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Neil Gorton
@ngorton.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil Gorton
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!
August 7, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Just when I was getting nervous about the move back to the UK, I am reminded of this.
July 21, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Feeling so grateful for my time at BIS HCMC and for the incredibly kind send-off from the team. After 13 years overseas, it’s back to the UK. ✈️🇬🇧

Now for the fun and (slightly) scary part: figuring out what’s next. Open to all ideas!
After six truly wonderful years at BIS HCMC, we say a heartfelt goodbye to Mr Neil Gorton. | British International School Ho Chi Minh City
After six truly wonderful years at BIS HCMC, we say a heartfelt goodbye to Mr Neil Gorton. From his time as Assistant Head across both Primary campuses with countless hours spent supporting, mentorin...
www.linkedin.com
July 13, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
NEW BLOG: We Taught It. They Forgot It. We Moved On.

www.emaths.co.uk/blog/general...
June 14, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
Heading home after a fabulous week of author events at BIS Ho Chi Minh City. You know you're in safe hands when the entire SLT rock up in full Bob The Builder regalia for the Book Week 👏🏼

Massive thanks for having me!!

#authorvisit #authorinresidence #literacy #schools #internationalschools
April 4, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
💻 Webinar: Does the Model for Great Teaching apply to Early Years?

A discussion with school leaders from Horizon English School @mrnickhart.bsky.social, Martin Cole and Gabby Ridley about the work they have done

🗓️ 27th February
🕓16:00 GMT
💷 FREE

Register here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/does-the-m...
February 4, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
The comparative judgement way to help find The Nation's Favourite Selection Chocolate!

Open your laptop/tablet and follow the link to sign up:
au.nomoremarking.com/judging/sign...
Then start judging by clicking the purple Left or Right button to choose your favourite...

@daisychristo.bsky.social
au.nomoremarking.com
December 16, 2024 at 12:24 PM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
Yes! Thx for asking!
If you go to our ECMG spatial reasoning toolkit - all the refs and loads of supporting materials are there - all **freely available** earlymaths.org/spatial-reas...
And specifically here for research: earlymaths.org/wp-content/u...
Spatial Reasoning
The ECMG’s spatial reasoning toolkit. What is spatial reasoning? How do we develop young children’s spatial reasoning? The answers are in the Toolkit which includes posters, videos, guidance …
earlymaths.org
December 7, 2024 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
A couple of posts from us on one of the biggest practical problems with classroom assessment - and an easy solution.

The tyranny of the progression statement.

https://buff.ly/3COtGfI

And how you can liberate yourself from it.

https://buff.ly/46PcbFv
The tyranny of the progression statement
The assessment approach that never dies
buff.ly
December 4, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
If the barrier is gaps in basic alphabetic code knowledge, target this.

If the barrier is blending words, target this.

If decoding is fine but the barrier is dysfluency, target this.

Identifying and addressing individual needs will *always outperform general strategies on the basis of labels.
December 4, 2024 at 10:08 AM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
One of our most popular posts is just over a year old - on the perennial debate between skills & knowledge and what we've learnt over the past 14 years.
Skills vs knowledge, 13 years on
What can we learn from widespread dissatisfaction with the Curriculum for Excellence?
buff.ly
December 1, 2024 at 7:21 AM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
🚨NEW VID🚨

Alignment: The Secret Sauce of Effective Schooling?

KEY MOMENTS
0:51 → The emerging evidence
2:11 → Interview w Dr Jen Barker & Jon Gilbert
5:40 → The role of codification
9:41 → Alignment vs autonomy
11:06 → Getting started

www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-1B...
Alignment: The Secret Sauce of Effective Schooling?
YouTube video by Peps Mccrea
www.youtube.com
November 27, 2024 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
"Just because it's always been this way, doesn't mean it has to stay this way."

In education, we often find ourselves in cycles of crisis management. The focus becomes intensely short-term - the next term, the immediate challenges, the urgent metrics. 🧵 ...
November 22, 2024 at 9:38 AM
A great piece. I’ve been trying for ages to write something about how we can teach shape in primary. I get so far then give up because I get self-conscious about being so passionate about it. Maybe one day I’ll get the courage!
November 28, 2024 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
What do we know about the importance of play in early learning, and how can we evaluate its quality?

Some brief thoughts in my most recent column for TES @tesmagazine.bsky.social #edusky ⤵️

www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
EYFS: the great play-based learning debate
The function of play in early years is always contentious, writes Julian Grenier, so it’s worth exploring the evidence carefully
www.tes.com
November 26, 2024 at 7:01 AM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
Question banks to support teaching and learning

"Question banks have many benefits and should be a commonly used and shared resource across year groups (primary) and departments (secondary)."

By Kate Jones

Read it here 👇
https://buff.ly/3Ohy1uo

#EduBlogShare
Question banks to support teaching and learning
Explore the benefits of question banks in education. Learn how they can support curriculum planning and improve student knowledge retention.
buff.ly
November 21, 2024 at 6:00 AM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
What does research evidence say about promoting children's personal, social and emotional development (PSED) in #earlyyears?

Check out this free download from @theeef.bsky.social - useful for prompting professional discussions or for a training session

#edusky

https://buff.ly/3V6UfTr
November 25, 2024 at 6:00 AM
This site has been my go to for years when thinking about or explaining cognitive science principles. It’s so clear.
Teaching with learning in mind - cognitive science principles for educators 🤓🧠

Some URLs have changed, but all the pages are still there!

sites.google.com/view/efratfu...
EfratFurst - Teaching with Learning in Mind
Explore the science of learning and implication to teaching and learning
sites.google.com
November 24, 2024 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
'Neuroplasticity' is everywhere, but what do we really mean when we talk about the ever-changing brain?
Let's dive deeper than the buzzword and explore the evidence with a model.
October 20, 2024 at 7:37 AM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
About a million years ago, I tried to put together my thoughts on cognitive load theory, based on @dtwuva.bsky.social @paulkirschner.bsky.social and the late Fredrick Reif.

Have tweaked the model quite a bit since then, but you may find it interesting!

achemicalorthodoxy.co.uk/2018/10/25/s...
Simplifying Cognitive Load Theory
Sweller’s Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) may be the single most important thing for teachers to know, but it was not necessarily designed with teachers in mind. The product of lab-based randomis…
achemicalorthodoxy.co.uk
November 23, 2024 at 11:12 PM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
Interested in keeping up with the latest research in #earlyyears? Short of time and want a bite-sized summary? #edusky

Next Friday I'll be sending out my free monthly LinkedIn newsletter to over 5500 subscribers. Sign up here ⤵️
Subscribe on LinkedIn https://buff.ly/4eK3ekG
November 24, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
I have added a a couple more but still plenty of room so nominations welcome! #EduSky

go.bsky.app/MGCr691
November 24, 2024 at 12:44 AM
Reposted by Neil Gorton
Really interesting take on homework via the parenting hell podcast with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe. Listen from about 20 mins in.
November 20, 2024 at 2:59 PM