to do in the
reading.
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I know you made a video on
YouTube last year, didn't you,
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about all the controversy around
all the English.
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And it's definitely true.
It was just poorly written.
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The the paper, some of the
reasoning of the mass was just a
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just a bit harsh, just a bit
unnecessarily mean.
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There'll be like A1 mark
question with three steps and
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you're like, oh, that's not
really happened before, but you
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know, it's it's not that bad.
The mark, the Passmark was
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lower, which I never actually
knew until we did it again this
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year.
I never actually found out what
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it was, but it was lower than
previous years.
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So it's fine.
It was adjusted to to make up
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for the fact that it was more
difficult.
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Yeah, yeah, I reckon if you look
back at the papers, isn't there,
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isn't it something like 2023?
I think everyone agrees is is
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tricky.
There was a big fire at the
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time.
I think everyone is a bit like
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maybe we overreacted slightly
when you look at it because some
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of them are like, OK, yeah, OK,
they're just, they're a bit
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tricky, whatever.
But isn't it 2023?
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And is it 2016 that's like
renowned for being ridiculously
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hard.
I don't if it's 2016, we never
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go back that far anymore.
But 2018 certainly?
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Is the 2018 tests are just
savage?
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We did them with this, with
this.
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It was like the second one we
did in the year and then someone
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else went down.
It was like, yeah, that test is
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absolutely savage.
I still think that's the hardest
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one, but I was comparing them
because we did that not too long
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ago and I was like, Nah, 2018 is
still nastier than 2023 in my
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opinion.
Fair enough.
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Well, we can, we can have four.
We don't have that what you say.
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I say we can talk sats bit more
later because we've got some,
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we've got some episodes planned
In the future we might be
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talking about some guests.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
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You're gonna returning guests.
Yeah, we're gonna try and get
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get people back on the podcast.
I've had people message me so
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often over the last like, honest
about four months saying like,
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oh, I'd love to come on at some
point.
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And I'm like genuinely like,
yeah, that would be great, that
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would be fantastic.
But you know what's easier for
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me if I roll out of bed?
Just drive to Hayden and then
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record.
After you out of bed.
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Sorry sorry sorry what what do
you do out of bed because I I
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heard role I heard roll out of
if you if I roll out of it I
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just have context everyone Dylan
simply a voice note to the group
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chat and say me him and our
girlfriends trying to get us to
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back him up because his his
Lauren his girlfriend who's
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called Lauren both called Lauren
was taking the Mick out of him
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for for not pronouncing rolling.
No, correctly.
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I'm having it right.
I'm gonna say it.
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I'm gonna say the word, and then
you're gonna say the word, and
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the listeners will tell us if
there's any difference
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whatsoever.
You go first.
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Actually gone.
OK, rolling.
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Rolling so different, there is
no difference whatsoever.
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Honest.
Honestly.
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Go.
On OK, when you speak, I think
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you're about to tell me about
you're in a boat rowing, right?
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Whereas when I'm speaking, I'm
thinking about like a sandwich
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A.
Roll.
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00:07:32,420 --> 00:07:36,050
I'm rolling here.
What What do you do with 10 pins
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00:07:36,060 --> 00:07:38,340
with a with a ball when you
Chuck it down the alley?
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00:07:38,350 --> 00:07:40,270
What are you doing?
Bowling.
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00:07:40,750 --> 00:07:43,040
Bowling.
No, not bowling.
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00:07:43,110 --> 00:07:44,820
It's not a it's not a bow and
arrow.
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00:07:44,870 --> 00:07:46,720
You're not firing the bowl like
this.
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00:07:47,250 --> 00:07:51,080
I'm going bowling.
No, it's bowling, Bowling.
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I don't even mind that you say
it different.
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00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:55,520
It's just the fact that you
think they're the same.
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00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:57,350
You think that there's no
difference in what we're.
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Saying no, no, I need to explain
this.
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00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,730
I need to explain this.
I'm I'm actually, I'm genuinely
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00:08:01,740 --> 00:08:03,400
more than willing to accept that
I say it wrong.
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00:08:03,410 --> 00:08:06,500
Because there's there's a lot of
things I say wrong whether it's
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00:08:06,510 --> 00:08:09,670
idioms or wrong way round or you
know I've got a bit of a
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00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,520
northern twang in like every
other word sometimes that I'm
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00:08:12,530 --> 00:08:14,070
saying I I'm willing to accept
that.
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00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:18,880
But I truly sit here and don't
understand at all the difference
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00:08:18,890 --> 00:08:20,530
between these two, these two
words that you're saying.
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Like when people tell me I'm
like I even I even would accept
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00:08:23,470 --> 00:08:25,420
that you're right.
I want you all to understand in
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00:08:25,430 --> 00:08:27,260
my brain.
I think I'm going crazy because
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00:08:27,270 --> 00:08:29,420
I don't know the difference
whatsoever between these.
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00:08:30,650 --> 00:08:33,950
Well, let's keep rolling with
the Let's keep rolling with the
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00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,380
podcast.
Yeah, you'd forget your You'd
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00:08:36,390 --> 00:08:38,380
forget your screw.
If your If your head wasn't,
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00:08:39,059 --> 00:08:43,799
your head wasn't on.
You can't even do it wrong, you
209
00:08:43,809 --> 00:08:46,260
guys can say last time.
You'd forget your head if it
210
00:08:46,270 --> 00:08:48,290
wasn't.
Attached or something like that,
211
00:08:49,030 --> 00:08:50,860
you didn't even finish.
Forget your head.
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00:08:50,910 --> 00:08:53,410
If you didn't have a vertebrae
attack, you go to your spine.
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00:08:55,560 --> 00:08:57,830
Ah, that's the one, Dylan.
Well done.
214
00:08:57,940 --> 00:08:59,770
Anyway, how's your how's your
week?
215
00:08:59,780 --> 00:09:00,750
How?
Have you been?
216
00:09:00,820 --> 00:09:03,480
Yeah, fine, fine.
We had our last week of swimming
217
00:09:03,490 --> 00:09:06,190
this week, and obviously
swimming is amazing, but it kind
218
00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:07,890
of messes up your afternoon
curriculum a bit.
219
00:09:07,940 --> 00:09:09,970
Like when it's so intricately
planned to cover everything and
220
00:09:09,980 --> 00:09:11,410
there's already not enough time
to do stuff.
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00:09:11,420 --> 00:09:13,390
And then suddenly it's like, by
the way, and after, you know, a
222
00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,060
week for four weeks, you're
going swimming and it's ohh, OK.
223
00:09:16,100 --> 00:09:18,850
So we kind of rejig stuff
around, but it just so happened
224
00:09:18,860 --> 00:09:20,650
in in the afternoon where they
go swimming.
225
00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,690
I constantly had like half an
hour spare with the kids after
226
00:09:23,700 --> 00:09:25,320
we got on the register, they got
their stuff.
227
00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:27,430
We we just had half an hour to
the coach got there.
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00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:29,530
So what can I do that's quite
useful.
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00:09:29,580 --> 00:09:32,230
And I was thinking, I don't get
time for handwriting, don't get
230
00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:33,940
much time at all in school for
handwriting.
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00:09:33,950 --> 00:09:37,870
So over the last couple of weeks
we've been printing out some
232
00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,930
prompts and stuff some help with
lines and we had a real focus in
233
00:09:41,940 --> 00:09:47,840
my class about it's as simple as
this the height of your letters
234
00:09:48,150 --> 00:09:50,260
and the fact that I need to be
able to read them and it's
235
00:09:50,270 --> 00:09:53,920
become a running joke and and it
is funny but it's also true and
236
00:09:53,930 --> 00:09:56,660
I explained to the kids and me
and you talked about this before
237
00:09:56,670 --> 00:09:59,050
I loved doing this.
When you actually just stop you
238
00:09:59,060 --> 00:10:01,580
and before you do something with
the children you simply just
239
00:10:01,590 --> 00:10:04,100
explain why you're doing this.
So instead of just being like
240
00:10:04,150 --> 00:10:06,060
right hand writing here's what
it actually looks like.
241
00:10:06,110 --> 00:10:09,370
Can you copy that 10 times then
we'll do an I actually saying to
242
00:10:09,380 --> 00:10:13,760
us like why do you think that we
practise handwriting in school?
243
00:10:13,830 --> 00:10:15,150
Like what?
What is the point?
244
00:10:15,220 --> 00:10:17,210
And it was amazing.
It was such a good thing to do
245
00:10:17,220 --> 00:10:20,070
such a simple process with the
kids because the 1st 6 answers
246
00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,370
were complete nonsense.
Genuinely it took a good 3
247
00:10:23,380 --> 00:10:25,880
minutes to get to the actual
reason and it made me think,
248
00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,850
God, they don't know.
Half the time they just they
249
00:10:27,860 --> 00:10:30,070
just think that you know their
teachers get them to write an
250
00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,950
age but that's cool and there's
no application then to their
251
00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:34,780
work.
So we had a chat and they were
252
00:10:34,790 --> 00:10:39,410
like because on the board it's
that tall And I was like ohh,
253
00:10:39,420 --> 00:10:41,070
true.
But that's not the reason why we
254
00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,550
practise handwriting is it?
And then the next person said,
255
00:10:43,620 --> 00:10:45,170
because we do writing in our
book.
256
00:10:45,260 --> 00:10:47,940
And I was like, I I can't what
you mean.
257
00:10:48,030 --> 00:10:50,680
But again, that's not why we're
doing it.
258
00:10:50,690 --> 00:10:52,500
You know, it's not an actual
reason.
259
00:10:52,590 --> 00:10:55,340
And we ended up getting to the
point where one child said, this
260
00:10:55,350 --> 00:10:57,310
is so that you can read it
properly.
261
00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,580
And I was like, yes, it is as
simple as that.
262
00:10:59,590 --> 00:11:02,790
We practise handwriting, so
anyone who picks up your work
263
00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,040
who isn't used to your writing
can still read it.
264
00:11:05,050 --> 00:11:07,940
Because I'll be very honest,
guys, when I read your work, I
265
00:11:07,950 --> 00:11:09,810
know for a fact there are other
teachers in the school who
266
00:11:09,820 --> 00:11:11,680
wouldn't know what you're, what
you're putting down.
267
00:11:11,690 --> 00:11:13,720
But I do because I'm used to
seeing what your letters are
268
00:11:13,730 --> 00:11:15,800
like.
So anyway we do this for a
269
00:11:15,810 --> 00:11:18,370
couple of weeks and I just had
one of them moments again as a
270
00:11:18,380 --> 00:11:21,290
teacher that we talked about
recently where those small wins,
271
00:11:21,300 --> 00:11:25,190
where you're just like, ohh,
yeah OK this this is progress.
272
00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:28,220
And This is why we do this
because one of the children and
273
00:11:28,230 --> 00:11:30,610
this was in an English lesson so
we've been doing handwriting and
274
00:11:30,620 --> 00:11:34,170
writing and it was English
lesson and I was just talking.
275
00:11:34,180 --> 00:11:36,790
We we set them off on the task
and I just said to them, I I
276
00:11:36,860 --> 00:11:40,470
pointed to the board where I've
got a little like double line
277
00:11:40,660 --> 00:11:43,170
where I tell them how high their
letter should go because either
278
00:11:43,180 --> 00:11:45,450
their letters go to roughly
halfway or to the top.
279
00:11:45,490 --> 00:11:46,740
You know what it's like teaching
kids.
280
00:11:46,750 --> 00:11:48,530
It's tiny.
Sometimes it's really small.
281
00:11:48,540 --> 00:11:51,460
They just squeeze it in.
And this kid just halfway
282
00:11:51,470 --> 00:11:53,680
through their writing task, put
their hand up.
283
00:11:53,850 --> 00:11:55,560
And I was like, yeah.
And I was expecting him to say,
284
00:11:55,570 --> 00:11:57,480
how do you spell this word?
Or does this make sense?
285
00:11:57,490 --> 00:11:59,380
Or can you check my work, you
know, as you always do?
286
00:11:59,810 --> 00:12:03,580
And he just said, I've noticed
my handwriting is much better
287
00:12:03,590 --> 00:12:07,100
Now I'm getting to halfway.
And I was like, amazing,
288
00:12:07,110 --> 00:12:08,520
brilliant.
This is why.
289
00:12:08,530 --> 00:12:10,680
This is why we're doing it.
And if you look at the
290
00:12:10,690 --> 00:12:13,880
handwriting across the board, it
is improving.
291
00:12:13,930 --> 00:12:17,520
And I think sometimes we get
caught up as teachers when
292
00:12:17,530 --> 00:12:19,720
people introduce stuff or when
you're just doing stuff for
293
00:12:19,730 --> 00:12:21,580
run-of-the-mill, OK, yeah,
whatever.
294
00:12:21,770 --> 00:12:24,700
And and you notice that it's not
really shifting the dial much
295
00:12:25,430 --> 00:12:27,700
actually you can shift the dial
with these children if you're
296
00:12:27,710 --> 00:12:29,520
really specific about what
you're doing.
297
00:12:29,710 --> 00:12:33,110
If you have small goals is is
what I think small steps with
298
00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,200
the kids.
The only thing my class have
299
00:12:35,210 --> 00:12:37,420
been focusing on in terms of
their handwriting for about four
300
00:12:37,430 --> 00:12:39,320
weeks now is the height of their
letters.
301
00:12:39,730 --> 00:12:42,890
If it's slightly scruffy, if it
wasn't joined up properly, if
302
00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:45,700
the the gaps between the words
were inconsistent.
303
00:12:45,810 --> 00:12:48,560
I did not have a problem with
what they were doing.
304
00:12:48,690 --> 00:12:51,330
All I was really laser focused
on was the height of their
305
00:12:51,340 --> 00:12:54,200
letters and it really made a
difference in such a short piece
306
00:12:54,210 --> 00:12:54,750
of time.
I don't know.
307
00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:56,850
One of things I want to share
with you that it does work if
308
00:12:56,860 --> 00:12:58,790
you have that laser focus.
Yeah.
309
00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,210
And it's and and the other side
of it, the whole the whole point
310
00:13:01,220 --> 00:13:05,790
I guess is that the handwriting
and time for handwriting just is
311
00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:07,410
just pushed out the curriculum,
isn't it?
312
00:13:07,470 --> 00:13:11,430
I'd wonder how many schools
actually have proper time put
313
00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:12,710
aside to do things that
handwriting.
314
00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:14,190
I reckon that is the first thing
to go.
315
00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,540
As soon as it's Ohh no we're not
teaching enough science.
316
00:13:16,550 --> 00:13:19,390
You know bump handwriting times
gone and then we go, why is the
317
00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:21,200
handwriting so bad and you're 6.
It's like, well, I'm not
318
00:13:21,210 --> 00:13:23,880
actually had any any actual
teaching like that, like
319
00:13:23,890 --> 00:13:26,670
specific focuses where they can
really make improvements for
320
00:13:26,680 --> 00:13:30,660
ages, any, any, any other areas
of the curriculum like like like
321
00:13:30,670 --> 00:13:32,920
handwriting where it's like just
completely disregarded now and
322
00:13:32,930 --> 00:13:36,580
never gets put in really.
Yeah, I would say.
323
00:13:36,590 --> 00:13:40,480
I would say foundational maths.
And that sounds ridiculous, but
324
00:13:40,530 --> 00:13:43,780
I'm talking very specific maths
skills that like aren't maybe
325
00:13:43,790 --> 00:13:45,640
explicitly written into the
curriculum.
326
00:13:45,690 --> 00:13:48,740
Where if a child gets to year
three right, and they can't
327
00:13:48,750 --> 00:13:53,530
really AA number or have a
number or you know those kind of
328
00:13:53,540 --> 00:13:56,780
foundational skills that you
know how to add.
329
00:13:57,050 --> 00:14:01,700
Let's say how to add 39, right?
To explicitly give time to show
330
00:14:01,710 --> 00:14:04,660
children that most adults, if
they add 39, just add 40 and
331
00:14:04,670 --> 00:14:07,080
take away one.
I know it's in their points, but
332
00:14:07,090 --> 00:14:08,640
it might be like a standalone
lesson.
333
00:14:09,070 --> 00:14:12,300
There's a lot of stuff like that
where it kind of just, it just
334
00:14:12,310 --> 00:14:14,530
gets swept under the rug because
there's not time learner
335
00:14:14,540 --> 00:14:16,480
procedure.
There's enough time to do it.
336
00:14:16,490 --> 00:14:18,370
Yeah, there's the curriculum to
do, and it's like this is an
337
00:14:18,380 --> 00:14:21,020
underpinning skill.
It's not an actual learning
338
00:14:21,030 --> 00:14:23,320
objective on the curriculum.
So ohh, let's hope some of you
339
00:14:23,330 --> 00:14:25,360
pick it up.
But yeah, really should be like,
340
00:14:25,370 --> 00:14:27,160
no, we need to teach them.
All, yeah.
341
00:14:27,170 --> 00:14:29,380
If you think about doubling, you
can use short multiplication
342
00:14:29,390 --> 00:14:30,900
just times by two.
And that's what most kids were
343
00:14:30,910 --> 00:14:32,830
doing my class.
Well, actually the mental
344
00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:36,340
arithmetic of learning how to
double the number in your head
345
00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:38,560
is actually really, really
useful in life.
346
00:14:38,610 --> 00:14:41,700
And I remember when we were in
school and I'd bring these back.
347
00:14:41,710 --> 00:14:43,020
I don't know if they still go on
or not.
348
00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,480
We were in school, we'd sit down
and the teacher would put Mr
349
00:14:46,490 --> 00:14:48,380
Lex.
I remember in year six, he'd get
350
00:14:48,390 --> 00:14:49,860
a little tape.
It would go into a tape
351
00:14:49,870 --> 00:14:51,980
recorder, push it in.
I remember the click and he
352
00:14:51,990 --> 00:14:55,260
pressed play and it would be
this voice and say you do a
353
00:14:55,270 --> 00:14:57,080
maths test where it's 30
questions.
354
00:14:57,170 --> 00:14:59,590
There was no repeating and they
moved on to the next question
355
00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,980
after like 6 to 10 seconds.
And it was, it was questions
356
00:15:01,990 --> 00:15:03,760
like that.
It was nine.
357
00:15:03,770 --> 00:15:06,800
Add 7 and you had like 6 seconds
to do it and every five.
358
00:15:06,900 --> 00:15:08,950
Wouldn't it be harder, right?
Exactly.
359
00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,930
And by the end you get a bunch
of children who you know, OK,
360
00:15:12,940 --> 00:15:15,800
you guys, you stop at 20.
I I remember there was a table.
361
00:15:15,810 --> 00:15:18,090
They just stopped there and they
were like, you know, brilliant.
362
00:15:18,100 --> 00:15:19,780
We'll, we'll finish it off.
Everyone else would carry on for
363
00:15:19,790 --> 00:15:21,350
a minute.
They'd be doing something else.
364
00:15:21,460 --> 00:15:23,410
Yeah, but I thought that was
really good.
365
00:15:23,420 --> 00:15:24,840
I thought that's fantastic
practise.
366
00:15:24,850 --> 00:15:29,060
And now, when was the last time
in real life you did maths and
367
00:15:29,070 --> 00:15:30,540
you needed a pen and paper to do
the maths?
368
00:15:32,510 --> 00:15:35,590
In outside of teaching.
Just yet in real life, like as
369
00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:37,580
an adult, you know, coping in
this.
370
00:15:37,590 --> 00:15:38,660
World.
No, Never.
371
00:15:38,670 --> 00:15:40,000
Really.
Very, very, very.
372
00:15:40,010 --> 00:15:40,740
I can't.
I can't.
373
00:15:40,750 --> 00:15:43,000
How often?
How often do you do maths in
374
00:15:43,010 --> 00:15:44,770
your head?
All the time.
375
00:15:44,780 --> 00:15:47,320
I love maths.
Yeah, I just did it for fun.
376
00:15:47,330 --> 00:15:48,710
Yeah.
Every time you go shopping,
377
00:15:48,820 --> 00:15:52,070
you're kind of, you know, you're
kind of keeping an eye on how
378
00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,670
much you're spending.
You're thinking, OK, well that's
379
00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,370
a fiver for six roles, but this
is a tenner for 12 roles.
380
00:15:57,380 --> 00:15:58,640
Is that the same?
Is that different?
381
00:15:58,650 --> 00:16:00,070
You know, I might as well get a
big one.
382
00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:02,230
And time.
Like constantly doing massive
383
00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:02,950
time.
Especially now.
384
00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,610
We got the kids always thinking
about time, time, time, time for
385
00:16:05,620 --> 00:16:06,700
this.
How long to go for a walk?
386
00:16:06,710 --> 00:16:08,590
How long have a nap.
How long You know, how long till
387
00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,110
they're gonna be tired again?
All that sort of stuff.
388
00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:11,690
And OK.
And let's let's ask you right
389
00:16:11,700 --> 00:16:14,990
now then in your year six class,
how many children can do long
390
00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,140
division perfectly divided by
43?
391
00:16:17,190 --> 00:16:19,600
How many children can tell the
duration of time between two
392
00:16:19,610 --> 00:16:22,970
points?
Ohh, I reckon more people can do
393
00:16:22,980 --> 00:16:26,310
long division than tell the
time, which is like a year three
394
00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:27,780
skill.
Yeah, telling the time is
395
00:16:27,790 --> 00:16:30,270
embarrassing.
I I I just I'm still shocked
396
00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:35,070
when when year six kids ask me
ohh, what's the time and I go
397
00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,160
what's there the clock's there
the clock's been there all year
398
00:16:37,210 --> 00:16:39,820
It's it's still there.
Ohh I can't read it.
399
00:16:39,830 --> 00:16:42,140
So what do you what you know
obviously I would be like what
400
00:16:42,150 --> 00:16:46,540
you buffoon but I am so in my
head I'm like Jesus Christ I no
401
00:16:46,550 --> 00:16:48,120
no one can tell the time
anymore.
402
00:16:48,180 --> 00:16:49,310
And yeah, you're right.
That is one of those
403
00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,560
foundational skills that just, I
mean time is in the curriculum
404
00:16:52,670 --> 00:16:55,900
and we talked about how we think
maybe there's a bit of a parent
405
00:16:55,910 --> 00:16:57,930
expectation maybe to help your
kids learn how to tell the time
406
00:16:57,940 --> 00:16:59,470
because that's that's just a
part of life.
407
00:17:00,770 --> 00:17:02,390
But yeah, definitely financial
skills, I think.
408
00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,150
I actually think to an extent
reading as well.
409
00:17:04,910 --> 00:17:08,160
I reckon if we look at reading,
as in kids just reading a book
410
00:17:08,210 --> 00:17:12,250
in school time now compared to
when we were at school, that
411
00:17:12,260 --> 00:17:13,810
time has drastically gone, isn't
it?
412
00:17:13,819 --> 00:17:16,869
I remember being at school and
regularly in the week we'd have
413
00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:21,109
like a whole 40 minute slot
where it was like cool, everyone
414
00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:22,910
go like get your favourite
reading book, go and sit
415
00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:24,780
somewhere really nice and just
like just read.
416
00:17:24,819 --> 00:17:26,619
We had a little library at
school and we just go there all
417
00:17:26,630 --> 00:17:29,170
the time and it was really like
well, you know, put together, it
418
00:17:29,180 --> 00:17:30,670
was lovely.
It was a nice area to be in and
419
00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:33,290
we're just going to sit on some
bean bags and I'll just read a
420
00:17:33,300 --> 00:17:37,690
book for 40 minutes and I was
like, ohh lunchtime now Brill
421
00:17:38,020 --> 00:17:39,930
who could read stories.
They were great readers.
422
00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,950
Even Yeah, I loved it when when
the teacher end of every day
423
00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,160
we'd read part of our book and
that's a big thing that still
424
00:17:46,170 --> 00:17:48,270
happens in schools is a big
thing Ofsted push and they they
425
00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:51,350
say that should be happening.
But I always find it fantastic
426
00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:53,570
when Ofsted tell me as a teacher
what I should be doing with my
427
00:17:53,580 --> 00:17:55,770
day in a day where it's
absolutely crammed already with
428
00:17:55,780 --> 00:17:57,410
the expectation that it already
set.
429
00:17:57,460 --> 00:18:01,690
And I'm like shut shut up.
If if you gave me full autonomy
430
00:18:01,740 --> 00:18:04,930
over my day I'll tell you what
we'd be doing reading more than
431
00:18:04,940 --> 00:18:06,690
anything.
I'll tell you that now every
432
00:18:06,700 --> 00:18:09,980
single day of the week, but I
can't and that's because of you
433
00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,200
posted.
So please don't turn around then
434
00:18:12,210 --> 00:18:14,220
and tell me ohh.
It's beneficial if the children
435
00:18:14,230 --> 00:18:15,500
read for 20 minutes, end of the
day.
436
00:18:15,510 --> 00:18:17,900
A class book I know.
It is it, is it?
437
00:18:17,910 --> 00:18:19,930
Yeah.
Hmm, honestly.
438
00:18:19,940 --> 00:18:22,110
Like you're in control of the
reason why it doesn't happen.
439
00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,410
Thanks Mr Ofsted.
Person or or leader of education
440
00:18:25,420 --> 00:18:30,320
that probably has no actual
education in teaching.
441
00:18:30,330 --> 00:18:32,810
Like we've gone to university
and we know that they're reading
442
00:18:32,820 --> 00:18:35,240
is important because we got told
for told it for three years.
443
00:18:35,250 --> 00:18:37,410
Like we know that's important.
Like why you telling us that
444
00:18:37,810 --> 00:18:40,590
there's 12 hours of stuff to do
in a day.
445
00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:41,950
It's like what?
We've got 12 hours.
446
00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:45,280
Well, do it.
I know it's mental and when you
447
00:18:45,290 --> 00:18:49,170
think about I know we're maths
leads, so any maths leads
448
00:18:49,180 --> 00:18:51,760
listening as well.
This might be controversial and
449
00:18:51,770 --> 00:18:53,940
I you know, but it it's what it
is.
450
00:18:53,950 --> 00:18:57,260
I deliver maths and well, we
deliver maths in our school to
451
00:18:57,270 --> 00:18:59,690
the absolute top standard based
on what we're expected to do by
452
00:18:59,700 --> 00:19:01,400
the curriculum when our kids get
everything they need.
453
00:19:01,410 --> 00:19:03,260
And we had a recent officer
visit and we know it's good.
454
00:19:03,890 --> 00:19:08,680
However my personal opinion is
there is a huge chunk of the
455
00:19:08,690 --> 00:19:11,580
curriculum, especially in upper
key stage, two year five and six
456
00:19:11,730 --> 00:19:14,050
which is absolutely not
necessary for children who
457
00:19:14,060 --> 00:19:15,760
attend to learn.
Absolutely not.
458
00:19:15,870 --> 00:19:20,660
And if we really break it down,
OK, who actually cares?
459
00:19:20,750 --> 00:19:23,690
Give a 10 year old can cross
multiply 2 fractions.
460
00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:27,550
Like like truly, truly who who
cares?
461
00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:30,730
Because if you carry on with
which you all will if you carry
462
00:19:30,740 --> 00:19:33,470
on mass into secondary school,
you can do that later if you
463
00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:34,780
want to do that for whatever
reason.
464
00:19:34,860 --> 00:19:37,270
And we can talk about how you
know it might be used in certain
465
00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:39,310
situations or not.
But you know at the end of the
466
00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:43,080
day, if as a primary school
teacher my kids get half every
467
00:19:43,090 --> 00:19:46,170
year, six and they can't tell
analogue clock, I would love to
468
00:19:46,180 --> 00:19:48,550
have the freedom to be able to
completely drop that part of the
469
00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:52,050
fraction section and do time and
do a week exploring time with
470
00:19:52,060 --> 00:19:53,600
them.
Because yeah, do you know what?
471
00:19:53,610 --> 00:19:55,820
I know that's more important for
them and it winds me up.
472
00:19:56,230 --> 00:19:58,880
It's a good point.
There's no there's there's a a
473
00:19:58,890 --> 00:20:01,780
layer of irony because I was
about to say there's no
474
00:20:01,870 --> 00:20:04,480
priorities, right.
It's just just do the whole
475
00:20:04,490 --> 00:20:07,610
curriculum.
But then priorities do emerge in
476
00:20:07,620 --> 00:20:10,690
uppercase stage 2.
Not for the right reason, you
477
00:20:10,700 --> 00:20:12,280
know.
The priority should be what you
478
00:20:12,290 --> 00:20:13,540
just said.
It should be what are the most
479
00:20:13,550 --> 00:20:15,980
important life skills.
Let's make sure they're honed in
480
00:20:15,990 --> 00:20:18,860
on 1st at the bottom of the pile
will do ratio.
481
00:20:18,930 --> 00:20:21,220
We'll do a bit of algebra.
They can do that later and they
482
00:20:21,230 --> 00:20:22,990
don't need to do that.
Now they can do that in year
483
00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,710
seven like you know multiply
fractions but what really
484
00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:30,460
happens is what has the most
marks in the sats that's the
485
00:20:30,470 --> 00:20:33,440
most important thing Now you
know ohh every teacher is
486
00:20:33,450 --> 00:20:36,440
conditioned to think well
actually you know we we need to
487
00:20:36,450 --> 00:20:39,020
teach them these certain things
of arithmetic cause they come
488
00:20:39,030 --> 00:20:42,520
that comes up the most algebra I
was only ever one or two marks a
489
00:20:42,530 --> 00:20:45,620
year would that we won't do that
this year time there's only
490
00:20:45,630 --> 00:20:47,300
there's only ever one or two
marks that you might get If
491
00:20:47,310 --> 00:20:49,740
you're unlucky there'll be a
duration problem question in one
492
00:20:49,750 --> 00:20:53,030
of the papers we won't do that
so hang on that's that's like
493
00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:56,380
the most important life skill
there but it's only one mark by
494
00:20:56,390 --> 00:20:58,540
fractions of amounts.
There's like 5 or 6 questions on
495
00:20:58,550 --> 00:21:00,420
that and just get fractions in
general.
496
00:21:00,430 --> 00:21:02,040
So we'll we'll do that.
We'll do lots of that.
497
00:21:02,670 --> 00:21:04,220
And it's like, yeah, the
priorities are kind of all
498
00:21:04,230 --> 00:21:05,620
wrong.
If we're thinking about the
499
00:21:05,630 --> 00:21:08,200
purpose of school being to set
kids up for their future and
500
00:21:08,210 --> 00:21:12,220
like, generally just being able
to do life, the Sats don't
501
00:21:12,230 --> 00:21:14,080
really correspond with that.
But we will talk about that.
502
00:21:14,090 --> 00:21:16,070
I know we're gonna have a proper
conversation about Sats in the
503
00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:17,260
future episode.
So if you're into that sort of
504
00:21:17,270 --> 00:21:19,480
stuff and you want to hear a bit
more about Sats, we're gonna get
505
00:21:19,490 --> 00:21:21,810
a really awesome guest on that,
Won't say it right now, and
506
00:21:21,820 --> 00:21:24,510
we're going to talk a little bit
more about Sats and other
507
00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:27,070
struggles with school.
Amazing, right?
508
00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:28,600
Guys, Listen, that's a lovely
intro.
509
00:21:28,610 --> 00:21:31,430
We kind of went off piece there,
but I like those conversations
510
00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,140
and hopefully you listeners do
as well.
511
00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,250
Guys, quick one from me.
Hey, let's feeling poorly, OK,
512
00:21:36,260 --> 00:21:37,970
It's Sunday.
We've left it quite late to this
513
00:21:37,980 --> 00:21:40,660
podcast, so you're getting one.
That's the good news.
514
00:21:40,670 --> 00:21:43,510
You're getting a podcast.
The bad news is Hayden's gonna
515
00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:45,900
have to ad Lib the little intro
now because we're not gonna edit
516
00:21:45,910 --> 00:21:47,190
this, we're just gonna put it
out as it is.
517
00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:50,090
So let's go to a little intro.
Skit Hayden, over to you.
518
00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:52,270
Ohh, why did the jungle?
Yeah, Jingle.
519
00:21:52,320 --> 00:22:00,810
I can think of the.
Way you did the OK, but repeat,
520
00:22:00,820 --> 00:22:03,370
no, no, I'm doing it mate.
You said I'm doing it.
521
00:22:03,380 --> 00:22:05,010
You've ruined.
You've ruined my bit and now I
522
00:22:05,020 --> 00:22:08,150
can't edit that out.
I'm fed up.
523
00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,390
With this I I'm sorry.
I'm stopping you.
524
00:22:11,460 --> 00:22:13,200
I'm stopping you.
They're all gonna get to see
525
00:22:13,210 --> 00:22:14,960
what happens behind the scenes.
I normally edit this out.
526
00:22:14,970 --> 00:22:16,570
I'm having one of my panic
attacks.
527
00:22:17,180 --> 00:22:20,130
All right, I'm fed up with you
interrupting me.
528
00:22:21,360 --> 00:22:23,100
I'm so sorry.
I'm hating Hater.
529
00:22:23,110 --> 00:22:24,320
Please, can we?
Yeah.
530
00:22:24,330 --> 00:22:26,560
Would you would you please?
I'm sorry, Overlord, Sir.
531
00:22:26,870 --> 00:22:29,000
Well, that'll be no.
Can you please edit this part
532
00:22:29,010 --> 00:22:31,400
out so that no one knows that
the real dynamic between us is
533
00:22:31,410 --> 00:22:33,440
that you are absolutely in
charge of me and intimidating
534
00:22:33,450 --> 00:22:35,340
every every.
Time and I get you to pretend to
535
00:22:35,350 --> 00:22:37,180
be the boss.
Yeah, is it can?
536
00:22:37,190 --> 00:22:38,700
I will let it out.
All right.
537
00:22:38,710 --> 00:22:39,970
You got one more warning or
you're?
538
00:22:39,980 --> 00:22:41,900
Out.
I'm going to be the boss when I
539
00:22:41,910 --> 00:22:45,230
come back.
I meant to silence.
540
00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,270
Imagine would make everyone sit
there for one minute.
541
00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:49,970
Complete silence.
Making it through this.
542
00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:51,470
Yeah.
Anyway, moving on.
543
00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:54,760
So go on, tell.
Ohh, I can go.
544
00:22:54,770 --> 00:22:57,010
Thank you.
Yeah, so my skits over.
545
00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:01,180
We had a little Instagram poll,
a quick dip for our Instagram.
546
00:23:01,190 --> 00:23:02,570
We don't have a sponsor on this
podcast.
547
00:23:02,620 --> 00:23:05,410
So I always say this.
Our sponsor is ourselves.
548
00:23:05,420 --> 00:23:06,110
No, No, no.
No.
549
00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:06,670
No.
No.
550
00:23:06,740 --> 00:23:09,910
No sponsor is ourselves.
Is it OK?
551
00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:15,010
Yeah, someone else.
Yeah, he's got, he's got a lot
552
00:23:15,020 --> 00:23:16,990
of free airtime.
If anyone wants to go back to
553
00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,430
previous ones who has very
grateful for you, by the way,
554
00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:22,420
you know you are.
Anyway, we don't have a sponsor
555
00:23:22,430 --> 00:23:25,410
on this podcast, so can you go
and follow us on Instagram at
556
00:23:25,420 --> 00:23:28,650
teacher repeat podcast?
I post memes, I post funnies, I
557
00:23:28,660 --> 00:23:32,020
post stories where you can do a
poll and it links in exactly to
558
00:23:32,030 --> 00:23:33,750
this episode today.
So we're going to talk all about
559
00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:34,990
settings.
Sorry, one second.
560
00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,150
Hello, James.
No, he's not.
561
00:23:37,700 --> 00:23:39,790
Cancel the payment.
He's not mentioned the financial
562
00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,270
planning in this episode.
Don't worry about it, mate.
563
00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:43,430
No.
So I'll speak to you soon.
564
00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:44,430
Speak to you soon.
Sorry, Bill.
565
00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:49,710
We'll edit that out.
So it's weird, this episode
566
00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,430
where we're not editing.
That's way more than ever, no.
567
00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:55,670
Anyway, this episode we're
talking all about setting.
568
00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,610
Now this is a hot topic.
I would say it was a hot topic
569
00:23:59,660 --> 00:24:02,780
about eight years ago.
It feels like in general the
570
00:24:02,790 --> 00:24:06,310
profession is kind of agreed
where where this should go, but
571
00:24:06,360 --> 00:24:09,170
it's almost like a silent
agreement about setting in
572
00:24:09,180 --> 00:24:12,850
schools based on ability.
Now in secondary school, it is
573
00:24:12,860 --> 00:24:16,270
highly, highly, highly likely if
you walk into one that they are
574
00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:19,110
being set based on ability.
And I think the older children
575
00:24:19,120 --> 00:24:22,460
get, the more we kind of accept
that where whatever routes
576
00:24:22,470 --> 00:24:24,590
they're taking through their
education, there is a need to
577
00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:29,900
set to keep them going through
education until 16/17/18 and it
578
00:24:29,910 --> 00:24:34,030
being suitable for them.
However, in primary school I I'd
579
00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,330
say about 8 to 10 years ago
probably when we were starting
580
00:24:36,340 --> 00:24:39,690
our teaching to be fair, there
was a huge shift in the
581
00:24:39,700 --> 00:24:43,930
narrative as to whether or not
we should be setting children in
582
00:24:43,940 --> 00:24:46,070
primary school based on their
ability.
583
00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:48,410
Now, hey there, before we get
into all of the research and
584
00:24:48,420 --> 00:24:52,350
have our debate, yeah, I did a
quick Instagram poll to our
585
00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:56,460
listeners asking them do they
set OK and there were four
586
00:24:56,470 --> 00:24:58,640
options.
I asked them if you work in a
587
00:24:58,650 --> 00:25:00,040
primary schools, this is all
primary school.
588
00:25:00,740 --> 00:25:02,510
Do you set for maths and
English?
589
00:25:02,740 --> 00:25:06,450
Do you set just for maths?
Do you set just for English or
590
00:25:06,460 --> 00:25:09,040
do you not set at all?
What I want you to do Hayden, is
591
00:25:09,050 --> 00:25:11,150
just reason and justify what you
think.
592
00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:12,950
The national outlook is based on
our little poll.
593
00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:14,390
So what would you go for?
What would you?
594
00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:15,990
Say is the.
I'm guessing the percentages,
595
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:16,610
sort of.
Thing, Yeah.
596
00:25:16,620 --> 00:25:18,950
What do you think the real
outlook is when we look at now
597
00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,610
not?
I I reckon, I reckon more than
598
00:25:21,620 --> 00:25:25,120
50% have said yes for maths I
reckon.
599
00:25:25,130 --> 00:25:29,590
I reckon that's the highest one
personally, and I reckon a lot
600
00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:31,660
of people still set for English,
but I think it's lower.
601
00:25:32,130 --> 00:25:34,030
I think it's lower.
I reckon it's lower than 50%.
602
00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:35,770
That's kind of go that probably
encompasses.
603
00:25:35,780 --> 00:25:36,460
Everything.
What about?
604
00:25:36,470 --> 00:25:37,910
What about people who don't set
at all?
605
00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:44,760
Um, I think less than less than
50I reckon 40 to 50%.
606
00:25:45,030 --> 00:25:46,600
OK.
These these do have to add up to
607
00:25:46,610 --> 00:25:50,290
100 haters.
Wait ohh yeah.
608
00:25:50,300 --> 00:25:51,680
He's only voting for one.
Aren't they?
609
00:25:51,690 --> 00:25:54,660
Right, Yeah.
Yeah, so either you can't set
610
00:25:54,670 --> 00:25:57,340
for maths and English and set
for either maths or English.
611
00:25:57,390 --> 00:25:59,790
So you've got to just choose.
One's gonna take one more time
612
00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,580
because obviously.
It's still work.
613
00:26:02,590 --> 00:26:07,250
I said less than 5050.
It could be 10, I think More, I
614
00:26:07,260 --> 00:26:13,320
think 5050 to 60%, Fifty to 50
to 60, I reckon set for just a
615
00:26:13,330 --> 00:26:14,420
mass.
OK.
616
00:26:14,430 --> 00:26:15,900
And how much set?
Not at all.
617
00:26:16,530 --> 00:26:21,160
And not at all.
I reckon 3030% OK, what about
618
00:26:21,170 --> 00:26:23,340
just English ones?
Just English, Whatever.
619
00:26:23,350 --> 00:26:24,580
The rest is divided between the
two.
620
00:26:26,010 --> 00:26:28,490
You think about thank you for
your fantastic input Hayden.
621
00:26:28,500 --> 00:26:31,060
Here are the options.
Does your school set based on
622
00:26:31,070 --> 00:26:35,310
ability?
56% do not set at all.
623
00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:42,840
Ah, that's more than I thought.
22% set just for Maths, 19% set
624
00:26:42,850 --> 00:26:48,420
for Maths and for English and
only 3% set just for English.
625
00:26:48,510 --> 00:26:51,150
That's interesting.
So it tends to be then based on
626
00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:53,240
that poll that you you have a
set or you don't.
627
00:26:53,290 --> 00:26:55,080
It's kind of like you set for
everything or not.
628
00:26:55,370 --> 00:26:58,620
Yeah, yeah, well not well, just
for maths was the 2nd, so they
629
00:26:58,630 --> 00:27:00,580
don't set for English.
Yeah, that was quite close,
630
00:27:00,590 --> 00:27:01,810
wasn't it?
It was quite close to.
631
00:27:01,890 --> 00:27:06,920
So 56 I'd say sit here. 78% of
people don't set for English,
632
00:27:07,130 --> 00:27:08,560
that's what the results of this
is.
633
00:27:08,970 --> 00:27:12,040
And the results for this as well
is for in terms of maths.
634
00:27:12,570 --> 00:27:16,390
Is 58% don't set for maths, so
it's much more likely that
635
00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:17,370
people.
Set for us.
636
00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:21,200
Yeah, that's interesting.
So what do you think about that?
637
00:27:21,210 --> 00:27:23,580
What are your initial thoughts,
Tatum?
638
00:27:23,590 --> 00:27:28,270
Because OK, we've worked well.
I've worked in settings where
639
00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:30,570
I've done all of the different
ways you could possibly do
640
00:27:30,580 --> 00:27:32,550
stuff.
I've worked, yeah, where you set
641
00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:34,420
for mass.
I've worked in higher ability
642
00:27:34,430 --> 00:27:36,590
mouse, lower ability mass.
I've worked in mixed ability
643
00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:38,670
maths.
I've worked in set English, low
644
00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,250
ability English, high ability
English, and I've worked in mix.
645
00:27:41,260 --> 00:27:42,640
So there's not one I haven't
done.
646
00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:44,150
Yeah.
So I'm going to take a step back
647
00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:47,150
here.
What's what's your opinion on
648
00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:50,590
the question?
Should we set from ability when
649
00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,050
it comes to maths and English in
a primary?
650
00:27:52,060 --> 00:27:53,590
School.
I'm going to separate it just
651
00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,330
from a minute to maths for a SEC
anymore because I I do think
652
00:27:56,340 --> 00:27:59,260
maths and English are very
different and we'll get on to
653
00:27:59,270 --> 00:28:01,580
that as to why.
But just going back in time a
654
00:28:01,590 --> 00:28:03,820
bit when when we started our
careers and obviously like you
655
00:28:03,830 --> 00:28:05,760
said, it was quite a hot topic.
And it definitely was back then
656
00:28:05,770 --> 00:28:08,850
because I think it was very
common to to set and people were
657
00:28:08,860 --> 00:28:10,410
starting to be like hey actually
we shouldn't do this.
658
00:28:10,420 --> 00:28:12,670
And there's loads of research
and I remember being really,
659
00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:17,100
really pro all of the research
what it was saying was not
660
00:28:17,110 --> 00:28:19,600
setting and and I remember being
the master in our in a school we
661
00:28:19,610 --> 00:28:23,570
worked in at the time and I was
very keen to try and adhere to
662
00:28:23,580 --> 00:28:26,320
this sort of guidance and be
like no, actually let's stop
663
00:28:26,330 --> 00:28:29,060
because we had like 6 way sets.
Do you remember in that there's
664
00:28:29,070 --> 00:28:32,700
a big school, Um, I was like,
no, this is what the research
665
00:28:32,710 --> 00:28:35,120
says.
So I was very pro mixed ability.
666
00:28:35,430 --> 00:28:39,140
But over the years through
experience I have completely
667
00:28:39,150 --> 00:28:42,830
flipped the other way.
I'm not completely, there's a
668
00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,730
bit of a middle ground, but I'm
I'm way more pro setting now
669
00:28:45,740 --> 00:28:48,970
than I am.
Mixed ability in maths and not
670
00:28:48,980 --> 00:28:52,370
quite the same in English.
Uh, and jump to dive into the
671
00:28:52,380 --> 00:28:53,930
reasons now.
Or do we want to say that?
672
00:28:54,260 --> 00:28:55,510
No, it's it's interesting.
Yeah.
673
00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:58,450
Because let's let's just for one
second think about it because I
674
00:28:58,460 --> 00:29:01,260
think where I'm going to play
this now, I'm going to play it
675
00:29:01,270 --> 00:29:04,290
from the other role of really
adhering to the research because
676
00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:07,330
I think it's important as
educators to do both.
677
00:29:07,340 --> 00:29:11,040
I think it's really important as
educators to read and keep up
678
00:29:11,050 --> 00:29:14,630
with research and understand
that it's gone for a scientific
679
00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:15,710
method.
You know we can't.
680
00:29:15,780 --> 00:29:18,410
You can't actually.
You know, if it's based on a lot
681
00:29:18,420 --> 00:29:20,810
of research that's done well,
it's hard to argue against
682
00:29:20,820 --> 00:29:23,340
research.
However, I do believe that it's
683
00:29:23,350 --> 00:29:27,080
a very unique job in that, you
know, you live it, you live and
684
00:29:27,090 --> 00:29:29,340
breathe it every single day.
So you're gonna form your own
685
00:29:29,350 --> 00:29:30,920
opinion as well.
So I think it's important to do
686
00:29:30,930 --> 00:29:32,700
both.
Maybe I'll learn more towards
687
00:29:32,710 --> 00:29:35,460
the objective and you can learn
more towards the experience.
688
00:29:35,750 --> 00:29:38,030
Sure.
So you said there's a difference
689
00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:40,540
between when it comes to maths
and English.
690
00:29:40,770 --> 00:29:44,380
So before I really want you to
set out that store a little bit
691
00:29:44,390 --> 00:29:47,730
and then we can maybe talk about
why you think it's beneficial in
692
00:29:47,740 --> 00:29:50,020
those contexts.
So I assume that you're saying
693
00:29:50,030 --> 00:29:52,400
you think it's more beneficial
in maths or it's more suited to
694
00:29:52,410 --> 00:29:53,430
maths.
I think it.
695
00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:55,850
Is.
I think it is more beneficial in
696
00:29:55,860 --> 00:30:00,440
maths to set by ability.
I think generally I'll go into
697
00:30:00,450 --> 00:30:03,450
why, but with a bit of pretence
of what I think the research is.
698
00:30:03,460 --> 00:30:06,220
Now, I haven't actually seen the
research in many years, so I am
699
00:30:06,230 --> 00:30:08,170
very much just going off of what
I think it will say and you
700
00:30:08,180 --> 00:30:10,030
might be able to enlighten me.
With yeah, I've had a quick
701
00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:11,440
look.
So I've got some, I've got them,
702
00:30:11,450 --> 00:30:14,380
you know, overarching results of
most of the research here so I
703
00:30:14,390 --> 00:30:17,200
can twinkle in as we go.
So in my understanding, the
704
00:30:17,210 --> 00:30:20,080
general research back when I was
looking into it was that setting
705
00:30:20,090 --> 00:30:23,420
was worse for the children
because of the like how it
706
00:30:23,430 --> 00:30:26,070
affected them mentally, right?
They, you know, children aren't
707
00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:29,160
stupid enough to know that, to
not know what set they're in.
708
00:30:29,230 --> 00:30:30,870
Like they're very quickly will
work out.
709
00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:33,790
Ohh, I mean the bottom set mass,
that means I'm rubbish at maths
710
00:30:33,900 --> 00:30:36,450
and therefore I'm not really
gonna bother with it cause I
711
00:30:36,460 --> 00:30:38,490
think I'm terrible.
And that to me was kind of the
712
00:30:38,500 --> 00:30:40,510
underpinning idea of the
research, which was, which was
713
00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:42,690
that let's stop doing that to
kids because we're putting a
714
00:30:42,700 --> 00:30:45,550
ceiling on them straight away.
We're telling them in the bottom
715
00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:47,380
set they're never actually going
to achieve more than that.
716
00:30:47,390 --> 00:30:48,660
We're already telling them in
that box.
717
00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:51,180
And I was like, yeah, yeah,
yeah, definitely, definitely.
718
00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:56,790
But then through experience, I
think math is so nuanced, like
719
00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:58,360
with, you know, even just
talking about the, the
720
00:30:58,370 --> 00:31:00,640
foundational stuff we talked
about earlier, right, Kids that
721
00:31:00,650 --> 00:31:02,950
can double, Kids that can't,
kids that can read the time,
722
00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:05,750
kids that can't.
I think maths is so underpinned
723
00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:09,530
by like this massive, massive
massive variety of skills that
724
00:31:09,540 --> 00:31:12,790
totally sets kids apart in terms
of their ability to like, reason
725
00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:15,050
and problem solve with the
repetitive skills they might may
726
00:31:15,060 --> 00:31:20,060
or may not have that I think in
a mixed ability class I I think
727
00:31:20,070 --> 00:31:24,100
personally I think the average
teacher is not able in a class
728
00:31:24,110 --> 00:31:28,220
of 32 completely mixed kids to
meet the needs of those children
729
00:31:28,230 --> 00:31:31,560
sufficiently enough.
I think they'll meet the needs
730
00:31:31,570 --> 00:31:34,400
of a group of children in that
class, but I but I think that
731
00:31:34,410 --> 00:31:37,710
will often either skim off the
the top ability children who
732
00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:41,210
will absolutely not be getting a
sufficient level of like
733
00:31:41,220 --> 00:31:43,840
planning and teaching and
lessons and tasks, or it will be
734
00:31:43,850 --> 00:31:45,930
the other end.
It will be the lowest children I
735
00:31:45,940 --> 00:31:47,840
think is quite common.
OK.
736
00:31:47,900 --> 00:31:50,280
So I'm going to come in with
basically a part of the research
737
00:31:50,290 --> 00:31:52,000
here.
The overwhelming results of the
738
00:31:52,010 --> 00:31:54,210
research would be interesting to
come off the back of what you've
739
00:31:54,220 --> 00:31:59,450
just said is that when it comes
to setting, OK, when you look at
740
00:31:59,460 --> 00:32:03,130
the outcomes, firstly it's a
marginal difference
741
00:32:03,140 --> 00:32:05,220
entertainment.
So you know that this difference
742
00:32:05,230 --> 00:32:07,560
is is small, it's not
substantial, it's not moderate,
743
00:32:07,570 --> 00:32:09,920
it is marginal.
So you know it has a marginal
744
00:32:09,930 --> 00:32:12,520
difference on attainment.
But this is the way it goes.
745
00:32:12,530 --> 00:32:16,460
If you're a higher ability
child, working in a mixed
746
00:32:16,470 --> 00:32:20,030
setting is slightly worse for
your attainment.
747
00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:22,390
So when you set the higher
ability children tend to do
748
00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:24,110
better.
Yeah, yeah.
749
00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:28,250
When you, when you set for lower
ability children in mixed
750
00:32:28,260 --> 00:32:30,370
ability, it tends to be better
for them.
751
00:32:30,420 --> 00:32:33,850
So when you set, it tends to
have a marginal negative impact
752
00:32:33,860 --> 00:32:37,540
on your lower just widens the
just widens, it widens the gap
753
00:32:37,550 --> 00:32:39,290
when you set.
And that is the huge argument
754
00:32:39,300 --> 00:32:41,010
against doing it.
Yeah.
755
00:32:41,020 --> 00:32:43,470
How would you reply to that if
someone said, look, this is the
756
00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:47,450
research, whether it's marginal
or not, it seems like, OK, you
757
00:32:47,460 --> 00:32:49,710
seem to think that we could
avoid the social stigma and
758
00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:51,650
we'll talk about that in a
second, but let's focus on the
759
00:32:51,660 --> 00:32:53,200
attainment.
How would you come back to
760
00:32:53,210 --> 00:32:55,480
someone who says, well, look,
the research says it it why does
761
00:32:55,490 --> 00:32:58,800
the attainment gap that's bad?
OK, so I've got 2 two things to
762
00:32:58,810 --> 00:33:01,030
say about this then.
So I firstly, I don't disagree
763
00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:03,180
with the research.
I think that's obviously like,
764
00:33:03,390 --> 00:33:05,260
who am I to be?
Like, no, that's wrong.
765
00:33:05,330 --> 00:33:07,960
They happened to research the
wrong group of children.
766
00:33:07,970 --> 00:33:09,200
No, of course that's clearly
happening.
767
00:33:09,210 --> 00:33:11,700
And I think it actually makes
sense that obviously if you if
768
00:33:11,710 --> 00:33:14,440
you have a mixed ability class,
it just squashes the ends in
769
00:33:14,550 --> 00:33:16,260
because we're not superhuman.
So.
770
00:33:16,270 --> 00:33:19,660
So my first point is, is about
that in terms of, I think when
771
00:33:19,670 --> 00:33:22,150
it comes to educational
research, generally I agree with
772
00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:26,230
it, but sometimes there's a lot
of idealism, which it's like the
773
00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:29,050
whole Instagram versus reality
situation for me.
774
00:33:29,100 --> 00:33:32,030
I do think sometimes it's like
cool, that's great research, but
775
00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:36,460
it does kind of rely on teachers
doing an unholy amount of work
776
00:33:37,310 --> 00:33:39,580
to be able to attain that.
Now if you're lucky enough to be
777
00:33:39,590 --> 00:33:42,640
in in like a a bigger school,
you might be able to shout that
778
00:33:42,650 --> 00:33:45,230
planning.
But if you're in let's say A1
779
00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:47,900
form or two form and it's
suddenly like, OK, you've got
780
00:33:47,910 --> 00:33:50,960
you've got like 6 sort of levels
of differentiation you need to
781
00:33:50,970 --> 00:33:53,240
consider in this class because
you just happened to potluck.
782
00:33:53,310 --> 00:33:55,900
You just happen to have children
that are working way below the
783
00:33:55,910 --> 00:33:57,990
the the key stage.
You've got children that sort of
784
00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:00,100
working towards children that
are kind of nearing expected.
785
00:34:00,110 --> 00:34:02,660
You got children expected,
children solid expected and
786
00:34:02,670 --> 00:34:06,320
you've just got to teach a
lesson to them because mixed
787
00:34:06,330 --> 00:34:07,790
ability is better.
So off you go.
788
00:34:08,730 --> 00:34:12,040
It's like, well, for that to be
a good standard in my opinion,
789
00:34:12,110 --> 00:34:15,920
would require a hell of a lot of
work and understanding to be
790
00:34:15,929 --> 00:34:18,580
able to do so, and I don't think
it's realistic to to be able to
791
00:34:18,590 --> 00:34:22,030
maintain that level of work.
So why is it different in sets?
792
00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:23,320
Yeah, why is it different in
sets?
793
00:34:23,330 --> 00:34:25,360
Let's carry on.
Now, why do you find that we're
794
00:34:25,370 --> 00:34:25,889
setting?
Then?
795
00:34:25,900 --> 00:34:30,040
That's not a problem.
So in that huge scope of
796
00:34:30,050 --> 00:34:33,080
children going from your maybe
like a two years behind the
797
00:34:33,090 --> 00:34:35,139
curriculum to someone that's
working at really high grade
798
00:34:35,150 --> 00:34:38,920
depth is now is now squished
into OK, you've actually just
799
00:34:38,929 --> 00:34:42,600
got the children now are
floating around expected that
800
00:34:42,610 --> 00:34:44,520
you know that that yeah the
difference the difference
801
00:34:44,530 --> 00:34:46,420
between the lowest ability and
high quality child in your class
802
00:34:46,429 --> 00:34:49,330
is much closer.
So you can really hone in on a
803
00:34:49,340 --> 00:34:53,889
lesson that will cater to them
all much more much will probably
804
00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:55,210
cater to them all than it would
do.
805
00:34:55,260 --> 00:34:59,700
Can we be Can I dive in a bit
more to that So with with maths
806
00:34:59,710 --> 00:35:03,180
I this is something I found in
the past when I when I'm because
807
00:35:03,190 --> 00:35:05,060
I teach at the minute in terms
of a bit mixed.
808
00:35:05,110 --> 00:35:08,020
I we teach in a setting system
and I think that has lots of
809
00:35:08,030 --> 00:35:11,840
pros but one thing for sure I
found is that you are kind of
810
00:35:11,850 --> 00:35:15,110
leaning into that shoehorning
effect of what you've just said
811
00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:17,800
there in terms of OK well we've
set now so I've got this group
812
00:35:17,810 --> 00:35:20,860
of children and they're kind of
in this slice of the ability
813
00:35:20,870 --> 00:35:23,650
spectrum and that means that OK
I'm going to now plan my
814
00:35:23,660 --> 00:35:26,250
fraction unit and I know they're
having this splice and wait a
815
00:35:26,260 --> 00:35:28,740
minute it just so happens that
these exact same children are in
816
00:35:28,750 --> 00:35:31,270
this exact same splice when it
comes to you and the four
817
00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:35,100
operations and how how strange
when it's time as well and I
818
00:35:35,110 --> 00:35:38,510
think with maths it's it and and
obviously English but in general
819
00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:41,610
it's it's actually you know
that's not how it really works
820
00:35:41,620 --> 00:35:44,550
is it Even when you set you know
from from strand to strand
821
00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:47,990
you're gonna have huge variances
in a who in your set can do
822
00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:49,270
certain things and.
B.
823
00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:51,600
The breadth of that.
So do you not think we kind of
824
00:35:51,610 --> 00:35:53,780
face those problems anyway when
it comes to setting?
825
00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:56,950
Well, not massively, because I
think, let's just take your
826
00:35:56,960 --> 00:35:59,950
analogy there of and it's quite
a common thing, isn't it, that
827
00:36:00,090 --> 00:36:03,300
children could be really able in
shape and space, but actually
828
00:36:03,310 --> 00:36:05,100
not so much in the four
operations.
829
00:36:05,110 --> 00:36:06,810
And that's.
And we often set children based
830
00:36:06,820 --> 00:36:08,350
on their arithmetic
understanding, right.
831
00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:10,930
So it's a bit like that's unfair
because some of those children
832
00:36:10,940 --> 00:36:12,930
that greater depth set actually
aren't as good as shape and
833
00:36:12,940 --> 00:36:14,970
space as those children you just
put in that lower set.
834
00:36:15,270 --> 00:36:17,520
But I don't necessarily think
that's a massive problem because
835
00:36:17,530 --> 00:36:20,240
I think if they're in a set, the
point is the teacher, a good
836
00:36:20,250 --> 00:36:22,080
teacher, will be reacting to
their needs anyway.
837
00:36:22,130 --> 00:36:25,340
So who cares if the lower set,
as we caught, you know as
838
00:36:25,350 --> 00:36:28,170
someone might call them, who
cares if they're doing shape and
839
00:36:28,180 --> 00:36:30,890
space lessons at the same level
as the other group.
840
00:36:30,970 --> 00:36:33,620
They don't have to just do lower
stuff because they're lower.
841
00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:35,700
That's when it goes wrong.
I think that's when I think it's
842
00:36:35,710 --> 00:36:39,040
bad, which is that the ceiling
is put on from day one of Nope,
843
00:36:39,050 --> 00:36:41,320
those children liabilities.
So don't even give them the
844
00:36:41,330 --> 00:36:43,560
chance now in any area of maths
to excel.
845
00:36:43,630 --> 00:36:45,020
It's no, you still have to adapt
to them.
846
00:36:45,030 --> 00:36:47,890
It's just that you might find in
some areas they're they're
847
00:36:47,900 --> 00:36:50,460
really weak and you have to go
right back for that set.
848
00:36:50,470 --> 00:36:52,910
And luckily you can now just
hone in on that skill, because
849
00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:55,230
you've got no one in your set
that is actually working higher
850
00:36:55,240 --> 00:36:57,800
than that level.
But then when it comes to shape
851
00:36:57,950 --> 00:37:00,460
or, you know, just jump geometry
in general, actually they're
852
00:37:00,470 --> 00:37:02,480
just working at curriculum
standard and as a teacher you
853
00:37:02,490 --> 00:37:04,600
need to be able to adapt your
lessons to realise that they're
854
00:37:04,610 --> 00:37:08,170
working at that level.
So do you think that adapting to
855
00:37:08,180 --> 00:37:11,940
your children in that way,
you're just making your life
856
00:37:11,950 --> 00:37:14,230
harder by making by by going
into sets?
857
00:37:14,240 --> 00:37:17,110
Because as soon if you're in
mixed ability, you're going to
858
00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:18,870
plan for that anyway.
So what you're essentially
859
00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:21,060
saying is you should plan for
them to not have a ceiling and
860
00:37:21,070 --> 00:37:23,410
be able to do anything, because
we don't wanna put a ceiling on
861
00:37:23,420 --> 00:37:25,770
them, but also we put them into
sets.
862
00:37:25,940 --> 00:37:28,720
So why not just have them in
mixed ability and then take that
863
00:37:28,730 --> 00:37:31,510
sealing off anyway?
Just because I think it is just
864
00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:33,570
more to do.
I think if you had that same
865
00:37:33,580 --> 00:37:35,850
analogy with the shape and
space, if you had a mixed
866
00:37:35,860 --> 00:37:38,960
ability class, and again the
same, you know, same thing with
867
00:37:38,970 --> 00:37:42,150
the arithmetic, they're going to
be lessons where perhaps your
868
00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:43,820
children need like maybe like 5
or 6.
869
00:37:43,830 --> 00:37:47,550
Your children in your class need
to be working at a considerably
870
00:37:47,560 --> 00:37:50,830
lower level than others, and
they need your attention, and
871
00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:54,400
it's way hard inside, but
they're all much closer
872
00:37:54,410 --> 00:37:56,350
together, so you can take the
whole class on that journey
873
00:37:56,630 --> 00:37:58,640
without.
Without worrying, I suppose,
874
00:37:58,950 --> 00:38:00,420
yeah.
I suppose what I'm saying is
875
00:38:00,470 --> 00:38:03,540
sometimes the tops in that lower
set that you've predetermined
876
00:38:03,770 --> 00:38:06,450
are just you just, you just said
there at the level of the great
877
00:38:06,460 --> 00:38:09,200
depth group.
So that's the same breakfast,
878
00:38:09,210 --> 00:38:10,980
the mixed ability.
You've still got the same
879
00:38:10,990 --> 00:38:12,340
planning?
Yeah, absolutely right.
880
00:38:12,350 --> 00:38:14,100
It's just way less likely in my
opinion.
881
00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:16,270
It's just more manageable that
that's all it is, you know, I'm
882
00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:17,680
not saying it doesn't happen
anymore.
883
00:38:17,750 --> 00:38:20,990
I'm just saying that going from
a scope this big everyday to a
884
00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:24,250
scope this big every day with
the maybe the odd objective
885
00:38:24,260 --> 00:38:26,240
where when your kid goes oh
you're actually you're you're
886
00:38:26,250 --> 00:38:28,860
actually at that level and you
know we need to have a few
887
00:38:28,870 --> 00:38:30,900
things in the in the bag ready
to give you.
888
00:38:31,030 --> 00:38:32,970
I just think it's more
manageable that's all and I
889
00:38:32,980 --> 00:38:34,040
think you can get better
outcomes.
890
00:38:34,050 --> 00:38:36,080
But going back to your original
question, cause there was an
891
00:38:36,090 --> 00:38:40,010
overarching point that I was
trying to get to, which is that
892
00:38:40,020 --> 00:38:41,790
one the research is really
interesting, she said.
893
00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:44,270
It kind of squashes the tops in
and they don't make as much
894
00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:47,730
progress that the higher ability
children, but equally it hinders
895
00:38:47,740 --> 00:38:50,150
the sorry, it brings up the
lower ability children being in
896
00:38:50,160 --> 00:38:51,500
a mixed ability set and I
imagine.
897
00:38:51,510 --> 00:38:52,730
That that's what I make, by the
way.
898
00:38:52,740 --> 00:38:54,610
That's what I mean by the way,
when I'm making these arguments
899
00:38:54,620 --> 00:38:58,390
to you now is, you know, we will
help shift those children up
900
00:38:58,400 --> 00:38:59,710
more if they're with the other
group.
901
00:38:59,720 --> 00:39:01,130
Like, I'm looking at the lower
end here.
902
00:39:01,140 --> 00:39:02,440
Yeah.
So that is kind of what I'm
903
00:39:02,450 --> 00:39:05,540
hinting at, yeah.
So my my actual, the start of
904
00:39:05,550 --> 00:39:07,510
this conversation.
I said I'm not completely in
905
00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:10,410
favour of setting because I've
kind of in my opinion kind of
906
00:39:10,420 --> 00:39:11,720
middle ground.
I think you have to because
907
00:39:11,730 --> 00:39:15,580
we've we've sort of applied this
process at our school a bit and
908
00:39:15,590 --> 00:39:19,660
my opinion is that those those
really high ability children, I
909
00:39:19,670 --> 00:39:22,900
I actually think it's beneficial
for them to come out and and go
910
00:39:22,910 --> 00:39:27,020
and work at a higher faster pace
working on harder stuff and you
911
00:39:27,030 --> 00:39:28,840
know providing with that
progress they make that they're
912
00:39:28,850 --> 00:39:30,420
now missing for being in a mixed
ability set.
913
00:39:30,470 --> 00:39:34,180
But what I don't think we should
do is do the same thing to the
914
00:39:34,190 --> 00:39:37,860
lowest children because I think
it's it's inverted in terms of
915
00:39:37,870 --> 00:39:39,560
the psychological effect it has
on children.
916
00:39:39,710 --> 00:39:42,500
The point is with the lower
ability children finding out
917
00:39:42,510 --> 00:39:45,790
you're rubbish at something is
really bad and then you don't
918
00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:47,240
want to do it and you make less
progress.
919
00:39:47,290 --> 00:39:49,460
Finding out your greatest
something for you on a personal
920
00:39:49,470 --> 00:39:52,320
level doesn't make you then like
worse at that thing.
921
00:39:52,330 --> 00:39:55,010
Like I think that's OK.
But with the lower ability
922
00:39:55,020 --> 00:39:59,050
children, it's like I think as
much as possible we should be
923
00:39:59,100 --> 00:40:03,350
mixing like 66% of the cohort I
think of your top third going
924
00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:05,740
out.
Or even you know what it depends
925
00:40:05,750 --> 00:40:08,800
on you know what size to be fair
you could have like 300 kids in
926
00:40:08,810 --> 00:40:11,100
the in the year group obviously
doesn't happen but in that case
927
00:40:11,110 --> 00:40:14,380
you might you might only take
out the top 5% because you got a
928
00:40:14,390 --> 00:40:17,320
much bigger cohort.
But yeah, I think as as where
929
00:40:17,330 --> 00:40:21,560
possible we should be utilising
the benefits of mixed ability on
930
00:40:21,570 --> 00:40:26,470
their mindset, but trying to be
rooted in reality a bit more in
931
00:40:26,480 --> 00:40:31,020
that it is just unmanageable to
plan really top tier lessons to
932
00:40:31,030 --> 00:40:33,850
a massive scope of children.
Let's just let's just half that
933
00:40:33,860 --> 00:40:36,180
scope a bit by taking the kind
of expected and lower ability
934
00:40:36,190 --> 00:40:39,680
children put them together.
So, OK, in that case then let's
935
00:40:39,690 --> 00:40:43,130
let's like flip the flip the
thing to English because we kind
936
00:40:43,140 --> 00:40:45,940
of having a massive mindset for
now and I'm going to kind of
937
00:40:45,950 --> 00:40:47,640
back you up here.
I want to extrapolate on this
938
00:40:47,650 --> 00:40:50,720
because it it is, I don't think
anyone, unless you've
939
00:40:50,730 --> 00:40:54,670
experienced trying to do it
teaching mixed ability English
940
00:40:54,720 --> 00:40:59,070
with a group of children who
cannot read in your class and a
941
00:40:59,080 --> 00:41:01,670
group of children who are
reading, you know, the works of
942
00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:07,270
Jane Eyre and they're like 10.
That that is, to me, crazy.
943
00:41:07,280 --> 00:41:10,890
And I still have never heard
anyone really properly explained
944
00:41:10,900 --> 00:41:13,190
because you're exactly right.
We we've had spelling training
945
00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:15,060
lately.
We've had loads of training in
946
00:41:15,070 --> 00:41:16,510
the past.
Anyone who's a teacher, worked
947
00:41:16,520 --> 00:41:19,230
in education, will have training
sometimes and you'll think that
948
00:41:19,240 --> 00:41:22,190
sounds great on paper.
But can you answer my 4
949
00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:24,730
questions about how in this
exact situation, which I'm in
950
00:41:24,740 --> 00:41:26,940
right now in a class, how this
would remotely help?
951
00:41:27,010 --> 00:41:29,300
And they honestly never really
have an answer.
952
00:41:29,310 --> 00:41:32,060
So my big question with whole
class reading, for example, I
953
00:41:32,070 --> 00:41:34,410
think it's a fantastic approach.
It's something I would
954
00:41:34,510 --> 00:41:37,130
absolutely say to schools they
should implement when it comes
955
00:41:37,140 --> 00:41:38,540
to English and it should be
mixed ability.
956
00:41:38,590 --> 00:41:40,660
And again, on paper, it's
brilliant and I'm the advocate
957
00:41:40,670 --> 00:41:42,620
for that, right?
But then I just, I think to
958
00:41:42,630 --> 00:41:46,500
myself, OK, well, what what is
the answer then to the four kids
959
00:41:46,510 --> 00:41:48,460
who can't decode and write their
own name yet?
960
00:41:48,530 --> 00:41:50,880
Like, how on earth are they
gonna follow along with Michael
961
00:41:50,890 --> 00:41:53,240
Morpurgo?
But so where do you sit when it
962
00:41:53,250 --> 00:41:54,560
comes to like English with
reading?
963
00:41:54,770 --> 00:41:56,960
I think there's still a lot of
what we said, what I said about
964
00:41:56,970 --> 00:41:58,510
maths.
I think it's still applicable in
965
00:41:58,520 --> 00:42:00,730
in a way.
I just think with English in
966
00:42:00,740 --> 00:42:03,200
general it's easier to have
passive outcomes.
967
00:42:03,960 --> 00:42:08,110
I think it's easier to teach a
mixed ability class with like in
968
00:42:08,120 --> 00:42:11,980
reality without having to plan
basically a bunch of different
969
00:42:11,990 --> 00:42:13,840
objectives which which might
actually end up happening
970
00:42:13,850 --> 00:42:16,780
sometimes in maths because
they're so far apart that they
971
00:42:16,790 --> 00:42:18,990
can't even do the objective
without the three things that
972
00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:20,730
come before it.
Whereas if English, you know
973
00:42:20,740 --> 00:42:24,250
think about writing, I think you
can generally give and any group
974
00:42:24,260 --> 00:42:27,870
of children the same task and
the differentiators by outcome.
975
00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:31,320
You know I'm just not expecting
as much from those children and
976
00:42:31,330 --> 00:42:34,920
that's OK you know you you you
can you can hone in on on
977
00:42:34,930 --> 00:42:38,000
certain it's easier in a in a
English class I think to hone in
978
00:42:38,010 --> 00:42:41,200
on a range of skills and just
not expect some children to be
979
00:42:41,210 --> 00:42:43,450
working at the level that other
children are.
980
00:42:43,490 --> 00:42:48,030
And I think that's OK.
OK, yeah, go on, you, you're
981
00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:49,200
gonna say to me?
No, no, no, it's fine.
982
00:42:49,210 --> 00:42:51,150
I'm just, I'm just trying to get
to the bottom of what we're
983
00:42:51,160 --> 00:42:53,120
thinking here because I I
suppose, OK.
984
00:42:53,170 --> 00:42:56,060
So in general, we've talked
about idealism versus realism
985
00:42:56,070 --> 00:42:59,620
and this idea that, you know,
obviously, I completely agree
986
00:42:59,630 --> 00:43:02,680
with you in terms of there's got
to be some malleability here.
987
00:43:02,690 --> 00:43:05,820
And I don't think that we can
safely say that for every single
988
00:43:05,830 --> 00:43:08,170
group of children in the whole
country that one way is going to
989
00:43:08,180 --> 00:43:09,840
be better than another.
I just don't think, I don't
990
00:43:09,850 --> 00:43:12,990
think we can do that.
So OK, let's just say then we're
991
00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:16,290
accepting now that setting in
certain environments is the
992
00:43:16,300 --> 00:43:17,780
right thing to do.
OK.
993
00:43:17,940 --> 00:43:19,990
And in in other environments
it's not.
994
00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:21,430
I think we can both agree with
that.
995
00:43:21,440 --> 00:43:23,790
We can say sometimes it's the
right decision to set, sometimes
996
00:43:23,800 --> 00:43:26,290
it's not.
And and a slippery slope and a
997
00:43:26,300 --> 00:43:28,790
big thing from the research,
again from about a decade ago
998
00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:32,150
now, a big part of the argument
was, OK, so you want to set.
999
00:43:32,200 --> 00:43:34,250
OK, fine.
We've got this research saying
1000
00:43:34,260 --> 00:43:36,020
it's bad.
It doesn't really affect
1001
00:43:36,030 --> 00:43:39,090
attainment and it squashes up
and it doesn't really help the
1002
00:43:39,100 --> 00:43:41,350
lower ability children much.
And that's what we want to try
1003
00:43:41,360 --> 00:43:43,750
and protect in terms of, you
know, mental health and all that
1004
00:43:43,760 --> 00:43:45,230
kind of stuff.
OK, We accept all of that.
1005
00:43:45,240 --> 00:43:47,570
We can negate that for a good
teaching, positive outcomes,
1006
00:43:47,580 --> 00:43:49,880
blah blah blah.
Alright, but how are you going
1007
00:43:49,890 --> 00:43:52,700
to set, how are you going to
make this decision that this
1008
00:43:52,710 --> 00:43:54,940
child should be in this
category?
1009
00:43:55,030 --> 00:43:57,790
What are you going to use to
inform that as a teacher?
1010
00:43:57,800 --> 00:44:00,270
Are you just going to teach them
and say ohh, by the way these
1011
00:44:00,280 --> 00:44:03,030
kids should be doing this.
Are you going to use a test?
1012
00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:04,760
Are you going to use a
standardised measure?
1013
00:44:04,810 --> 00:44:08,150
Because the the big part from
the research again was even
1014
00:44:08,160 --> 00:44:10,240
those who do set, it's very
arbitrary.
1015
00:44:10,250 --> 00:44:12,950
It's it's a misinformed and
subjective way of doing it in
1016
00:44:12,960 --> 00:44:16,020
the 1st place because you know,
it's down to each individual
1017
00:44:16,030 --> 00:44:18,410
school and how many times have
you taught us that and you
1018
00:44:18,420 --> 00:44:20,970
thought this child should be in
a different set when when
1019
00:44:20,980 --> 00:44:22,530
really.
Yeah, it's your gut instinct
1020
00:44:22,540 --> 00:44:25,040
saying that really, yeah.
So you know, where do you stand
1021
00:44:25,050 --> 00:44:26,700
with?
That I guess like 2 points.
1022
00:44:26,710 --> 00:44:29,270
Again, like with that exact
example, I think firstly, if you
1023
00:44:29,280 --> 00:44:31,710
are going to be setting in a
school where it has to be fluid,
1024
00:44:32,170 --> 00:44:34,990
it's got to be fluid.
There's you know you can't if
1025
00:44:35,000 --> 00:44:36,630
we're already accepting.
We're putting a bit of a ceiling
1026
00:44:36,640 --> 00:44:38,620
on the children by by doing
sets.
1027
00:44:38,630 --> 00:44:40,600
If we're all agreeing another
research isn't wrong, you know
1028
00:44:40,610 --> 00:44:42,230
you are kind of doing that
whether you think you are or
1029
00:44:42,240 --> 00:44:44,260
not.
Yeah, at least you need to be.
1030
00:44:44,270 --> 00:44:46,160
You need to be fluid.
Like if a child is working at
1031
00:44:46,210 --> 00:44:48,020
higher or lower level, they need
to be able to go to a different
1032
00:44:48,030 --> 00:44:50,120
set and get the right thing for
their needs.
1033
00:44:50,130 --> 00:44:52,140
Otherwise it's just pointless.
You've broken the system.
1034
00:44:52,150 --> 00:44:54,230
It's mixed ability again,
because you've got one kid in
1035
00:44:54,240 --> 00:44:55,610
your class that shouldn't be
there.
1036
00:44:56,810 --> 00:44:58,010
I've forgotten the original
question.
1037
00:44:58,460 --> 00:45:00,790
Now my point was, how would how
would you go about that then in
1038
00:45:00,800 --> 00:45:03,030
a world where we're both kind of
saying, aren't we?
1039
00:45:03,100 --> 00:45:04,550
OK, well, yeah, of course we're
gonna set.
1040
00:45:04,560 --> 00:45:07,910
Sometimes, I think if you're
going to be the person or the
1041
00:45:07,920 --> 00:45:10,110
people in this case who are
essentially going against the
1042
00:45:10,120 --> 00:45:12,610
research, which we are, you've
got to really back it up, I
1043
00:45:12,620 --> 00:45:13,350
think.
So.
1044
00:45:13,400 --> 00:45:16,740
You know, how would you go about
deciding, A, whether it should
1045
00:45:16,750 --> 00:45:19,810
be set B, whether you should set
across the school in a certain
1046
00:45:19,820 --> 00:45:22,950
way, C you know, what, are you
actually going to go off?
1047
00:45:22,960 --> 00:45:25,210
Are you gonna go off the opinion
of the teacher or are you gonna
1048
00:45:25,220 --> 00:45:27,350
go off empirical data?
And how are you gonna make sure
1049
00:45:27,360 --> 00:45:28,960
that empirical data is worth
going off?
1050
00:45:29,230 --> 00:45:31,900
I think the opinion of a teacher
is something that has been long,
1051
00:45:32,130 --> 00:45:35,810
long forgotten and long thrown
in the bin of like, oh, it's not
1052
00:45:35,820 --> 00:45:37,760
use, it's not useful because you
know, sort of Sats came in and
1053
00:45:37,770 --> 00:45:39,570
said ohh, actually we don't care
about teacher assessment
1054
00:45:39,580 --> 00:45:41,070
anymore.
We're just gonna use this data
1055
00:45:41,110 --> 00:45:43,180
to inform everything.
I think the the opinion of a
1056
00:45:43,190 --> 00:45:45,760
teacher is the most valid thing
in my opinion.
1057
00:45:46,510 --> 00:45:49,490
I think if if you've been
working with a group of children
1058
00:45:50,380 --> 00:45:54,240
and you notice that one of their
needs isn't being met and you're
1059
00:45:54,250 --> 00:45:56,700
struggling to meet their needs,
but you happen to know that
1060
00:45:56,710 --> 00:45:59,000
there's another set that exists
that will meet their needs
1061
00:45:59,010 --> 00:46:01,790
perfectly, I think your opinion
on that, regardless of where
1062
00:46:01,800 --> 00:46:03,780
they've done a test or not,
should be the most important
1063
00:46:03,790 --> 00:46:05,700
thing.
But I do think tests are a very,
1064
00:46:05,710 --> 00:46:08,780
very good way of either backing
up what you said or or trying to
1065
00:46:08,790 --> 00:46:11,160
initially find something.
For example, if you at the start
1066
00:46:11,170 --> 00:46:13,520
of the year when you don't know
the children at all, I think
1067
00:46:13,530 --> 00:46:16,740
it's wise to, it's a starting
point to maybe use the end of
1068
00:46:16,750 --> 00:46:18,740
year data from the previous
year.
1069
00:46:18,990 --> 00:46:20,600
I think that's a good starting
point.
1070
00:46:20,690 --> 00:46:23,710
And then as you start to learn
the children, a bit of fluidity,
1071
00:46:23,720 --> 00:46:25,150
you know, children change
anyway.
1072
00:46:25,160 --> 00:46:27,720
You could start moving them
around a bit, but I think
1073
00:46:27,800 --> 00:46:30,000
opinion, teacher opinion is
probably the most important
1074
00:46:30,010 --> 00:46:31,430
thing.
Professionals, we work with
1075
00:46:31,440 --> 00:46:32,830
these kids all day.
We know.
1076
00:46:32,920 --> 00:46:34,540
We know who they are.
We know what they're like.
1077
00:46:34,550 --> 00:46:37,820
We know they're learning needs
and capabilities very, very well
1078
00:46:37,830 --> 00:46:41,600
or as accurately as we can do.
Yeah, that's my opinion.
1079
00:46:41,770 --> 00:46:44,080
OK so Hayden give us an insight
then for anyone listening
1080
00:46:44,090 --> 00:46:47,260
because as most of you probably
know we we lead maths.
1081
00:46:47,270 --> 00:46:50,130
We've LED maths in well LED
maths in this school.
1082
00:46:50,140 --> 00:46:55,150
Hayden's LED maths in a number
of schools Now we have a system
1083
00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:58,070
where we've kind of come to
which we think is the best of
1084
00:46:58,080 --> 00:47:01,140
all worlds and and like you said
of course we're fluid and we're
1085
00:47:01,150 --> 00:47:03,600
responsive and things like that
but just just sit out.
1086
00:47:03,610 --> 00:47:06,650
Then Hayden you know how you in
an ideal world which is
1087
00:47:06,660 --> 00:47:10,080
essentially what we do how would
you go about setting then in a
1088
00:47:10,090 --> 00:47:14,650
system where you know let's say
it's a Junior School they they
1089
00:47:14,660 --> 00:47:16,900
come to you guys in year three.
We're in that situation like
1090
00:47:16,910 --> 00:47:19,490
you've said where we don't
really have we have some data
1091
00:47:19,500 --> 00:47:20,980
but it's not something we can
talk to.
1092
00:47:20,990 --> 00:47:22,790
We don't have the opinion of a
teacher anymore.
1093
00:47:23,870 --> 00:47:25,980
Ohh, you talk about year four,
year five?
1094
00:47:25,990 --> 00:47:27,330
Year six.
A bunch of people messaged me on
1095
00:47:27,340 --> 00:47:29,940
Instagram and said they set.
But only in year six.
1096
00:47:30,410 --> 00:47:31,220
Yeah.
And.
1097
00:47:31,230 --> 00:47:33,580
And they talked about that kind
of idea, which is very common.
1098
00:47:33,590 --> 00:47:35,140
I think I've just setting in
year six.
1099
00:47:35,150 --> 00:47:37,020
We set because we know it
improves outcomes.
1100
00:47:37,310 --> 00:47:38,790
So we just do it in the year
that it matters.
1101
00:47:38,800 --> 00:47:40,080
Well, why are you sitting in
year six?
1102
00:47:40,090 --> 00:47:41,460
It's when the Sats.
OK, I see.
1103
00:47:41,470 --> 00:47:43,360
Interesting.
So is that because they do
1104
00:47:43,370 --> 00:47:45,810
better in their Sats when you
set or.
1105
00:47:45,820 --> 00:47:47,810
Yeah, yeah.
Why would we wait to the end of
1106
00:47:47,820 --> 00:47:50,840
the school year to then set them
when we know it's detrimental?
1107
00:47:50,850 --> 00:47:54,540
We obviously wouldn't do that.
So how would you go about?
1108
00:47:54,940 --> 00:47:58,740
Setting children in a in a
school setting, what would you
1109
00:47:58,750 --> 00:47:59,240
do?
Sure.
1110
00:47:59,280 --> 00:48:02,860
So let's let's assume that at
the start of your school,
1111
00:48:02,870 --> 00:48:04,680
wherever it is, if you're Junior
School, primary school, let's
1112
00:48:04,690 --> 00:48:06,730
say you have no data on the
children's mixability.
1113
00:48:06,740 --> 00:48:08,690
Straight away you start a mixed
ability.
1114
00:48:08,700 --> 00:48:11,450
Yeah, who are we to guess based
on nothing, right?
1115
00:48:11,460 --> 00:48:14,160
Put their mixed ability classes
for an X amount of time, however
1116
00:48:14,170 --> 00:48:16,830
long you think is appropriate, a
few months, you terms, whatever.
1117
00:48:17,040 --> 00:48:19,790
Once you've got a bit of
empirical data and you've
1118
00:48:19,800 --> 00:48:21,650
learned that you need to know
the children, I think at that
1119
00:48:21,660 --> 00:48:23,960
point you can start thinking if
you're going to set this is when
1120
00:48:23,970 --> 00:48:27,020
you can start looking at the
data and talking to the teachers
1121
00:48:27,030 --> 00:48:29,630
that teach them to decide on an
individual basis for every
1122
00:48:29,640 --> 00:48:31,660
single child.
It's not just a everyone that
1123
00:48:31,670 --> 00:48:34,980
got more than 20% goes here.
No, no, it's every single child
1124
00:48:34,990 --> 00:48:37,280
is an individual.
We can't think of them as data
1125
00:48:37,290 --> 00:48:40,050
points.
We're not the government and put
1126
00:48:40,060 --> 00:48:43,990
them into a group that you think
is going to be most beneficial
1127
00:48:44,000 --> 00:48:47,740
for their learning.
Secondly, culture I think is so
1128
00:48:47,750 --> 00:48:49,840
important.
If the research is saying it, it
1129
00:48:49,850 --> 00:48:53,020
negatively impacts their minds,
their mindset, right?
1130
00:48:53,030 --> 00:48:54,440
Because they know what set
they're in.
1131
00:48:54,770 --> 00:48:57,520
I think it is the school's
responsibility to do everything
1132
00:48:57,530 --> 00:49:00,250
they possibly can to not make
that a thing.
1133
00:49:00,730 --> 00:49:02,780
You can't get rid of it
completely because kids aren't
1134
00:49:02,790 --> 00:49:04,260
stupid.
They're going to work out if
1135
00:49:04,270 --> 00:49:06,520
they're in a higher or lower set
by talking to their mates.
1136
00:49:06,770 --> 00:49:10,340
But you can at least not call it
the low set and the greater
1137
00:49:10,350 --> 00:49:12,780
depth set.
You know, stuff like set 1-2 and
1138
00:49:12,790 --> 00:49:15,920
three stupid arbitrary things
where it's like any kid is
1139
00:49:15,930 --> 00:49:17,630
obviously going to work out what
that means.
1140
00:49:18,280 --> 00:49:20,530
At least try to remove that sort
of stuff.
1141
00:49:20,540 --> 00:49:22,750
So culture is really, really
important.
1142
00:49:22,880 --> 00:49:26,760
Once you've got your sets, they
have to be fluid and I think
1143
00:49:27,070 --> 00:49:29,810
you're going with the approach
of if we in an ideal world,
1144
00:49:29,820 --> 00:49:32,040
we'll have mixed ability.
So let's start with that
1145
00:49:32,050 --> 00:49:34,880
viewpoint.
But based on the kids needs,
1146
00:49:34,950 --> 00:49:37,950
we'll make sets according to
that.
1147
00:49:38,020 --> 00:49:40,750
So in our school we don't have
like a lot of schools.
1148
00:49:40,760 --> 00:49:43,070
Actually I just have a system
where it's like, ohh yeah, every
1149
00:49:43,080 --> 00:49:46,730
year we have six sets and the
kids just get divided into those
1150
00:49:46,740 --> 00:49:48,550
sets.
Like the sets pre exist the
1151
00:49:48,560 --> 00:49:50,650
children.
Whereas in our school we have a
1152
00:49:50,660 --> 00:49:53,090
different approach and I really
like our approach, which is that
1153
00:49:53,140 --> 00:49:56,210
the sets don't exist.
Every year as a completely fresh
1154
00:49:56,220 --> 00:49:59,190
slate, we just have a cohort of
let's say it just round it up to
1155
00:49:59,200 --> 00:50:02,700
100 children and we talk to the
teachers and we look at the data
1156
00:50:02,710 --> 00:50:06,480
that we have on them and we go
what would be the best for their
1157
00:50:06,490 --> 00:50:09,620
learning needs.
We're balancing out learning
1158
00:50:09,630 --> 00:50:12,670
needs with budget for a start.
It's like cool, let's let's have
1159
00:50:12,680 --> 00:50:14,970
them in 17 sets.
I'm sure that'd be great but we
1160
00:50:14,980 --> 00:50:17,120
don't have 17 teachers.
So we're but we're we're
1161
00:50:17,130 --> 00:50:20,060
thinking about budget, what's
realistic, what can we actually
1162
00:50:20,070 --> 00:50:21,760
do?
Equally we're still thinking
1163
00:50:21,770 --> 00:50:25,040
about the kids mindset I think
and their mental health of if
1164
00:50:25,050 --> 00:50:27,440
we're going to do this, you
know, let's not let's not just
1165
00:50:27,450 --> 00:50:30,470
take out three children and put
them in a set.
1166
00:50:30,480 --> 00:50:32,180
We're like you just make them
feel terrible.
1167
00:50:32,230 --> 00:50:35,620
So if we can avoid doing a set
like that we will.
1168
00:50:35,810 --> 00:50:38,290
And if it's really necessary
like in our school a couple of
1169
00:50:38,300 --> 00:50:41,680
times every couple of years we
just happen to have a cohort of
1170
00:50:41,690 --> 00:50:45,340
children where maybe there's
just a bunch of the children in
1171
00:50:45,350 --> 00:50:48,560
that year group that are just
severely behind others.
1172
00:50:48,570 --> 00:50:52,520
And and it's just unreasonable
to put them in a mixed ability
1173
00:50:52,530 --> 00:50:56,190
class because it's gonna be
extremely hard to plan for them
1174
00:50:56,200 --> 00:50:59,050
to make a really good progress.
And I also think something that
1175
00:50:59,060 --> 00:51:00,330
the research probably misses
out.
1176
00:51:00,340 --> 00:51:02,490
I don't know you could correct
me on this one but I reckon it
1177
00:51:02,500 --> 00:51:03,960
misses out because it's
inconvenient.
1178
00:51:04,020 --> 00:51:09,240
Is that is there any negative
side effects to to children's
1179
00:51:09,250 --> 00:51:11,110
mentality when they're in a
mixed ability set and they're
1180
00:51:11,120 --> 00:51:14,140
clearly the lowest in the class
because I find that interesting.
1181
00:51:14,150 --> 00:51:16,570
Imagine being sat there and you
said everyone else is doing this
1182
00:51:16,580 --> 00:51:19,370
task you get given that
different differentiated thing
1183
00:51:19,380 --> 00:51:23,820
every every twinkle time.
Yeah, like there's a whole other
1184
00:51:23,830 --> 00:51:24,880
conversation come to in a
minute.
1185
00:51:24,980 --> 00:51:27,800
Differentiate sheets and things.
Yeah, yeah, I reckon there's,
1186
00:51:27,810 --> 00:51:29,210
you know, I don't think it's
perfect.
1187
00:51:29,220 --> 00:51:31,110
I don't think being in a mixed
ability, suddenly all the kids
1188
00:51:31,120 --> 00:51:32,570
are like, ohh, no, we're all the
same.
1189
00:51:32,640 --> 00:51:35,070
It's like no, no, they'll still
work out that that everyone else
1190
00:51:35,080 --> 00:51:37,430
is doing that hard task and you
can't write your name properly.
1191
00:51:37,440 --> 00:51:39,750
They're not gonna not know.
Well, here's the thing.
1192
00:51:39,760 --> 00:51:41,270
We'll move on to differentiation
now though.
1193
00:51:41,280 --> 00:51:43,060
It's such a good point.
I'm gonna start off by saying
1194
00:51:43,070 --> 00:51:45,850
something I've always thought
because I've played almost ever
1195
00:51:45,860 --> 00:51:48,310
there was advocate during this
episode a little bit because I I
1196
00:51:48,320 --> 00:51:50,980
think the way we do things is a
really good way of doing it.
1197
00:51:50,990 --> 00:51:52,430
And I think being reactive to
the children.
1198
00:51:52,440 --> 00:51:56,060
So the number one thing,
however, it really makes me
1199
00:51:56,070 --> 00:51:58,200
laugh.
And people are like vehemently,
1200
00:51:58,250 --> 00:52:01,080
vehemently like, yeah, we must
do mixed ability because of this
1201
00:52:01,090 --> 00:52:02,580
and this.
And I'm like, OK, it's nice that
1202
00:52:02,590 --> 00:52:04,020
you're really passionate about
it.
1203
00:52:04,350 --> 00:52:07,700
But, you know, let's think about
it for a second because either
1204
00:52:07,710 --> 00:52:12,050
we set via class, OK, Where in
four different classrooms
1205
00:52:12,060 --> 00:52:13,920
there's four different levels of
children, right.
1206
00:52:13,930 --> 00:52:17,600
And then within that set, I
still group my children based on
1207
00:52:17,610 --> 00:52:18,980
how well I think they're doing
day-to-day.
1208
00:52:18,990 --> 00:52:21,080
I might move children around and
be like, OK, you guys are
1209
00:52:21,090 --> 00:52:22,300
cracking on today.
Well done.
1210
00:52:22,390 --> 00:52:23,710
These guys need a bit more
support.
1211
00:52:23,720 --> 00:52:26,390
So I'm still doing that.
OK, now that flipped to a mixed
1212
00:52:26,400 --> 00:52:28,350
ability classroom.
You just have that in the
1213
00:52:28,360 --> 00:52:31,500
microcosm of a classroom you've
got 4 tables, and the four
1214
00:52:31,510 --> 00:52:34,290
tables are the four sets which
would exist, but instead of
1215
00:52:34,300 --> 00:52:36,970
having a different teacher on
each table, this time catering
1216
00:52:36,980 --> 00:52:39,950
to those needs, you've got one
teachers at the front who's
1217
00:52:39,960 --> 00:52:42,890
having to balance what would be
4 classes if you said yeah,
1218
00:52:42,900 --> 00:52:45,840
doing 4 different things, one
tables doing something
1219
00:52:45,850 --> 00:52:48,830
completely like 2 years below
where they where they like year
1220
00:52:48,840 --> 00:52:50,470
expected.
The other ones doing greater
1221
00:52:50,480 --> 00:52:53,010
depth in that year group and and
you're suggesting that that's
1222
00:52:53,020 --> 00:52:54,830
always better.
I find that hard to believe.
1223
00:52:54,840 --> 00:52:56,870
Yeah, me too.
I think just that is a perfect
1224
00:52:56,880 --> 00:52:59,810
example, because if they're, if
they're if they're set, at least
1225
00:52:59,820 --> 00:53:02,140
they're surrounded by children
that are like minded and similar
1226
00:53:02,150 --> 00:53:03,500
ability, right?
Completely.
1227
00:53:03,610 --> 00:53:06,280
It might actually help them not
feel rubbish, but when you're
1228
00:53:06,290 --> 00:53:08,080
sat on the table on the next
table, the table next to you is
1229
00:53:08,090 --> 00:53:09,720
doing all harder stuff every
single day.
1230
00:53:10,420 --> 00:53:13,650
Yeah I think it's more likely
that you're going to look over
1231
00:53:13,660 --> 00:53:15,870
and be like ohh, we're the
lowest table.
1232
00:53:16,800 --> 00:53:18,890
I think that's more likely than
realising with a lower set.
1233
00:53:18,900 --> 00:53:19,910
I don't know maybe it's the
same.
1234
00:53:19,920 --> 00:53:22,550
But your point stands which is
that yeah, it's not always gonna
1235
00:53:22,560 --> 00:53:24,730
be better though is it Depends
how you do externality.
1236
00:53:24,740 --> 00:53:27,830
So do do you think that mixed
ability to work effectively, as
1237
00:53:27,840 --> 00:53:32,090
the research says has to be
true, pure, make stability, as
1238
00:53:32,100 --> 00:53:35,950
in like the children have no
idea that of their ability like
1239
00:53:35,960 --> 00:53:39,170
in the classroom, completely
random seating plan?
1240
00:53:39,540 --> 00:53:41,670
Yeah, I don't.
I don't get the impression from
1241
00:53:41,680 --> 00:53:43,550
the research.
The impression I got was simply
1242
00:53:43,560 --> 00:53:47,130
that you exacerbated by setting
like it's always going to exist.
1243
00:53:47,210 --> 00:53:49,800
You obviously exacerbated by
setting which is obviously true,
1244
00:53:49,810 --> 00:53:53,400
like it's obviously much more.
It's much easier to realise that
1245
00:53:53,410 --> 00:53:56,730
and also it it gives the IT, it
puts a ceiling on the children
1246
00:53:56,740 --> 00:53:59,180
to move around in the class and
be able to do something right.
1247
00:53:59,190 --> 00:54:02,040
So if someone if someone's on
the oblong table and they
1248
00:54:02,050 --> 00:54:04,270
usually do the lower stuff, but
it's a lesson that they really
1249
00:54:04,280 --> 00:54:06,800
get this time and they can move
on to the same sheets as the
1250
00:54:06,810 --> 00:54:10,360
triangle table, right?
That is harder to implement in a
1251
00:54:10,410 --> 00:54:13,010
in a setting like.
You can still do it if you're a
1252
00:54:13,020 --> 00:54:16,060
good teacher and you put lots of
time in, but it's harder to
1253
00:54:16,070 --> 00:54:18,970
achieve that and that fluidity
that we talked about.
1254
00:54:18,980 --> 00:54:20,950
We have to have fluidity we're
doing setting.
1255
00:54:21,020 --> 00:54:23,630
Well, that fluidity just kind of
exists everyday in a mixed
1256
00:54:23,640 --> 00:54:25,110
ability.
So I don't want anyone to think
1257
00:54:25,120 --> 00:54:27,590
that we're sat here going mixed
abilities obviously bad.
1258
00:54:27,600 --> 00:54:29,550
No, no, no.
I think all we're trying to say
1259
00:54:29,560 --> 00:54:32,390
here is like in defence of still
sometimes setting because I
1260
00:54:32,400 --> 00:54:33,890
think there's gonna be pros and
cons.
1261
00:54:34,040 --> 00:54:36,010
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
OK, let's move on to talk about
1262
00:54:36,020 --> 00:54:38,670
differentiation then.
Anyone who hasn't worked in a
1263
00:54:38,680 --> 00:54:40,550
school before is probably
thinking what on earth is
1264
00:54:40,560 --> 00:54:42,110
differentiation.
You've been talking about and
1265
00:54:42,120 --> 00:54:45,930
the and the and the point is the
the overall goal for a child in
1266
00:54:45,940 --> 00:54:48,050
any year group is that they
access that year group's
1267
00:54:48,060 --> 00:54:51,220
curriculum, OK.
And I think as as educators and
1268
00:54:51,230 --> 00:54:55,300
as non educators as well, we can
accept that children are not
1269
00:54:55,310 --> 00:54:58,360
going to be able to access
something in the curriculum at
1270
00:54:58,370 --> 00:55:01,970
the same level, at the same
ability as other children.
1271
00:55:01,980 --> 00:55:04,340
That's exactly what's whole
conversation's been about.
1272
00:55:04,350 --> 00:55:08,140
So if you're doing a lesson on,
let's just say it's a column
1273
00:55:08,150 --> 00:55:10,100
addition.
How to add together 2 numbers
1274
00:55:10,710 --> 00:55:13,460
and you're in now.
OK, we're in this mixed ability
1275
00:55:13,470 --> 00:55:18,360
setting, OK?
Differentiation would be the
1276
00:55:18,370 --> 00:55:21,520
difference between what you
expect one child and another to
1277
00:55:21,530 --> 00:55:25,040
be doing in that lesson.
So it if you walk into a class
1278
00:55:25,050 --> 00:55:27,400
for them, Yeah, exactly.
If you walked into a classroom
1279
00:55:27,410 --> 00:55:31,680
of 32 children, and every single
child was doing the exact same
1280
00:55:31,690 --> 00:55:35,670
task with the exact same amount
of support, it would be a bit.
1281
00:55:35,680 --> 00:55:39,180
Odd and same a bit station.
Exactly.
1282
00:55:39,190 --> 00:55:41,390
So exactly that we're we're
stepping into the mixed ability
1283
00:55:41,400 --> 00:55:43,640
classroom.
Now we're not setting cause
1284
00:55:43,650 --> 00:55:46,050
setting kind of different
differentiates for you.
1285
00:55:46,060 --> 00:55:47,790
The problem being it's
predetermined, but it does
1286
00:55:47,800 --> 00:55:50,490
differentiate for you.
If you set four ways, you're
1287
00:55:50,500 --> 00:55:51,840
already differentiating four
ways.
1288
00:55:51,850 --> 00:55:53,980
You get 4 different curriculums
almost that I'm meeting the
1289
00:55:53,990 --> 00:55:58,030
needs of the children, you and
mixability classroom Now it's
1290
00:55:58,040 --> 00:56:00,170
weird that we have all this
positivity about mixed ability
1291
00:56:00,180 --> 00:56:02,590
and stuff, but then then then we
have to sit down and be like ohh
1292
00:56:02,600 --> 00:56:04,360
by the way.
You do need to plan for
1293
00:56:04,370 --> 00:56:07,490
different things though, because
we now are going to accept that
1294
00:56:07,500 --> 00:56:09,000
there are obviously different
children at different.
1295
00:56:09,010 --> 00:56:11,390
Levels.
I think that that's that kind of
1296
00:56:11,400 --> 00:56:12,670
mindset has also gone out of the
window.
1297
00:56:12,680 --> 00:56:14,760
But hasn't it recently?
Because it very much used to
1298
00:56:14,770 --> 00:56:17,100
when we started our careers.
I remember it was drilled into
1299
00:56:17,110 --> 00:56:20,110
us, like properly drilled.
We'd literally get pulled up if
1300
00:56:20,120 --> 00:56:22,610
our lessons didn't do this.
It was always every lesson we
1301
00:56:22,620 --> 00:56:25,970
taught had to have three
different tasks.
1302
00:56:26,060 --> 00:56:28,010
And some of you teachers might
be thinking, Oh my God, yeah,
1303
00:56:28,090 --> 00:56:30,540
it's either still the same for
me or I remember that very well.
1304
00:56:30,670 --> 00:56:32,600
And it was unique liability.
Blue.
1305
00:56:32,660 --> 00:56:34,340
Yep, orange, green and blue or
whatever it was.
1306
00:56:34,450 --> 00:56:37,460
You need a low ability task, you
need a middle ability task, and
1307
00:56:37,470 --> 00:56:40,110
you need a higher ability task.
It all needs to be around the
1308
00:56:40,120 --> 00:56:42,120
same objective because we're
inclusive and it's a mixed
1309
00:56:42,130 --> 00:56:44,880
ability class.
But give them different things
1310
00:56:44,890 --> 00:56:48,900
to suit their ability, and it
did the exact same thing that
1311
00:56:48,910 --> 00:56:52,240
setting does, just in a worse
way, in my opinion, because you
1312
00:56:52,250 --> 00:56:54,400
just as you're now one teacher
trying to do three things rather
1313
00:56:54,410 --> 00:56:56,640
than three teachers doing one
thing each.
1314
00:56:57,920 --> 00:57:00,650
And yeah, so you'd go around the
class and and I remember, I
1315
00:57:00,660 --> 00:57:02,020
actually remember watching a
lesson once.
1316
00:57:02,030 --> 00:57:03,960
It was one of the first lessons
I ever watched, like as a sort
1317
00:57:03,970 --> 00:57:06,840
of trainee teacher.
And I genuinely, genuinely
1318
00:57:06,850 --> 00:57:09,710
remember thinking, oh, this is
like making me feel a bit
1319
00:57:09,720 --> 00:57:13,460
embarrassed because the teacher
was going around and going
1320
00:57:13,470 --> 00:57:16,210
right, you get this task.
Ohh no, you don't get that.
1321
00:57:16,220 --> 00:57:18,360
When you got the harder one, you
get that task.
1322
00:57:18,690 --> 00:57:20,340
You've got that one.
And just going around handing
1323
00:57:20,350 --> 00:57:22,080
out the differentiated sheets to
the kids.
1324
00:57:22,150 --> 00:57:25,760
And I was thinking, doesn't that
make that kid feel really dumb
1325
00:57:25,770 --> 00:57:26,940
now?
Because you just gave the one
1326
00:57:26,950 --> 00:57:29,320
next to them the hard one and
they can see that they've got
1327
00:57:29,330 --> 00:57:31,690
the one where they have to draw
a circle and they've got to
1328
00:57:31,700 --> 00:57:34,700
write an essay like does they?
Are they not gonna realise that?
1329
00:57:34,750 --> 00:57:36,480
So it's, you know, it always
comes back to that same
1330
00:57:36,530 --> 00:57:39,550
mentality that the mental health
thing with the children.
1331
00:57:40,360 --> 00:57:42,790
But yeah, the three tasks, man,
I think it's gone out the window
1332
00:57:42,800 --> 00:57:45,410
a bit more, and I think
rightfully so.
1333
00:57:45,610 --> 00:57:48,070
Schools and education generally
have realised that.
1334
00:57:49,400 --> 00:57:52,030
Try to get the kids doing the
same task of differentiate by
1335
00:57:52,040 --> 00:57:53,670
the support that you give them,
you know?
1336
00:57:53,680 --> 00:57:57,350
Maybe maybe one child just gets
a support sheet that all guides
1337
00:57:57,360 --> 00:57:58,870
their thinking a bit more, you
know?
1338
00:57:59,060 --> 00:58:03,250
And gets and gets like and gets
not as far into the lesson and
1339
00:58:03,260 --> 00:58:07,250
the object like plans it like
you're a variation in your
1340
00:58:07,260 --> 00:58:09,550
letter right start maybe at a
lower level.
1341
00:58:09,760 --> 00:58:12,650
Everyone has starts off at a
level where they simply
1342
00:58:13,000 --> 00:58:16,110
demonstrating that they can meet
the meet the objective.
1343
00:58:16,220 --> 00:58:19,240
That's where we kind of start.
If children still aren't meeting
1344
00:58:19,250 --> 00:58:21,540
the objective, maybe they'll
carry on with some practise.
1345
00:58:21,790 --> 00:58:23,830
If children do meet the
objective, maybe they'll move on
1346
00:58:23,840 --> 00:58:25,820
to a bit of problem solving
based on what they've learned
1347
00:58:25,870 --> 00:58:27,710
and they can like apply it in a
certain way.
1348
00:58:27,750 --> 00:58:29,810
And then the other children who
were practising, practising
1349
00:58:29,820 --> 00:58:31,880
maybe at the end or do a bit of
problem solving with you.
1350
00:58:31,890 --> 00:58:33,980
But you know, you're kind of
doing the same thing and you
1351
00:58:33,990 --> 00:58:35,270
change it.
For anyone who's not sure what
1352
00:58:35,280 --> 00:58:37,600
we're talking about here in
terms of three tasks, let's say
1353
00:58:37,610 --> 00:58:40,820
we were talking about again,
let's just say it's addition.
1354
00:58:40,870 --> 00:58:44,020
So the the three tasks might be
task A is just adding two
1355
00:58:44,030 --> 00:58:45,550
numbers together.
There's no exchanging.
1356
00:58:45,560 --> 00:58:47,820
They've just got to layout the
columns and maybe the columns
1357
00:58:47,830 --> 00:58:50,060
are already laid out for them.
So all they've got to do is
1358
00:58:50,070 --> 00:58:51,810
simply add up the ones about the
10s.
1359
00:58:51,900 --> 00:58:54,870
The next one might be they've
got to set it up themselves and
1360
00:58:54,880 --> 00:58:57,600
then do the edition.
And the third one might be some
1361
00:58:57,610 --> 00:59:00,140
addition in some word problems
where they've got to read like a
1362
00:59:00,150 --> 00:59:02,860
paragraph and work out what the
question is that that's that's
1363
00:59:02,870 --> 00:59:04,570
what we're talking about.
And it used to be you'd walk
1364
00:59:04,580 --> 00:59:07,900
into a room and I remember this
you'd say OK these two tables
1365
00:59:07,910 --> 00:59:10,340
you're gonna start on B, don't
worry about A, just go straight
1366
00:59:10,350 --> 00:59:12,280
to B.
These tables in the middle,
1367
00:59:12,290 --> 00:59:14,750
everyone else you're going to
start A and this table you're
1368
00:59:14,760 --> 00:59:17,530
going to do A with me and you'd
still have that bit of support
1369
00:59:17,540 --> 00:59:19,050
and.
Stuff like maximum target books.
1370
00:59:19,400 --> 00:59:21,410
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Massive Target 3.
1371
00:59:21,520 --> 00:59:23,470
Tasks on each page.
Yeah, well, and what was
1372
00:59:23,480 --> 00:59:26,150
happening, and this kind of
backs up the people who are for
1373
00:59:26,160 --> 00:59:28,600
mixed ability classes.
It shows that they're not just
1374
00:59:28,610 --> 00:59:31,520
blindly for any mixed ability
because those same people are
1375
00:59:31,530 --> 00:59:33,990
saying that's also unacceptable.
We can't set because we're
1376
00:59:34,000 --> 00:59:37,190
putting a ceiling on children,
but also we can't do this, you
1377
00:59:37,200 --> 00:59:39,390
know, mixed ability class that's
also putting a ceiling on
1378
00:59:39,400 --> 00:59:41,100
children.
So, and it has some mental
1379
00:59:41,110 --> 00:59:42,830
effects.
Yeah, it's the same mental
1380
00:59:42,840 --> 00:59:46,030
effect and I think you know
anyone blindly could could
1381
00:59:46,040 --> 00:59:47,890
blindly read the research and
this is where I always had a
1382
00:59:47,900 --> 00:59:52,240
problem with it and simply see
OK, research says mixed 30
1383
00:59:52,250 --> 00:59:54,590
better than say it's cool we're
gonna do mixed ability and then
1384
00:59:54,600 --> 00:59:56,600
kind of not go any further than
that so.
1385
00:59:56,670 --> 00:59:59,400
Or not effectively?
Yeah, not to effectively exactly
1386
00:59:59,410 --> 01:00:01,980
that.
So in a class in Hayden, we're
1387
01:00:01,990 --> 01:00:03,900
in mixed ability now because I
think, OK, it's cool.
1388
01:00:04,390 --> 01:00:07,020
You talked about differentiation
by outcome.
1389
01:00:07,030 --> 01:00:09,030
Could you just maybe expand a
bit on what you mean by
1390
01:00:09,040 --> 01:00:11,740
differentiation by outcome and
how that's more of a trendy term
1391
01:00:11,750 --> 01:00:13,550
at the minute?
And and how else might you
1392
01:00:13,560 --> 01:00:15,020
differentiate?
Like where would you sit the
1393
01:00:15,030 --> 01:00:16,860
children with the same family
different?
1394
01:00:18,310 --> 01:00:20,800
Differentiation by outcome
anyone's not in that world is
1395
01:00:20,810 --> 01:00:24,990
literally as it sounds is it's
you as a teacher just having a a
1396
01:00:25,000 --> 01:00:26,910
different expectation for how
much the children achieve.
1397
01:00:26,920 --> 01:00:29,350
Not being like everyone must get
too questioned 10 before break
1398
01:00:29,360 --> 01:00:31,540
or you miss your break.
That's a really sort of outdated
1399
01:00:31,550 --> 01:00:33,260
and not very inclusive way of
teaching.
1400
01:00:33,350 --> 01:00:36,860
It's it's more like you've
designed your task you know
1401
01:00:36,930 --> 01:00:39,640
intelligent design with tasks
which is something we talk about
1402
01:00:39,650 --> 01:00:42,620
a lot in maths so that actually
you know children, some children
1403
01:00:42,630 --> 01:00:44,410
can go further and further and
deeper and deeper into that
1404
01:00:44,420 --> 01:00:46,460
understanding.
They're all doing the same task
1405
01:00:46,590 --> 01:00:48,880
but the outcome is different.
I might only expect that some
1406
01:00:48,890 --> 01:00:51,650
children like if they can go
further if they want, but I
1407
01:00:51,660 --> 01:00:53,860
might only expect them to get to
a certain level and then maybe
1408
01:00:53,870 --> 01:00:56,570
require some support.
So other levels are other ways
1409
01:00:56,580 --> 01:00:59,170
to differentiate and which
basically just means to support
1410
01:00:59,180 --> 01:01:02,110
children and meeting objectives
like Dylan said, is with the use
1411
01:01:02,120 --> 01:01:03,530
of adults.
Obviously if you're lucky enough
1412
01:01:03,540 --> 01:01:06,860
to have a teaching assistant or
any adult really in your
1413
01:01:06,870 --> 01:01:10,240
classroom that can support you,
it might be that they work with
1414
01:01:10,250 --> 01:01:14,520
a child or a group of children.
It might be that they which is
1415
01:01:14,530 --> 01:01:16,580
quite common and trendy now,
they sort of do the actual
1416
01:01:16,590 --> 01:01:19,900
floating around the class and
you go and work with a table of
1417
01:01:19,910 --> 01:01:22,320
children because a lot of people
say, you know, it was very
1418
01:01:22,330 --> 01:01:24,660
frowned upon, wasn't it years
ago That why why is the TA
1419
01:01:24,670 --> 01:01:27,170
always left with working with
the lowest 4 but the four
1420
01:01:27,180 --> 01:01:29,360
ability children in the
classroom when you're the
1421
01:01:29,370 --> 01:01:31,840
trained teacher, you go and work
with the lowest affordability
1422
01:01:32,150 --> 01:01:34,600
children and the TA can go
around and helicopter and help
1423
01:01:34,610 --> 01:01:36,940
other people out, which I fully
agree with by the way.
1424
01:01:37,270 --> 01:01:39,560
So that's another one
differentiation with with Paul
1425
01:01:39,960 --> 01:01:43,430
and you know obviously that
falls down, doesn't it some
1426
01:01:43,440 --> 01:01:46,450
point differentiation by
support, pretty obvious we talk
1427
01:01:46,460 --> 01:01:49,090
about all the time.
Go on Dylan, where's the fall
1428
01:01:49,100 --> 01:01:51,050
down?
This is the problem, I think for
1429
01:01:51,060 --> 01:01:55,210
mixed ability classes to work, I
truly think that we have to have
1430
01:01:55,220 --> 01:01:57,090
support in the classroom and
there's not enough funding.
1431
01:01:57,100 --> 01:02:01,470
So if you look at cross section,
let's say there's four English
1432
01:02:01,480 --> 01:02:05,680
sets when in the school that I
work with and we have two
1433
01:02:05,690 --> 01:02:08,170
adults, two adults support.
So you know there's a rota.
1434
01:02:08,180 --> 01:02:12,060
They're in some days and not
another days it's it's I I would
1435
01:02:12,070 --> 01:02:16,260
go as far to say that it is
truly impossible to fully
1436
01:02:16,270 --> 01:02:20,000
maximise mixed ability classes
and learning without any form of
1437
01:02:20,010 --> 01:02:21,300
adult support in there to help
you.
1438
01:02:21,310 --> 01:02:24,860
And I think the perfect way
where we're really blind as a
1439
01:02:24,870 --> 01:02:28,040
profession, where we can see it
in front of our eyes and we just
1440
01:02:28,050 --> 01:02:31,000
pretend it's not a problem, is
when we teach anything other
1441
01:02:31,010 --> 01:02:33,360
than English and maths.
So in English and maths, most
1442
01:02:33,370 --> 01:02:35,650
schools will set they'll get an
extra teacher in the morning.
1443
01:02:35,720 --> 01:02:37,600
That teacher.
Which by the way means that
1444
01:02:37,610 --> 01:02:40,120
classes are a bit smaller.
So you know, instead of having
1445
01:02:40,130 --> 01:02:42,600
32 children in your class for
maths and English, you might
1446
01:02:42,610 --> 01:02:44,900
have anything from 18 up to
2024.
1447
01:02:44,910 --> 01:02:47,380
Let's just appreciate just to
have another 4 differentiation.
1448
01:02:47,390 --> 01:02:48,940
Is it by selling?
Another form of differentiation,
1449
01:02:48,950 --> 01:02:52,620
your ratio between adults and
children, but we're very clear
1450
01:02:52,670 --> 01:02:55,320
that you know that that is
absolutely needed for children
1451
01:02:55,330 --> 01:02:57,480
to make good progress.
Whether you set or not, is the
1452
01:02:57,490 --> 01:03:00,520
ability to have smaller classes
and have more adults.
1453
01:03:00,530 --> 01:03:04,070
So the ratio for adults to
children is much smaller than if
1454
01:03:04,080 --> 01:03:06,700
it was just you in your class.
Then I don't know what happens
1455
01:03:06,710 --> 01:03:08,900
over lunchtime.
As a profession, we seem to have
1456
01:03:08,910 --> 01:03:11,110
like, you know, collective
amnesia, because we just forget
1457
01:03:11,120 --> 01:03:13,510
that that's really important.
And then the afternoon comes
1458
01:03:13,520 --> 01:03:14,860
around, you're not in sets
anymore.
1459
01:03:14,870 --> 01:03:16,520
You're back to your class of 32
children.
1460
01:03:16,570 --> 01:03:18,580
You've got no adult support
whatsoever cause there's no
1461
01:03:18,590 --> 01:03:20,760
budget for that.
So I we don't have A at all in
1462
01:03:20,770 --> 01:03:23,600
the afternoon help you in class.
You got 32 kids and you need to
1463
01:03:23,610 --> 01:03:25,680
build a geodesic structure out
of sticks, by the way.
1464
01:03:25,750 --> 01:03:26,780
Indeed.
And it's two hours.
1465
01:03:26,790 --> 01:03:28,580
What?
What?
1466
01:03:29,110 --> 01:03:32,020
Excuse me?
And I think you know that that
1467
01:03:32,030 --> 01:03:34,620
therein lies the problem.
You know, if we're going to be
1468
01:03:34,630 --> 01:03:38,310
idealistic about this, you need
to enter the real world, because
1469
01:03:38,320 --> 01:03:41,910
idealism works fantastic when
there's no restraint on budget.
1470
01:03:42,000 --> 01:03:43,950
And I don't even mean no
restraint on budget, to be
1471
01:03:43,960 --> 01:03:46,530
honest with you.
I mean having a TA during the
1472
01:03:46,540 --> 01:03:48,990
whole day.
Can you imagine, Hayden, how
1473
01:03:49,000 --> 01:03:51,690
much better do you think your
practise would be for your
1474
01:03:51,700 --> 01:03:54,790
children?
And in general, if you, as a
1475
01:03:54,800 --> 01:03:58,490
teacher, had an assistant
teacher with you all day?
1476
01:03:58,660 --> 01:04:00,710
You worked together as a two and
it was.
1477
01:04:00,720 --> 01:04:02,230
Your job to get through the
class was.
1478
01:04:02,240 --> 01:04:03,940
So much better for exactly what
you just said.
1479
01:04:03,950 --> 01:04:06,350
You know the afternoons, I think
on average in my 10 years of
1480
01:04:06,360 --> 01:04:10,000
teaching, I'd say on average per
class, I have between 3:00 and
1481
01:04:10,010 --> 01:04:13,310
7:00 children in my in my class.
So when it's back to that
1482
01:04:13,320 --> 01:04:17,740
stability in the afternoon that
require support to meet the
1483
01:04:17,750 --> 01:04:21,280
basic needs of the curriculum,
and I'm talking they literally
1484
01:04:21,290 --> 01:04:26,250
need an adult with them, or at
least a lot of time spent with
1485
01:04:26,260 --> 01:04:28,320
them in that lesson.
Disproportionate amount of time
1486
01:04:28,370 --> 01:04:31,120
for them to to for them to
achieve the most basic level,
1487
01:04:31,130 --> 01:04:34,080
level of that curriculum.
And and yeah, yeah, like you
1488
01:04:34,090 --> 01:04:35,990
said, it's very common to not
have one.
1489
01:04:36,190 --> 01:04:38,920
We just seem to forget that for
mixed abilities to work, we need
1490
01:04:38,930 --> 01:04:41,140
those things in place.
Yeah, it's impossible.
1491
01:04:41,150 --> 01:04:43,300
If I had it, it would be great
if I'd say you have a great
1492
01:04:43,310 --> 01:04:45,540
bond.
If you had like one person
1493
01:04:45,550 --> 01:04:47,660
working with all day, obviously
there is a chance that maybe you
1494
01:04:47,670 --> 01:04:49,770
don't have a great bond, then
you stuck with someone who you
1495
01:04:49,780 --> 01:04:50,930
don't work well with.
But generally.
1496
01:04:50,940 --> 01:04:52,900
You can't have job, isn't it?
That's yeah, you're gonna use
1497
01:04:52,910 --> 01:04:54,950
college, yeah, you're gonna get
on with, you know, you gonna
1498
01:04:54,960 --> 01:04:56,200
make the effort to get on with
someone.
1499
01:04:56,270 --> 01:04:58,400
And yeah, it's gonna be more
beneficial in the afternoon and
1500
01:04:58,410 --> 01:05:00,820
maybe you could do more mixed
ability stuff in the mornings,
1501
01:05:01,290 --> 01:05:03,310
like we've got a high rate
approach, haven't we?
1502
01:05:03,320 --> 01:05:05,830
We've mentioned, I think we've
really summarised it, but we've
1503
01:05:05,840 --> 01:05:07,360
got a very much a hybrid
approach.
1504
01:05:07,410 --> 01:05:10,460
We try to do mixed ability as
much as possible in English and
1505
01:05:10,470 --> 01:05:12,180
maths.
We find it easier to do in
1506
01:05:12,190 --> 01:05:13,700
English for the reasons we
discussed earlier.
1507
01:05:13,710 --> 01:05:16,070
So generally we are just
completely mixed ability in
1508
01:05:16,080 --> 01:05:19,270
English, and in maths we have a
bit of a hybrid approach.
1509
01:05:19,280 --> 01:05:22,820
We generally take out our top 32
children and then mix the rest
1510
01:05:23,510 --> 01:05:26,460
and if an absolutely necessary
we'll make another set based on
1511
01:05:26,510 --> 01:05:27,940
on on the on the children's
data.
1512
01:05:27,950 --> 01:05:30,660
But if we had more adults we
might not even need to do that.
1513
01:05:30,670 --> 01:05:32,880
You know it might that just
might not be a thing and we can
1514
01:05:32,890 --> 01:05:34,940
fully embrace what the research
says.
1515
01:05:34,950 --> 01:05:39,160
But yeah, big theme of today
reality sometimes is very
1516
01:05:39,170 --> 01:05:42,540
different to the idealism that
comes from from research and the
1517
01:05:42,550 --> 01:05:45,040
research might be great and not
even void in any way.
1518
01:05:45,110 --> 01:05:46,840
It just might not work for your
school.
1519
01:05:47,070 --> 01:05:48,960
It might not be realistic.
That's that's the way I see it.
1520
01:05:48,970 --> 01:05:52,480
And I've found over the years
that it hasn't worked and I've
1521
01:05:52,490 --> 01:05:54,370
got better outcomes and happier
children.
1522
01:05:54,420 --> 01:05:57,760
I think in doing it, it may be
in a slightly different way to
1523
01:05:57,770 --> 01:06:01,060
what the research says.
You're going to be very.
1524
01:06:01,170 --> 01:06:04,560
I think a lot of people will be
not shocked, but I think I do
1525
01:06:04,570 --> 01:06:06,750
think the consensus right now is
to not set.
1526
01:06:06,760 --> 01:06:08,390
So this will be a very
interesting episode to get
1527
01:06:08,400 --> 01:06:10,440
everyone's thoughts on it.
Because I've spoken to some
1528
01:06:10,450 --> 01:06:13,240
people on Instagram this morning
when I put a post out who said
1529
01:06:13,330 --> 01:06:16,820
and I specifically asked them,
when they mentioned that they, a
1530
01:06:16,830 --> 01:06:20,240
couple of people mentioned both.
And I specifically said to them,
1531
01:06:20,470 --> 01:06:23,900
what did you find worked better?
And they said staying in class
1532
01:06:23,910 --> 01:06:25,880
worked better, you know, for a
number of reasons.
1533
01:06:25,890 --> 01:06:29,360
Like we spoke recently, you
know, flipping the switch again.
1534
01:06:29,370 --> 01:06:32,040
Now suppose we we worked
recently with someone who came
1535
01:06:32,050 --> 01:06:34,800
in and helped us with our
spelling in school, spellings
1536
01:06:34,810 --> 01:06:36,260
poor.
So we had some staff training on
1537
01:06:36,270 --> 01:06:39,220
spelling and what we can do to
help the children.
1538
01:06:39,590 --> 01:06:43,660
And I mentioned this because
again, it was very it was a very
1539
01:06:43,670 --> 01:06:45,480
good training session.
I felt like I got a lot out of
1540
01:06:45,490 --> 01:06:47,150
it.
But but again, as soon as I
1541
01:06:47,160 --> 01:06:50,160
thought, OK, how am I going to
apply this to my class, the
1542
01:06:50,170 --> 01:06:53,580
idealism quickly turned into
realism of OK, that this is all
1543
01:06:53,590 --> 01:06:56,680
cool and these are some
fantastic games for prefixes and
1544
01:06:56,850 --> 01:06:59,850
I love the grid game where we
can like write words and find
1545
01:06:59,860 --> 01:07:02,170
them but my kids can't spell
who.
1546
01:07:02,560 --> 01:07:05,710
So you know giving them a grid
of nine letters and saying find
1547
01:07:05,720 --> 01:07:09,030
as many words as possible isn't
actually gonna help them spell
1548
01:07:09,080 --> 01:07:12,130
words better.
And I've got this spectrum in my
1549
01:07:12,140 --> 01:07:14,560
class of children who do a
million different ways of
1550
01:07:14,570 --> 01:07:16,610
spelling wrong.
Some of them do prefixes, some
1551
01:07:16,620 --> 01:07:19,200
of the site words.
Some of do phonics and I don't
1552
01:07:19,210 --> 01:07:21,580
actually know how to help them
properly as one person stood in
1553
01:07:21,590 --> 01:07:24,990
front of them and you didn't
really get an answer for it.
1554
01:07:25,000 --> 01:07:28,440
And I think that's one of the
biggest downfalls like you said
1555
01:07:28,450 --> 01:07:31,840
with, you know a mixed ability
setting is it doesn't really
1556
01:07:31,850 --> 01:07:34,240
answer that question.
And the people were saying it
1557
01:07:34,250 --> 01:07:36,180
was better though when they
stayed in class.
1558
01:07:36,550 --> 01:07:39,050
And I I suppose maybe then
throughout the day you know your
1559
01:07:39,060 --> 01:07:41,100
children better because you're
not getting children different
1560
01:07:41,110 --> 01:07:43,040
classes just from maths just for
English.
1561
01:07:43,090 --> 01:07:46,600
But I I just I don't think it's
the be all and end all.
1562
01:07:46,810 --> 01:07:49,040
Yeah, no, I agree.
And I reckon it would maybe be
1563
01:07:49,050 --> 01:07:52,110
slightly easier to manage the
million different ways your
1564
01:07:52,120 --> 01:07:54,900
children spelling things wrong
if we attempted to group them
1565
01:07:54,910 --> 01:07:57,680
four ways into like the these
kids are generally getting these
1566
01:07:57,690 --> 01:07:59,900
spelling rules wrong or they're
at this level of that spelling
1567
01:07:59,910 --> 01:08:03,790
journey and they gonna have real
targeted support on that rather
1568
01:08:03,800 --> 01:08:06,910
than you trying to do for levels
of targeted support in the same
1569
01:08:06,920 --> 01:08:10,070
time in a lesson without wasting
anyone's time very very very
1570
01:08:10,080 --> 01:08:11,530
hard to do.
Can I can I leave this
1571
01:08:11,540 --> 01:08:13,450
conversation?
I know we times getting on.
1572
01:08:13,460 --> 01:08:17,529
We've just one example of where
streaming has worked for me.
1573
01:08:17,939 --> 01:08:21,040
Just a real life example from
last year, a couple years ago, I
1574
01:08:21,050 --> 01:08:23,760
can't remember now, but I'm just
thinking of of this.
1575
01:08:23,770 --> 01:08:27,140
This child came to mind when I
was talking earlier and we were
1576
01:08:27,149 --> 01:08:32,390
in maths and in this particular
cohort we had one set that we
1577
01:08:32,399 --> 01:08:35,210
pulled out for the basically the
top sort of 32 children because
1578
01:08:35,220 --> 01:08:38,300
they were our data was really
interesting, it was very split
1579
01:08:38,310 --> 01:08:40,620
and we had a lot of children
working at a really high level
1580
01:08:40,890 --> 01:08:44,069
and a quite a big gap and a lot
of children working sort of near
1581
01:08:44,080 --> 01:08:46,520
expected and we were like OK
that's interesting, let's let's
1582
01:08:46,529 --> 01:08:49,090
target those children separately
and these children separately.
1583
01:08:49,100 --> 01:08:51,590
So we had two sets basically
across the year we mixed.
1584
01:08:51,640 --> 01:08:53,370
We had four teachers, so we
mixed it like that.
1585
01:08:55,180 --> 01:08:58,790
And there's one one child that I
was teaching in in my set and I
1586
01:08:58,800 --> 01:09:02,069
was and I had the the higher set
at this point because I've done
1587
01:09:02,080 --> 01:09:06,350
multiple sets across the years.
And I notice from my teachers,
1588
01:09:06,479 --> 01:09:08,670
my teacher assessment of them in
general, that they were
1589
01:09:08,680 --> 01:09:12,649
generally struggling to keep up
with the rest of the class
1590
01:09:13,100 --> 01:09:15,410
because of the the lack of sort
of foundational skills.
1591
01:09:15,420 --> 01:09:18,540
Had a lot of gaps earlier on
that were quite hard to plug
1592
01:09:18,550 --> 01:09:20,260
with the content and pace we
were going out in that
1593
01:09:20,270 --> 01:09:22,000
particular set.
But obviously I tried really
1594
01:09:22,010 --> 01:09:24,790
hard to do that for that child.
And then we did a second set of
1595
01:09:24,800 --> 01:09:29,470
tests and and everyone made
progress apart from this child.
1596
01:09:29,660 --> 01:09:34,040
And at that point I was like ah
if this is this is where
1597
01:09:34,050 --> 01:09:36,729
fluidity of sets comes in really
handy and I had a conversation
1598
01:09:36,740 --> 01:09:41,779
with this child and another
teacher and they wanted to go to
1599
01:09:41,790 --> 01:09:43,850
a different class not because it
was a lower set.
1600
01:09:43,859 --> 01:09:46,380
We never used the language of
this is a lower set it's just
1601
01:09:46,390 --> 01:09:48,779
ohh in this set you know you
struggle with these things quite
1602
01:09:48,790 --> 01:09:50,960
a bit and and obviously trying
to help you they're doing loads
1603
01:09:50,970 --> 01:09:52,710
of that in this class do you
want do you wanna go and join
1604
01:09:52,720 --> 01:09:54,020
them?
Ohh yes please.
1605
01:09:54,069 --> 01:09:56,510
Went to this other class
generally way happier now
1606
01:09:56,520 --> 01:09:58,620
because I think I actually think
looking back on reflection they
1607
01:09:58,630 --> 01:10:01,140
were maybe getting a bit
stressed in in my class because
1608
01:10:01,150 --> 01:10:03,540
we were working at a different
pace much much happier in the
1609
01:10:03,550 --> 01:10:05,280
other class.
Ended up making loads of
1610
01:10:05,290 --> 01:10:09,880
progress then after that, and I
don't know, I just I thought
1611
01:10:09,890 --> 01:10:13,070
that was a good example of where
streaming can be done right, but
1612
01:10:13,080 --> 01:10:16,500
it's so easily shows how it
could be done completely wrong,
1613
01:10:16,510 --> 01:10:18,170
which is where the research is
totally right.
1614
01:10:18,240 --> 01:10:21,620
If I didn't recognise that that
that child needed to move, they
1615
01:10:21,630 --> 01:10:24,100
might have just been stagnating
in that class, getting stressed,
1616
01:10:24,910 --> 01:10:26,640
maybe not making as much focus
as they could.
1617
01:10:26,690 --> 01:10:29,340
So it was like a an example of
both, both ends of the world.
1618
01:10:29,350 --> 01:10:30,750
I think it can be done
correctly.
1619
01:10:30,790 --> 01:10:32,860
I think it can be very done very
poorly as well.
1620
01:10:33,190 --> 01:10:36,060
But you do have to react to the
needs and ability of the
1621
01:10:36,070 --> 01:10:38,930
children if you don't do it that
way and you just have blankets
1622
01:10:38,940 --> 01:10:41,190
so they will just get put in,
That's where it goes completely
1623
01:10:41,200 --> 01:10:44,310
wrong in my opinion.
So anyway, no absolute
1624
01:10:44,320 --> 01:10:46,480
controversial.
No, no, I think it's very
1625
01:10:46,490 --> 01:10:47,730
interesting.
It's very interesting.
1626
01:10:47,740 --> 01:10:51,350
And I think you know there's
there's enough people who still
1627
01:10:51,360 --> 01:10:55,420
set, there's enough people,
right, who go as far as they
1628
01:10:55,430 --> 01:10:56,910
can.
They they do mix, they do mix,
1629
01:10:56,920 --> 01:10:58,770
they do mix.
And then at the last hurdle like
1630
01:10:58,780 --> 01:11:00,810
Ohh, let's just set, let's just
set.
1631
01:11:01,160 --> 01:11:04,650
And it's because I think we know
deep down that we can target
1632
01:11:04,660 --> 01:11:05,870
children in a different way when
we set.
1633
01:11:05,880 --> 01:11:09,720
And and also for me, you know,
they get a bit older in
1634
01:11:09,730 --> 01:11:11,810
secondary school, they get set
immediately.
1635
01:11:11,820 --> 01:11:13,490
I think.
I think it can be done right.
1636
01:11:13,500 --> 01:11:16,360
I think a big big battle on our
solid shoulders to make sure
1637
01:11:16,370 --> 01:11:18,700
that children aren't feeling bad
about it.
1638
01:11:18,710 --> 01:11:21,120
I think that's something that is
like you said has to be at the
1639
01:11:21,130 --> 01:11:23,260
forefront of anyone's mind if
you're gonna go down this road
1640
01:11:23,270 --> 01:11:26,400
of setting and and not letting
anyone stay behind.
1641
01:11:26,410 --> 01:11:28,480
But that's part of the job.
You don't let anyone get left
1642
01:11:28,490 --> 01:11:31,040
behind anyway.
Do you like that We're not going
1643
01:11:31,050 --> 01:11:33,040
to we're going to actually let
children get left behind.
1644
01:11:33,050 --> 01:11:35,060
And if it's not working be
reactive.
1645
01:11:35,130 --> 01:11:39,100
And like I said, I think not
having a predetermined this is
1646
01:11:39,110 --> 01:11:42,780
what we do in this school,
whether or not the children do
1647
01:11:42,790 --> 01:11:46,100
well or whatever, whether it's
no, we do this because we're
1648
01:11:46,110 --> 01:11:47,840
this go.
Right to the children.
1649
01:11:47,850 --> 01:11:49,260
Put things in place for them.
That's it.
1650
01:11:49,270 --> 01:11:52,010
Simple as.
Right, guys, we we finished an
1651
01:11:52,020 --> 01:11:54,090
episode with no cuts.
We're gonna finish right there
1652
01:11:54,100 --> 01:11:55,820
because we've we've blabbed on,
haven't we?
1653
01:11:56,130 --> 01:11:57,890
We've got anything else you
wanted to say before we finished
1654
01:11:57,900 --> 01:12:00,300
Hatem?
Alright, well just off topic to
1655
01:12:00,310 --> 01:12:02,540
be fair, I'm sure we can talk
about all day, but didn't you
1656
01:12:02,550 --> 01:12:05,380
have a little plug for our
Instagram stories?
1657
01:12:05,510 --> 01:12:09,710
To see, Yeah, so firstly I
wanted just to mention we were
1658
01:12:09,720 --> 01:12:12,520
talking.
I did an Instagram post the
1659
01:12:12,530 --> 01:12:15,600
other day, a quick poll which
was saying that right poll,
1660
01:12:15,670 --> 01:12:18,200
poll, poll.
I think it's Poel.
1661
01:12:18,350 --> 01:12:19,500
Poll.
Poll.
1662
01:12:19,830 --> 01:12:22,820
I did a poll and it was just
basically asking what people,
1663
01:12:22,930 --> 01:12:25,950
what setting they work in
because we get a whole range of
1664
01:12:25,960 --> 01:12:29,220
people following us on Instagram
closing in on 3000 followers now
1665
01:12:29,290 --> 01:12:31,860
and I wanna just to know who are
they?
1666
01:12:31,930 --> 01:12:33,450
Is it no or no?
I don't know.
1667
01:12:33,460 --> 01:12:37,210
Anyway, so 73% of our followers
work in a primary school as
1668
01:12:37,220 --> 01:12:39,160
expected, but probably a bit
lower than I thought, maybe
1669
01:12:39,170 --> 01:12:41,680
because we obviously, you know,
very much centred on primary
1670
01:12:41,690 --> 01:12:45,880
school, 14% work in secondary
school, 8% don't work in either
1671
01:12:45,890 --> 01:12:49,600
of those, but still work in
education and 5% don't work in
1672
01:12:49,610 --> 01:12:51,610
education whatsoever.
They just follow us for the
1673
01:12:51,620 --> 01:12:53,090
laughs.
Maybe there are mates or just
1674
01:12:53,100 --> 01:12:55,530
some random people who've come
along for the ride.
1675
01:12:55,580 --> 01:12:58,370
But I got a message of someone
because quite a few of the
1676
01:12:58,380 --> 01:13:01,540
people who said neither but in
education message to say what
1677
01:13:01,550 --> 01:13:03,690
they would, what they do
essentially.
1678
01:13:03,820 --> 01:13:06,810
And someone messaged in and they
were just talking about their
1679
01:13:06,820 --> 01:13:11,890
provision and they give Sen
provision for people 16 and
1680
01:13:11,900 --> 01:13:13,390
over.
And I was like, oh, that's
1681
01:13:13,400 --> 01:13:15,990
really because you know they can
you hear a lot about them kind
1682
01:13:16,000 --> 01:13:18,810
of, you know going off the edge
of a Cliff in terms of the
1683
01:13:18,820 --> 01:13:20,350
support given to them.
It's like, oh, you get there.
1684
01:13:20,360 --> 01:13:21,110
Bye.
OK.
1685
01:13:21,150 --> 01:13:24,400
So there are amazing people
doing work and it just, it
1686
01:13:24,410 --> 01:13:26,940
really piqued my interest
because they were talking about
1687
01:13:26,950 --> 01:13:28,260
the kind of things they planned
for them.
1688
01:13:28,270 --> 01:13:32,780
And it's this whole debate about
how, you know, formal education
1689
01:13:32,790 --> 01:13:34,720
should be in general.
Because I think in these
1690
01:13:34,730 --> 01:13:37,200
settings it's very normal to not
sit and do.
1691
01:13:37,290 --> 01:13:39,500
We're going to do geometry, then
afterwards we're going to do the
1692
01:13:39,510 --> 01:13:41,440
chemical reaction to the bonds.
That's not, that's not what
1693
01:13:41,450 --> 01:13:43,920
these people need because they
also have a bunch of people who
1694
01:13:43,930 --> 01:13:46,220
maybe have been excluded from
school and they kind of take
1695
01:13:46,230 --> 01:13:49,480
them in before they're even 16.
So they're just explaining these
1696
01:13:49,490 --> 01:13:50,650
things they have in place for
them.
1697
01:13:50,690 --> 01:13:53,080
You know across the next turn
they're going to be doing things
1698
01:13:53,090 --> 01:13:57,360
like how to, you know, properly
wire plug sockets.
1699
01:13:57,610 --> 01:14:00,420
You know, they they live on they
their schools on a farmyard
1700
01:14:00,430 --> 01:14:02,790
where they can go and see the
winery and stuff like that.
1701
01:14:02,800 --> 01:14:06,040
You know, look it was just all
of this amazing like real life
1702
01:14:06,050 --> 01:14:09,760
stuff and I was just thinking we
miss a trick, don't we?
1703
01:14:09,770 --> 01:14:13,700
And and what I found was lovely
speaking to this person because
1704
01:14:13,910 --> 01:14:16,620
it's, it broadens your horizons.
I think we can get stuck, can't
1705
01:14:16,630 --> 01:14:18,980
we Hayden?
Sometimes in we go to primary
1706
01:14:18,990 --> 01:14:21,880
school, maths, English, science,
maths, English, geography and
1707
01:14:21,890 --> 01:14:24,120
and it's that wider thing we
talked about earlier of OK, you
1708
01:14:24,130 --> 01:14:26,870
know, all of these things been
talking about realistically this
1709
01:14:26,880 --> 01:14:28,990
is all for academic attainment.
This is all for, you know,
1710
01:14:29,000 --> 01:14:30,480
results.
At the end of the day, yeah,
1711
01:14:30,490 --> 01:14:32,920
that's our job really, really
paid.
1712
01:14:32,930 --> 01:14:34,640
What would you say our job is?
Really.
1713
01:14:34,810 --> 01:14:36,560
Just get kids ready to be
grown-ups.
1714
01:14:36,850 --> 01:14:39,480
That's it.
And then for society, what this
1715
01:14:39,490 --> 01:14:41,860
person was doing was fantastic.
So do you guys get in touch with
1716
01:14:41,870 --> 01:14:45,200
us and teach the repeat podcast,
Let us know what you do and also
1717
01:14:45,210 --> 01:14:47,540
let us know if you disagree or
agree with anything or what you
1718
01:14:47,550 --> 01:14:49,100
want to hear in the future.
Because, yeah, it's.
1719
01:14:49,110 --> 01:14:51,500
I want to hear all about it.
We normally, you know I we
1720
01:14:51,510 --> 01:14:54,330
normally generally go with the
sort of general consensus and
1721
01:14:54,340 --> 01:14:56,790
research.
But I do feel like I'm this
1722
01:14:56,800 --> 01:14:58,770
group of a little bit today.
Hopefully my points came across
1723
01:14:58,780 --> 01:15:01,590
clearly I hope you don't think
that I just think setting is
1724
01:15:01,600 --> 01:15:04,500
better that's not not the model.
I didn't get the impression that
1725
01:15:04,510 --> 01:15:07,520
a hybrid hybrid element that we
missed a few topics maybe we'll
1726
01:15:07,530 --> 01:15:11,310
talk about in the future though.
We didn't really talk about a
1727
01:15:11,580 --> 01:15:13,050
specific type of
differentiation, like
1728
01:15:13,060 --> 01:15:15,570
differentiation, differentiation
for children with special
1729
01:15:15,580 --> 01:15:18,450
educational needs or yeah,
English as additional language.
1730
01:15:19,100 --> 01:15:21,810
But maybe we can catch up with.
That and I know you feel poorly,
1731
01:15:21,820 --> 01:15:25,440
Hayden, Before we go in for over
an hour, you start this podcast
1732
01:15:25,450 --> 01:15:27,010
off for saying, can we just do a
short one today?
1733
01:15:27,020 --> 01:15:27,860
I don't feel great.
Yeah.
1734
01:15:27,910 --> 01:15:29,870
Yeah, that's me.
And then naturally I probably
1735
01:15:29,880 --> 01:15:32,690
spoke for about 80% of that, so.
That was nice.
1736
01:15:32,740 --> 01:15:34,800
I rest my other tables have.
Turned.
1737
01:15:35,020 --> 01:15:37,170
I'm gonna finish off with one
little funny story.
1738
01:15:37,180 --> 01:15:41,720
We got a message from excuse me,
I got a message from an act who
1739
01:15:41,730 --> 01:15:45,300
is catching up with the podcast.
I've been listening bit behind
1740
01:15:45,310 --> 01:15:48,170
but nearly caught up now should
say hello and she just asked
1741
01:15:48,180 --> 01:15:51,540
about a recent thing we
mentioned on a podcast that game
1742
01:15:51,550 --> 01:15:54,520
where we fill in the gaps, so we
fill in the gaps in the story
1743
01:15:55,190 --> 01:15:57,920
and it was called Adlibs I
think, wasn't it Where you say
1744
01:15:57,930 --> 01:16:00,120
to the children, give me now,
give me a proper noun, give me a
1745
01:16:00,130 --> 01:16:01,920
conjunction and you practise
GPS.
1746
01:16:02,310 --> 01:16:05,600
We chat about that and she just
finished off with a little story
1747
01:16:05,610 --> 01:16:07,490
and I'll leave her with this
story Aiden, because it made me
1748
01:16:07,500 --> 01:16:11,000
laugh.
She was in a year two class and
1749
01:16:11,010 --> 01:16:14,530
one of the children she'd shared
that she'd met her uncle's new
1750
01:16:14,540 --> 01:16:17,470
girlfriend and her uncle's new
girlfriend was from China.
1751
01:16:17,540 --> 01:16:18,790
So that was that was
fascinating.
1752
01:16:18,800 --> 01:16:21,130
By asking her all about that,
you know, finding out more
1753
01:16:21,140 --> 01:16:23,330
about, you know, her new uncle's
girlfriend.
1754
01:16:23,340 --> 01:16:25,410
How brilliant.
So this girl came into school in
1755
01:16:25,420 --> 01:16:28,650
year two, and from then on
declared to everyone that she's
1756
01:16:28,660 --> 01:16:31,130
now Chinese, and proceeded to
spend the rest of the year
1757
01:16:31,140 --> 01:16:34,550
answering the afternoon register
in Chinese from now on.
1758
01:16:35,470 --> 01:16:38,270
I love that kids minds, man, are
so good, I said.
1759
01:16:38,280 --> 01:16:39,720
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
1760
01:16:39,730 --> 01:16:41,350
That's not how it works?
Of course it is.
1761
01:16:41,420 --> 01:16:43,870
I'm Chinese.
You're the start.
1762
01:16:43,880 --> 01:16:46,300
This episode started in Spanish
or whatever you did.
1763
01:16:46,480 --> 01:16:48,050
What you mean I think you still
hallucinating, mate?
1764
01:16:48,060 --> 01:16:49,160
I think you still hasn't.
Lost.
1765
01:16:49,170 --> 01:16:50,140
I think I need to go back to
bed.
1766
01:16:50,150 --> 01:16:51,290
Honest with you?
Yeah, yeah.
1767
01:16:51,300 --> 01:16:53,010
OK, Alright.
Have you got any stories?
1768
01:16:53,020 --> 01:16:55,020
Please do write in.
No, no, no.
1769
01:16:55,030 --> 01:16:55,790
You've done it again.
Right.
1770
01:16:55,800 --> 01:16:57,590
Listen, I'm sorry you have to go
off.
1771
01:16:57,790 --> 01:17:00,320
This is not good at this.
Normally, I'm fed up with this.
1772
01:17:00,900 --> 01:17:02,600
If you've got any stories guys,
please do write them in.
1773
01:17:02,610 --> 01:17:04,570
We'd love to revitalise our
little stories from the
1774
01:17:04,580 --> 01:17:07,180
classroom segment, but we need
stories to tell for that.
1775
01:17:07,230 --> 01:17:09,660
So yeah, if you got anything
funny, let us know.
1776
01:17:09,670 --> 01:17:11,090
What problem Hayden?
Ohh.
1777
01:17:11,130 --> 01:17:13,820
Slight problem.
Only three people actually get
1778
01:17:13,830 --> 01:17:16,740
this far in the podcast ever.
So we're talking to your mum
1779
01:17:16,750 --> 01:17:18,360
now.
We need to do it at the start.
1780
01:17:18,990 --> 01:17:20,280
Need to do at the start.
Yeah.
1781
01:17:20,290 --> 01:17:22,360
Alright.
Well, see you later, Mum.
1782
01:17:23,330 --> 01:17:23,880
Where she?
Yeah.
1783
01:17:23,890 --> 01:17:25,820
What's for dinner tonight?
We'll talk about later.
1784
01:17:25,830 --> 01:17:27,010
Alright guys.
See ya.





