Jack Tavassoly-Marsh
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jtavassoly-marsh.bsky.social
Jack Tavassoly-Marsh
@jtavassoly-marsh.bsky.social
Dad. Geographer. AHT for T&L, former DHT. ELE for Durrington. researchED Surrey. Primary Governor. Passionate about teacher and school improvement.
Cheers Sam. Was superb. So much to reflect on again. Third time I've seen the presentation and learn more from it each time.
March 3, 2025 at 8:41 PM
That's the old paint colours. The tiles are painted in Hardwick White, although we never have the under cupboard lights on usually.

We're painting the cabinets in shaded white, with drop cloth going on the walls and skimming stone on the tiles. Bit of a change.
February 12, 2025 at 7:26 PM
You scrub up well mate. Have a blast!
December 13, 2024 at 7:10 PM
Very impressive and thorough videos that put the subject front and centre. Superb explanations.
December 10, 2024 at 7:46 PM
I use high quality videos (Time for Geography) and intersperse the videos with questions on MWBs to check for attention and understanding. Often take notes on key bits and go back to video etc. Rarely if ever just watch a video clip now.
December 10, 2024 at 7:29 PM
Great discussion. Looking forward to the guest insights and scenario 3 in due course.
December 9, 2024 at 9:43 PM
You could crack on, but any change won't be well received by all quarters and therefore any implementation is likely to be wide of the mark in certain classrooms and require further intervention. Best to stop, reflect and potentially go back to the drawing board. Perhaps carry out a pre-mortem.
December 9, 2024 at 8:41 PM
I'd look to involve staff in the process directly moving forward.

Clearly, to get where she now is, Liz has rushed the change management process and hasn't fully communicated the rationale and evidence or sought opinions of all stakeholders. Without this, there's no point in pressing on.
December 9, 2024 at 8:39 PM
I think so. I also think it comes down to having a strong leadership culture of challenging the evidence behind suggested changes/priorities that come forward.

One person walking down a corridor and feeling a bit claustrophobic shouldn't mean that a one-way system is automatically introduced.
December 9, 2024 at 8:32 PM
For me it comes back to the evidence of the need to change. Until there is a really clear understanding of the 'why', staff are unlikely to be positive and reflective about the chance to change and this could undermine future change in other areas too.

Could be seen as 'this is what I want'......
December 9, 2024 at 8:25 PM
There is going to be tension between those that have spent a lot of time planning the previous curriculum and haven't been communicated on the rationale for a change moving forward. Simply putting forward a few different curriculum models for the subject isn't likely to win minds and build buy-in.
December 9, 2024 at 8:20 PM
At the primary phase it would be that quite often when history and geography are jointly planned, it is often the history content that dominates and geography often gets very limited time/depth.
December 9, 2024 at 8:18 PM
I'd suggest looking at the Ofsted geography subject review documentation which is very detailed. Then look at conducting a joint audit with staff on what they do versus best/most effective practice seen elsewhere through that document. Might be a starting point to ascertain priorities.
December 9, 2024 at 8:10 PM
In my opinion there is a danger of subjective bias creeping in, in that this seems a single viewpoint. What evidence does Liz have that the geography curriculum needs reviewing?

Is this the greatest priority with regards to curriculum development? How does she know? I'd start there.
December 9, 2024 at 8:04 PM
Absolutely. It would be very wrong of us to narrow the curriculum, reduce the curriculum offer and take away triple science given our context.

However, that doesn't show when you're looking at county wide 'performance tables'. So I can see why some decide to go down that route sadly.
December 8, 2024 at 5:25 PM
I'm glad you've mentioned that Caroline.

Ours do 11 GCSEs including RE, a language and either Geog/Hist or both.

Almost 40% of the cohort do triple science. Could improve P8 by making a few changes without doing anything to the quality of teaching.

Easily forgotten with just looking at data.
December 8, 2024 at 5:19 PM
It is a long way away from instructional coaching which I was used to, but it can certainly have a place.

Great to see teachers having to silently reflect on WBs and then share and feedback. High participation. Deep thinking.
December 3, 2024 at 9:33 PM
The two combined are certainly improving the knowledge that teachers have on what students do and don't know and what they can and can't do.

I'd have been dead against whole-school CPD, but it can work, if it's really well thought through and all staff have to reflect and participate.
December 3, 2024 at 9:12 PM