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Along with being a primary school teacher and leader, blogging is where this all started for Aidan. If it wasn't for his passion for writing and sharing his learning and experiences, he wouldn't be working as an education consultant with schools across the country today. Shared best practice should be available to all and here on the Aidan Severs Consulting blog you can get ideas for making a difference in your own school. The blog is also a great place to learn exactly the kind of work that Aidan can partner with your school on.
When Staff Appraisals Go Bad
Imagine this: you’re a deputy head conducting a staff appraisal and in front of you, your colleague is in floods of tears because of the feedback you’ve just given them. Your heart goes out to them, but you knew the words had to be said...
Aidan Severs
Feb 23 min read
Can Codifying Teaching Really Improve Teachers?
Can we really codify teaching, simplifying it into a set of easy-to-follow steps? Is it possible to see a video, a diagram or read about a routine, and then enact that in the classroom in a such a way that a particular outcome is guaranteed? Even if we practise it outside of the classroom first in some kind of simulation, can we be sure that those actions are going to have the desired results? Is it a case of becoming an expert, aiming for the hallowed 10,000 hours of practic
Aidan Severs
Jun 4, 20244 min read
S1 E2: SMSC Development, Supporting Teachers and Outdoor Learning with Christian Kitley
An outdoor learning subject leader talks about designing curriculum, developing teachers and contributing to pupils' SMSC development.
Aidan Severs
Apr 26, 202322 min read
Learning To Fall: Learning To Succeed
Learning to fall is learning to succeed. "If you can't ride, can you fall?" "I suppose anyone can fall," said Shasta. "I mean can you...
Aidan Severs
Sep 5, 20225 min read
Simple Teaching
It really is all about the simple things. The longer I've been in teaching, the more I realise this. I thought I'd realised that 10 years ago; I thought I'd realised it 5 years ago. Last year I thought I'd realised it. Next year I'll realise it even more than I do today. The thing you need to be able to do in your classroom is teach. Whether that's explaining, providing feedback, working with a group, modelling, reviewing, summarising, or whatever your definition of teaching
Aidan Severs
Aug 8, 20224 min read
Teachers! Be More Batman!
I wrote this back in 2016, and since it is mentioned in Dr Emma Kell's 'How To Survive In Teaching' I thought it was time to feature it...
Aidan Severs
Aug 1, 20226 min read
8 Scaffolding Strategies: a ‘Q & A’ blog - By Russell Pearson (Dynamic Deputies)
Russell Pearson, of The Dynamic Deputies, responds to questions about the scaffolding episode of their podcast.
Aidan Severs
May 24, 20226 min read
How To Achieve Both Curriculum Cohesion And Teacher Autonomy
Not that long ago, back when I was a teacher and before I had any SLT responsibilities, I worked in a brilliant school where we teachers had a lot of autonomy. Sure, there too existed many structures to ensure accountability, but we also had the freedom to make many decisions for ourselves. One such area of liberty was in curriculum planning. I struggle now to remember what was actually on the school's long term plan but I do remember half-termly after-school planning meeti
Aidan Severs
Apr 25, 20225 min read
On Scrutinising Scrutiny and The Coaching Model
I originally posted this blog post over at my old blog That Boy Can Teach back in January 2017 when I was an assistant head at a Dixons...
Aidan Severs
Feb 17, 20226 min read
On Cycling and the Challenges of Teacher Development
Sighting Today I got up and went out on my bike. It was one of those bright blue mornings that reminds you that summer is not a fiction, but one cold enough to root it firmly in winter. From my vantage point at the top of the hill where I live I could see out across the town and over to the tops of the hills across the valley. They were drenched golden, and rolls of mist enveloped the moors beyond. I knew what was up there, on those hills across the valley. I could picture cl
Aidan Severs
Jan 19, 20228 min read
Becoming An Expert Teacher
Hands up who has ever tried to lose weight? And hands up if you've ever tried putting on weight? I'm very sure that if you asked a room...
Aidan Severs
Dec 18, 20215 min read
Finding Your True Teacher Persona
In Mary Myatt's ResearchEd training video she reminds those working in education that they are 'human beings first, professionals...
Aidan Severs
Nov 20, 20215 min read
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