Paul is an experienced teacher with 40 years of experience in the primary sector, 13 years as primary headteacher. He now trains prospective primary teachers. Paul discussed the evolution of the national curriculum and his views regarding its damaging impact on children's education.

He highlighted the shift from a holistic approach focusing on the whole child to a more academic-centric model under Michael Gove's reforms.

Paul believes this shift has led to a decline in emotional and social development, with schools becoming more like factories focused on SATs and attainment. Paul emphasized the need to return to a holistic curriculum that includes multiple intelligences and emotional intelligence. He also noted that current teacher training is de-skilling new teachers, leading to a lack of creativity and problem-solving skills in education.

Paul's Recommended Action Items

• [ ] Advocate for a curriculum that is more focused on the "whole child" and developing critical thinking, emotional, and social skills.
• [ ] Explore ways to provide more training and support for teachers, especially younger teachers, to help them develop more creative and engaging teaching practices.
• [ ] Identify and implement strategies to help students develop problem-solving and creative thinking skills, rather than just focusing on rote learning.