Adam Smith
@mrsmithnorwich.bsky.social
Assistant Principal and Scout leader. Interested in history, politics, theology, policy.
It has been so difficult to move the conversation about RE and the National Curriculum on in the last half a decade but this might just do it.
It's a recommendation and it is for a gradual process but it is there - in black and white. Very good news!
It's a recommendation and it is for a gradual process but it is there - in black and white. Very good news!
November 5, 2025 at 6:12 AM
It has been so difficult to move the conversation about RE and the National Curriculum on in the last half a decade but this might just do it.
It's a recommendation and it is for a gradual process but it is there - in black and white. Very good news!
It's a recommendation and it is for a gradual process but it is there - in black and white. Very good news!
Reposted by Adam Smith
⭐️ RE recommended to be included in the national curriculum
🪜 Francis and co recommend a 2-stage process led by Dr Vanessa Ogden
👏 An incredible, landmark moment to reverse the fortunes of an important, but beleaguered, subject
🪜 Francis and co recommend a 2-stage process led by Dr Vanessa Ogden
👏 An incredible, landmark moment to reverse the fortunes of an important, but beleaguered, subject
And we break down the review findings to find out how the content, structure and delivery of each core curriculum subject may be set to change… (3/3)
Curriculum review: what does it say about your subject?
The newly published review of curriculum and assessment makes a series of recommendations across different subjects. Find out how your subject could change if the government takes forward its…
www.tes.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
⭐️ RE recommended to be included in the national curriculum
🪜 Francis and co recommend a 2-stage process led by Dr Vanessa Ogden
👏 An incredible, landmark moment to reverse the fortunes of an important, but beleaguered, subject
🪜 Francis and co recommend a 2-stage process led by Dr Vanessa Ogden
👏 An incredible, landmark moment to reverse the fortunes of an important, but beleaguered, subject
One of my summer plans has been to get better at reading Cyrillic and learn some Russian.
It has been a real lesson in phonics instruction because I can decode but it is taking me a long time to be able to blend!
There's a lot of Fred Talk going on.
It has been a real lesson in phonics instruction because I can decode but it is taking me a long time to be able to blend!
There's a lot of Fred Talk going on.
August 8, 2025 at 6:31 AM
One of my summer plans has been to get better at reading Cyrillic and learn some Russian.
It has been a real lesson in phonics instruction because I can decode but it is taking me a long time to be able to blend!
There's a lot of Fred Talk going on.
It has been a real lesson in phonics instruction because I can decode but it is taking me a long time to be able to blend!
There's a lot of Fred Talk going on.
Reposted by Adam Smith
It's the summer holidays, which means I have a copy of Primary Reading Simplified to give away.
Simply **repost** this post for your chance to win.
I will pick a winner on Sunday 17th August.
Good luck!
Simply **repost** this post for your chance to win.
I will pick a winner on Sunday 17th August.
Good luck!
August 7, 2025 at 11:58 AM
It's the summer holidays, which means I have a copy of Primary Reading Simplified to give away.
Simply **repost** this post for your chance to win.
I will pick a winner on Sunday 17th August.
Good luck!
Simply **repost** this post for your chance to win.
I will pick a winner on Sunday 17th August.
Good luck!
Reposted by Adam Smith
**New blog** - It's been a while so reposts hugely appreciated.
primarycolour.home.blog/2025/08/01/t...
primarycolour.home.blog/2025/08/01/t...
The Most Common Reason Why Children Don’t Become Fluent Readers… And What We Can Do About It
There are myriad reasons why a child might struggle to become a fluent reader: they might have extreme difficulties in learning to decode words relating to phonological issues, working memory or ot…
primarycolour.home.blog
August 1, 2025 at 12:25 PM
**New blog** - It's been a while so reposts hugely appreciated.
primarycolour.home.blog/2025/08/01/t...
primarycolour.home.blog/2025/08/01/t...
Missing Yerevan already - just an absolute banger of a city. So glad we got out into Armenia too even if the road trip experience was a bit nerve wracking at times. 🇦🇲 Can't wait to go back.
August 1, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Missing Yerevan already - just an absolute banger of a city. So glad we got out into Armenia too even if the road trip experience was a bit nerve wracking at times. 🇦🇲 Can't wait to go back.
I love packing cubes. 🛫
July 27, 2025 at 7:25 AM
I love packing cubes. 🛫
My trip to the Caucasus and Turkey starts today. I’ve wanted to go to Georgia and Armenia for a long time so this is very exciting! 🇦🇹🇦🇲🇬🇪🇹🇷
July 27, 2025 at 6:34 AM
My trip to the Caucasus and Turkey starts today. I’ve wanted to go to Georgia and Armenia for a long time so this is very exciting! 🇦🇹🇦🇲🇬🇪🇹🇷
Took Oswald to the Festival of the Unexceptional yesterday - one of my favourite days of the year. A celebration of the mundane! And I love the mundane.
July 27, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Took Oswald to the Festival of the Unexceptional yesterday - one of my favourite days of the year. A celebration of the mundane! And I love the mundane.
I always struggle with Summer 2, especially the last few weeks and I'm sure I'm not alone.
When I've been getting home from work I've been doing a flying tour of Africa from London to Cairo, Khartoum, Entebbe and Dar es Salaam.
I manage to squeeze some work in whilst I'm in cruise!
When I've been getting home from work I've been doing a flying tour of Africa from London to Cairo, Khartoum, Entebbe and Dar es Salaam.
I manage to squeeze some work in whilst I'm in cruise!
July 12, 2025 at 8:29 AM
I always struggle with Summer 2, especially the last few weeks and I'm sure I'm not alone.
When I've been getting home from work I've been doing a flying tour of Africa from London to Cairo, Khartoum, Entebbe and Dar es Salaam.
I manage to squeeze some work in whilst I'm in cruise!
When I've been getting home from work I've been doing a flying tour of Africa from London to Cairo, Khartoum, Entebbe and Dar es Salaam.
I manage to squeeze some work in whilst I'm in cruise!
Reposted by Adam Smith
THIS is the guy you want writing your lesson plans because it will ‘save time’?
June 24, 2025 at 9:04 PM
THIS is the guy you want writing your lesson plans because it will ‘save time’?
Reposted by Adam Smith
This artwork was created about a month ago, but the Head Teacher has just sent me photos of it proudly displayed in the school hall. The KS2 children from Clapham Terrace Primary in Leamington spent 4 days creating these two pieces of work.
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
June 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
This artwork was created about a month ago, but the Head Teacher has just sent me photos of it proudly displayed in the school hall. The KS2 children from Clapham Terrace Primary in Leamington spent 4 days creating these two pieces of work.
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky
Top draw Sunday up here in Norfolk.
June 1, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Top draw Sunday up here in Norfolk.
School is back tomorrow and that means CPD is back too! This week we're looking at planning for ratio.
June 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
School is back tomorrow and that means CPD is back too! This week we're looking at planning for ratio.
I've wanted a writing / reading desk which is separate from my work / computer desk for a while. I decided today was the day to get it set up and I am very happy with the result.
Somewhere to think without a screen!
Somewhere to think without a screen!
May 31, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I've wanted a writing / reading desk which is separate from my work / computer desk for a while. I decided today was the day to get it set up and I am very happy with the result.
Somewhere to think without a screen!
Somewhere to think without a screen!
I’m back from a few days in Helsinki. 🇫🇮
It remains my favourite city in Europe.
I went to three saunas, swam in the Baltic, drank black coffee and read on the tram.
It remains my favourite city in Europe.
I went to three saunas, swam in the Baltic, drank black coffee and read on the tram.
May 31, 2025 at 6:50 AM
I’m back from a few days in Helsinki. 🇫🇮
It remains my favourite city in Europe.
I went to three saunas, swam in the Baltic, drank black coffee and read on the tram.
It remains my favourite city in Europe.
I went to three saunas, swam in the Baltic, drank black coffee and read on the tram.
Heading back from Helsinki today. The flight from Schipol to Norwich is less than an hour so I’ll get to live 22.30 - 22.40 twice over today.
I’ll have to find something to do with my extra ten minutes of life.
I’ll have to find something to do with my extra ten minutes of life.
May 30, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Heading back from Helsinki today. The flight from Schipol to Norwich is less than an hour so I’ll get to live 22.30 - 22.40 twice over today.
I’ll have to find something to do with my extra ten minutes of life.
I’ll have to find something to do with my extra ten minutes of life.
24 hours in Riga 🇱🇻
I love this city, how could you not? Spring only makes it better. 🌿
I love this city, how could you not? Spring only makes it better. 🌿
May 26, 2025 at 6:37 PM
24 hours in Riga 🇱🇻
I love this city, how could you not? Spring only makes it better. 🌿
I love this city, how could you not? Spring only makes it better. 🌿
The half-term trip starts today.
🛫🇱🇻🇫🇮🛬
🛫🇱🇻🇫🇮🛬
May 25, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The half-term trip starts today.
🛫🇱🇻🇫🇮🛬
🛫🇱🇻🇫🇮🛬
I was going through some old photos and came across this one from the Liberal Education Student Conference in Germany back in 2016.
This is me with some super cool people I met from St Petersburg University.
It's not a photo we could take today. I don't think the world is better now.
This is me with some super cool people I met from St Petersburg University.
It's not a photo we could take today. I don't think the world is better now.
May 24, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I was going through some old photos and came across this one from the Liberal Education Student Conference in Germany back in 2016.
This is me with some super cool people I met from St Petersburg University.
It's not a photo we could take today. I don't think the world is better now.
This is me with some super cool people I met from St Petersburg University.
It's not a photo we could take today. I don't think the world is better now.
A very good and very normal day in the world of AI.
Another reason why I've decided to abstain from AI as far as humanly possible. I don't trust it, not just because LLMs outright lie and fabricate but I fundamentally do not trust it not to become an existential threat.
Another reason why I've decided to abstain from AI as far as humanly possible. I don't trust it, not just because LLMs outright lie and fabricate but I fundamentally do not trust it not to become an existential threat.
May 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
A very good and very normal day in the world of AI.
Another reason why I've decided to abstain from AI as far as humanly possible. I don't trust it, not just because LLMs outright lie and fabricate but I fundamentally do not trust it not to become an existential threat.
Another reason why I've decided to abstain from AI as far as humanly possible. I don't trust it, not just because LLMs outright lie and fabricate but I fundamentally do not trust it not to become an existential threat.