This podcast features part of our exclusive interview with Ofsted’s Director of Education, Sean Harford (for the first part, see podcast edition 19). This time, the conversation focuses on the sticky but crucial subject of assessment and its place in the curriculum. Cornerstones Director, Simon Hickton asks Sean to explain his views on meaningful testing and the latest guidance to schools about what to consider when approaching assessment.

23: Testing and assessment: making it meaningful

The Primary Knowledge Podcast is for primary headteachers and senior leaders involved in curriculum design, development, management and implementation. Delivered by specialist educators, each episode focuses on the sharing of knowledge, experience and wisdom about primary curriculum and best practices. Hosted by James Marriott and curated by Cornerstones Education, each episode is around 15 minutes, easily squeezed into a busy working day but packed full of useful tips and advice.

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In this episode, we talk to Curriculum Director, Melanie Moore, to debunk five recurring myths about the primary inspection process. Issues discussed include curriculum planning, curriculum models, lesson observations, and the triangulation of evidence, data, and assessment. For further information or to read about all the issues addressed in this episode, download Ofsted's School inspection handbook below.Useful linksOfsted's School inspection handbookWhat to expect from Ofsted’s subject ‘deep dives' – BlogOur experience under Ofsted’s new inspection framework using Cornerstones What we know about curriculum inspection – Podcast


Myth-busting Ofsted inspections

In this episode, we talk to Simon Hickton, former primary headteacher and founder of Cornerstones Education, all about Assessment Maestro. Listen to how this revolutionary platform supports teaching and learning of all subjects and areas of learning from the classroom up. Assessment can be fully integrated into your curriculum.Useful linksAssessment Maestro informationThe future of assessment in primary schoolsMeasuring progress at primary school – where to next?


Getting to know Assessment Maestro

In this episode, we talk to Curriculum Manager Catherine Scutt and Commercial Marketing Manager Dale French about what makes a good primary school resource. Catherine and Dale oversee the production of all resources at Cornerstones Education, so they are well placed to explore the importance of research, writing, images and design when making resources. They also discuss the problems that arise when these elements don't all come together. Catherine and Dale provide a range of valuable hints and tips for teachers and explore some of their favourite resources, which are also available to download.Useful linksHow to create the best resources for primary schoolWhat are knowledge organisers and how can we use them in the primary classroom?A selection of Cornerstones' free resources includes knowledge organisers, audio stories, and even a complete curriculum project.
Brilliant online resources for teachers and childrenEncyclopedia Britannica (Great as a starting point for researching anything)Sketch (Brilliant free digital editing software, great for photo manipulation and drawing)Scratch (This great piece of software allows children to explore the world of programming code. They can create stories, games and animations)NASA Visualisation Explorer (The excellent app from NASA which enables children to explore the universe)Wikimedia Commons (A superb source for copyright-free imagery, from artefacts to works of art)DK fIndout! (A well written, reliable and child-friendly source of information about a whole range of topics, including colourful and interactive diagrams)


What makes a good primary school resource?

We talk to Simon Antwis from Steer Education (former headteacher and schools inspector) about how technology can help find those children in school suffering from mental health and offer support. We look at how technology has helped transform schools' data unity and pastoral care. We also touch on the struggles of children who hide their feelings by 'gaming the system' and how to reach them, with why girls' mental health is of particular concern. And finally, what teachers can do about the growing divide between girls' and boys' social and emotional well-being."We want to reverse this awful decline in mental health and well-being in young people." Simon Antwis, Steer Education 2022#Mentalhealthawarenessweek2022Useful linksMental Health Awareness week 2022 Blog – Girls’ mental health “at a precipice” and increasingly worse than boys’, data showsBlog – Mental health support – How should schools help students who don’t want to be helped?FREE resource – Handy guide to teaching mindfulnessRelating podcast – How to teach mindfulness to children with Nadege RobinqFind out more about Steer Education – Proactively safeguarding young people’s mental healthFollow Steer Education on Twitter @SteerEducationFind out more about Cornerstones Education – Everything you need to build an ambitious primary curriculumFollow Cornerstones Education on Twitter @Cornerstonesedu


Tackling the mental health and well-being of young people

In this episode, curriculum developers Amy McCaw and Sara Bruce discuss how to achieve ambitious levels of literacy across the curriculum through using quality texts and scrutinising the school environment and ethos.Useful linksReading framework: Teaching the foundation of literacy Curriculum 22 overviewFREE English pack downloads FREE Novel and book study downloads


23: Testing and assessment: making it meaningful

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