Practical Guide to a Big Education

Sarah Seleznyov is co-headteacher of School 360, a primary school which opened in London in September 2021. She was formerly Director of the London South Teaching Alliance and previously worked for UCL Institute of Education. Robert Lobatto is the Headteacher of King Alfred School, a child-centred all-through school in London. Before this, he was Executive Head of an award-winning Multi Academy Trust in West London. He is also a frequent contributor to conferences and sits on a number of education advisory Boards.Big Education is a Multi-Academy Trust and a charity that is working to transform the education system to ensure young people receive a balanced education of the Head, Heart and Hand. They run schools and develop leaders and teachers across the country.

For igniting student agency, curiosity, deeper learning, emotional and academic health, this book is overflowing with ideas, practices, and guidance - not theoretical, but proven strategies documented by headteachers and leaders.

• Part 1: Leadership 1. Leading for a Big Education: Building a culture of agency and creativity by Liz Robinson2. Design thinking: School improvement that empowers stakeholders and designs more effective solutions by Matt Morden3. What it means to be evidence-informed: How to engage teachers with evidence and help them to generate their own by Sarah Seleznyov4. Developing teaching and learning: How professional development can build teacher agency and improve learning by Moray Dickson5. Peer review: A better way to ‘inspect’ schools by Sarah Marriott and Tom Raw6. Behaviour and culture: Exploring non-punitive approaches to relationship and culture building by Helen Gourley7. Collaborative pastoral support: Teamwork to improve learner wellbeing and accelerate learning by Kathryn PuchPart 2: Curriculum8. Project-based learning: How interdisciplinary projects support knowledge, skills and competency development by Paddy Russell9. Real-world learning: How preparation for the world of work can be built into the school curriculum by Chris Anders10. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging: Ensuring that learners, parents and staff feel a sense of belonging by Andrea Silvain11. Entrepreneurialism: How to construct a curriculum that develops learners’ entrepreneurial spirit by Hayley Peacock12. Citizenship education: Preparing young people to shape society by Seb Chapleau13. Health matters: A curriculum for health and wellbeing by Ben Levinson14. Lunchtimes: How lunchtimes can enable learning experiences for our young people by Tim StaynerPart 3: Pedagogy15. Play-based learning: Why play matters and how playful pedagogies improve learning by Sarah Seleznyov16. Imagination matters: Shaping the conditions for creative learning experiences by Tom Doust17. Outdoor learning: How outdoor learning can improve engagement and progression by Gemma Goldenberg18. Oracy: Progressively developing learner talk to build confidence and raise attainment by Daniel Thomas and Emily Thomas19. Mantle of the Expert: Using drama and role-play to bring learning to life by Tim Taylor20. Design thinking as pedagogy: The importance of the Maker{Cycle} in practical subjects by Alison BuxtonPart 4: Assessment21. Competency progression: How can we teach and assess transferable competencies? by Robert Lobatto22. Learner profiles: Assessment that evidences the full breadth of learning by Rosie Clayton and Fran Wilby23. Interdisciplinary qualifications: New qualifications for future-facing schools by Bertie Cairns24. Beyond the curriculum: Qualifications that enable learners to explore their own lines of enquiry by John Taylor