Ben Preston
@prestonscience.bsky.social
Hopeful mycophile & basic birder. Biology (etc) teacher and Head of Science in E Oxford. Does it help learning, meaning-making, and connection? Lifelong nature lover 🌳 🐜 May be occasional dog pics
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www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:16 PM
You should hear Tim Minchin’s opening song 😂
But I won’t sing it to you cos you have to go to his gig to hear it
But I won’t sing it to you cos you have to go to his gig to hear it
July 30, 2025 at 8:58 PM
You should hear Tim Minchin’s opening song 😂
But I won’t sing it to you cos you have to go to his gig to hear it
But I won’t sing it to you cos you have to go to his gig to hear it
I think a lot of science teachers would also be sympathetic to this cause
June 1, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I think a lot of science teachers would also be sympathetic to this cause
You smashed it. Thank you.
May 30, 2025 at 7:50 PM
You smashed it. Thank you.
David Didau has just published a post on this topic (£) - in summary, it’s not about which approach is better, but how it is implemented, that makes the real difference
open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
Does setting disadvantage the most disadvantaged students?
What does the evidence really tell us?
open.substack.com
May 24, 2025 at 8:55 AM
David Didau has just published a post on this topic (£) - in summary, it’s not about which approach is better, but how it is implemented, that makes the real difference
open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
Well that is always the fear! I’m sure you’re doing a great job though and it’s the quality of teaching and team culture you’re no doubt improving that will have the biggest impact anyway, I reckon!
May 20, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Well that is always the fear! I’m sure you’re doing a great job though and it’s the quality of teaching and team culture you’re no doubt improving that will have the biggest impact anyway, I reckon!
…the cost of not being able to tailor teaching to different “abilities”.
Overall results have been improving, particularly for lower prior attainers. And that feels like where the biggest leverage is in terms of most difference to the lives of our students. *In this school context*!
Overall results have been improving, particularly for lower prior attainers. And that feels like where the biggest leverage is in terms of most difference to the lives of our students. *In this school context*!
May 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
…the cost of not being able to tailor teaching to different “abilities”.
Overall results have been improving, particularly for lower prior attainers. And that feels like where the biggest leverage is in terms of most difference to the lives of our students. *In this school context*!
Overall results have been improving, particularly for lower prior attainers. And that feels like where the biggest leverage is in terms of most difference to the lives of our students. *In this school context*!
As I say, it’s a context dependent choice.
In the school I’m moving to, the setup is different, but the school culture is also world’s apart.
My focus has always been on biggest impact for the lowest prior attainers & most disadvantaged, so the benefit of keeping mixed groups has outweighed…
In the school I’m moving to, the setup is different, but the school culture is also world’s apart.
My focus has always been on biggest impact for the lowest prior attainers & most disadvantaged, so the benefit of keeping mixed groups has outweighed…
May 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
As I say, it’s a context dependent choice.
In the school I’m moving to, the setup is different, but the school culture is also world’s apart.
My focus has always been on biggest impact for the lowest prior attainers & most disadvantaged, so the benefit of keeping mixed groups has outweighed…
In the school I’m moving to, the setup is different, but the school culture is also world’s apart.
My focus has always been on biggest impact for the lowest prior attainers & most disadvantaged, so the benefit of keeping mixed groups has outweighed…
That’s the main reason. Over the years I’ve seen so many students get stuck in a mindset of “they’re the smart ones”, and teachers inadvertently lowering their expectations. We do have some small nurture groups, but otherwise everyone’s mixed up.
May 20, 2025 at 7:35 PM
That’s the main reason. Over the years I’ve seen so many students get stuck in a mindset of “they’re the smart ones”, and teachers inadvertently lowering their expectations. We do have some small nurture groups, but otherwise everyone’s mixed up.
We also stick with mixed ability - KS3 are timetabled in mixed teaching groups for several subjects including science. It’s best for our context, to avoid the students’ “I’m in bottom/top set” mindset.
However I think you make the choice based on your context and school culture. Happy to discuss!
However I think you make the choice based on your context and school culture. Happy to discuss!
May 20, 2025 at 5:18 PM
We also stick with mixed ability - KS3 are timetabled in mixed teaching groups for several subjects including science. It’s best for our context, to avoid the students’ “I’m in bottom/top set” mindset.
However I think you make the choice based on your context and school culture. Happy to discuss!
However I think you make the choice based on your context and school culture. Happy to discuss!
Reposted by Ben Preston
My first action in my current post 7 years ago was changing from end of topic tests to just two summative assessments per year, allowing everyone to focus on teaching better and improving the quality of low stakes, frequent retrieval practice in every lesson.
No complaints, results much better now👍
No complaints, results much better now👍
May 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
My first action in my current post 7 years ago was changing from end of topic tests to just two summative assessments per year, allowing everyone to focus on teaching better and improving the quality of low stakes, frequent retrieval practice in every lesson.
No complaints, results much better now👍
No complaints, results much better now👍
My first action in my current post 7 years ago was changing from end of topic tests to just two summative assessments per year, allowing everyone to focus on teaching better and improving the quality of low stakes, frequent retrieval practice in every lesson.
No complaints, results much better now👍
No complaints, results much better now👍
May 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
My first action in my current post 7 years ago was changing from end of topic tests to just two summative assessments per year, allowing everyone to focus on teaching better and improving the quality of low stakes, frequent retrieval practice in every lesson.
No complaints, results much better now👍
No complaints, results much better now👍