Pritesh Raichura
@priteshraichura.bsky.social
Director of Pastoral & Teaching at Athena Learning Trust. Formerly Michaela & Soane.
Blog: https://bunsenblue.com
Lesson videos: https://steplab.co/watch
#CogSciSci 🌱
Blog: https://bunsenblue.com
Lesson videos: https://steplab.co/watch
#CogSciSci 🌱
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
Smartphones change children in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Slowly, over time, their characters change. And it’s not for the better.
My latest blog details my pastoral experiences with smartphones in school.
bunsenblue.com/2025/09/04/w...
My latest blog details my pastoral experiences with smartphones in school.
bunsenblue.com/2025/09/04/w...
What Your Children Are Really Seeing in Group Chats
Being pastorally responsible for a group of 30 children as their form tutor is perhaps the greatest privilege and source of joy that teaching can bring. At one stage in my career, I became the form…
bunsenblue.com
September 14, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Smartphones change children in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Slowly, over time, their characters change. And it’s not for the better.
My latest blog details my pastoral experiences with smartphones in school.
bunsenblue.com/2025/09/04/w...
My latest blog details my pastoral experiences with smartphones in school.
bunsenblue.com/2025/09/04/w...
Smartphones change children in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Slowly, over time, their characters change. And it’s not for the better.
My latest blog details my pastoral experiences with smartphones in school.
bunsenblue.com/2025/09/04/w...
My latest blog details my pastoral experiences with smartphones in school.
bunsenblue.com/2025/09/04/w...
What Your Children Are Really Seeing in Group Chats
Being pastorally responsible for a group of 30 children as their form tutor is perhaps the greatest privilege and source of joy that teaching can bring. At one stage in my career, I became the form…
bunsenblue.com
September 14, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Smartphones change children in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Slowly, over time, their characters change. And it’s not for the better.
My latest blog details my pastoral experiences with smartphones in school.
bunsenblue.com/2025/09/04/w...
My latest blog details my pastoral experiences with smartphones in school.
bunsenblue.com/2025/09/04/w...
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
*Diagnostic overshadowing* can thwart inclusive teaching.
What's useful for teachers to know:
↓
What's useful for teachers to know:
↓
March 23, 2025 at 7:04 PM
*Diagnostic overshadowing* can thwart inclusive teaching.
What's useful for teachers to know:
↓
What's useful for teachers to know:
↓
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
Surely, it is more effective to train teachers in proven methods that produce capable readers than training them to use adaptive teaching techniques. One produces independence for children, the other dependence.
2/
2/
March 22, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Surely, it is more effective to train teachers in proven methods that produce capable readers than training them to use adaptive teaching techniques. One produces independence for children, the other dependence.
2/
2/
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
“The longer a teacher talks for, the more likely it is the number of pupils paying attention decreases.”
Great blog on strategies to ensure students pay attention during the lessons explanation. Well worth a read. Thanks @priteshraichura.bsky.social
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/c...
Great blog on strategies to ensure students pay attention during the lessons explanation. Well worth a read. Thanks @priteshraichura.bsky.social
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/c...
Choral Response and ‘I Say You Say’
The longer a teacher talks for, the more likely it is the number of pupils paying attention decreases. The trick to sustaining attention is to ask pupils questions and to expect 100% participation …
bunsenblue.wordpress.com
March 22, 2025 at 8:08 AM
“The longer a teacher talks for, the more likely it is the number of pupils paying attention decreases.”
Great blog on strategies to ensure students pay attention during the lessons explanation. Well worth a read. Thanks @priteshraichura.bsky.social
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/c...
Great blog on strategies to ensure students pay attention during the lessons explanation. Well worth a read. Thanks @priteshraichura.bsky.social
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/c...
Extraordinary blogs with lots of excellent ideas.
Two very useful blogs from David Thomas on SEND policy.
Part 1: The SEND Crisis
Why children are getting worse care, more slowly at greater cost
open.substack.com/pub/thingsda...
Part 1: The SEND Crisis
Why children are getting worse care, more slowly at greater cost
open.substack.com/pub/thingsda...
The SEND crisis
Why children are getting worse care, more slowly, at greater cost
open.substack.com
February 22, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Extraordinary blogs with lots of excellent ideas.
I genuinely believe teaching is the best profession! We are responsible for shaping characters of our pupils as much as we think hard about how to improve their attainment. How stimulating & what a privilege. My article with @joshpd.bsky.social below 👇🏼 #EduSky
schoolsweek.co.uk/we-need-a-be...
schoolsweek.co.uk/we-need-a-be...
Great teachers are not born; they are made
Focusing on great professional development opportunities is key to ending our recruitment woes
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 21, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I genuinely believe teaching is the best profession! We are responsible for shaping characters of our pupils as much as we think hard about how to improve their attainment. How stimulating & what a privilege. My article with @joshpd.bsky.social below 👇🏼 #EduSky
schoolsweek.co.uk/we-need-a-be...
schoolsweek.co.uk/we-need-a-be...
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
Here's my interview with science teacher extraordinaire, @priteshraichura.bsky.social in which we discuss the what, when and why of his teaching methods.
open.spotify.com/episode/68kn...
open.spotify.com/episode/68kn...
Ep 52 | Lessons on Excellent Teaching (with Pritesh Raichura)
Sweat The Technique · Episode
open.spotify.com
February 19, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Here's my interview with science teacher extraordinaire, @priteshraichura.bsky.social in which we discuss the what, when and why of his teaching methods.
open.spotify.com/episode/68kn...
open.spotify.com/episode/68kn...
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
With vaccination under attack worth reading this, which I think is the most understated powerful thing Roald Dahl ever wrote.
February 15, 2025 at 6:48 PM
With vaccination under attack worth reading this, which I think is the most understated powerful thing Roald Dahl ever wrote.
How would you answer the question: "Why do children misbehave?" Reply below with "Because they..." 👇
February 17, 2025 at 5:41 PM
How would you answer the question: "Why do children misbehave?" Reply below with "Because they..." 👇
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
🗣️ Teaching is challenging, but rewarding. Seeing students grow and succeed is unparalleled.
Check out @joshpd.bsky.social and @priteshraichura.bsky.social on the demands & rewards of teaching in @schoolsweek.bsky.social.
And why not watch Pritesh in action⁉️: steplab.co/film
Check out @joshpd.bsky.social and @priteshraichura.bsky.social on the demands & rewards of teaching in @schoolsweek.bsky.social.
And why not watch Pritesh in action⁉️: steplab.co/film
February 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
🗣️ Teaching is challenging, but rewarding. Seeing students grow and succeed is unparalleled.
Check out @joshpd.bsky.social and @priteshraichura.bsky.social on the demands & rewards of teaching in @schoolsweek.bsky.social.
And why not watch Pritesh in action⁉️: steplab.co/film
Check out @joshpd.bsky.social and @priteshraichura.bsky.social on the demands & rewards of teaching in @schoolsweek.bsky.social.
And why not watch Pritesh in action⁉️: steplab.co/film
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
3 and a half years ago, a small group of 11 teachers set up
Ark Soane Academy.
We are now recruiting for our FIFTH year as a school.
Where has the time gone?! 🧵
Ark Soane Academy.
We are now recruiting for our FIFTH year as a school.
Where has the time gone?! 🧵
February 11, 2025 at 9:35 PM
3 and a half years ago, a small group of 11 teachers set up
Ark Soane Academy.
We are now recruiting for our FIFTH year as a school.
Where has the time gone?! 🧵
Ark Soane Academy.
We are now recruiting for our FIFTH year as a school.
Where has the time gone?! 🧵
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
Thank you to everyone who came to our second Ark Soane History conference yesterday. It was such a joy to see so many history teacher colleagues together.
As always, I’m proudest of our pupils who were so keen to help and talk about history. What a lovely day. #Soane25
As always, I’m proudest of our pupils who were so keen to help and talk about history. What a lovely day. #Soane25
February 9, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Thank you to everyone who came to our second Ark Soane History conference yesterday. It was such a joy to see so many history teacher colleagues together.
As always, I’m proudest of our pupils who were so keen to help and talk about history. What a lovely day. #Soane25
As always, I’m proudest of our pupils who were so keen to help and talk about history. What a lovely day. #Soane25
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
This is a really interesting blog. Often our questioning focuses on ‘check for understanding’ rather than ‘check for attention’. I’ve started using ‘choral response’ and ‘I say you say’ much more in my teaching and it’s really effective.
👏
👏
*New post!* Choral response & 'I Say You Say' are two techniques I use with high frequency during my explanations. Although they seem simple, there is a lot of thinking behind them.
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/c...
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/c...
Choral Response and ‘I Say You Say’
The longer a teacher talks for, the more likely it is the number of pupils paying attention decreases. The trick to sustaining attention is to ask pupils questions and to expect 100% participation …
bunsenblue.wordpress.com
February 9, 2025 at 11:13 AM
This is a really interesting blog. Often our questioning focuses on ‘check for understanding’ rather than ‘check for attention’. I’ve started using ‘choral response’ and ‘I say you say’ much more in my teaching and it’s really effective.
👏
👏
*New post!* Choral response & 'I Say You Say' are two techniques I use with high frequency during my explanations. Although they seem simple, there is a lot of thinking behind them.
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/c...
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/c...
Choral Response and ‘I Say You Say’
The longer a teacher talks for, the more likely it is the number of pupils paying attention decreases. The trick to sustaining attention is to ask pupils questions and to expect 100% participation …
bunsenblue.wordpress.com
February 8, 2025 at 9:01 PM
*New post!* Choral response & 'I Say You Say' are two techniques I use with high frequency during my explanations. Although they seem simple, there is a lot of thinking behind them.
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/c...
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/c...
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
Schools Week have devised a quiz!
Higher or Lower! Can you spot which statement in the Ofsted framework is for the higher grade?!
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-quiz-...
Higher or Lower! Can you spot which statement in the Ofsted framework is for the higher grade?!
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-quiz-...
Ofsted quiz: Can you spot a ‘strong’ rating from a ‘secure’ one?
Ofsted's proposed 'toolkits' have been criticised as being too unclear - but do they make sense?
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Schools Week have devised a quiz!
Higher or Lower! Can you spot which statement in the Ofsted framework is for the higher grade?!
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-quiz-...
Higher or Lower! Can you spot which statement in the Ofsted framework is for the higher grade?!
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-quiz-...
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
Steplab Videos | Watch Great Teaching, Unpacked
Browse videos produced by the Steplab team.
steplab.co
February 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
IT’S HERE! I am a massive believer in the power of concrete examples. This 4-part documentary shows lessons & unpacks the thinking behind them.
Huge thanks to @pepsmccrea.bsky.social, the team at Steplab, Postcode films & of course colleagues & pupils for their involvement. 🙌🏼
Huge thanks to @pepsmccrea.bsky.social, the team at Steplab, Postcode films & of course colleagues & pupils for their involvement. 🙌🏼
🚨🚨 NEW TODAY
For the last 18 months, I've been working on a top secret documentary to capture & deconstruct some of best teaching in UK.
Why We Made It & How To Access It (For Free):
↓
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SQ0...
For the last 18 months, I've been working on a top secret documentary to capture & deconstruct some of best teaching in UK.
Why We Made It & How To Access It (For Free):
↓
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SQ0...
(Why And How) We Made A Documentary Unpacking Great Teaching
YouTube video by Peps Mccrea
www.youtube.com
January 23, 2025 at 5:28 PM
IT’S HERE! I am a massive believer in the power of concrete examples. This 4-part documentary shows lessons & unpacks the thinking behind them.
Huge thanks to @pepsmccrea.bsky.social, the team at Steplab, Postcode films & of course colleagues & pupils for their involvement. 🙌🏼
Huge thanks to @pepsmccrea.bsky.social, the team at Steplab, Postcode films & of course colleagues & pupils for their involvement. 🙌🏼
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
On Praise from @priteshraichura.bsky.social :
"You need to praise even the smallest of behaviours. This doesn't signal low expectations, this signals what you want to see more of. Every little detail matters, it signals effort.
steplab.co/watch/great-... (19:30 onwards)
#BestOf #UKTeaching
🍎🎓
"You need to praise even the smallest of behaviours. This doesn't signal low expectations, this signals what you want to see more of. Every little detail matters, it signals effort.
steplab.co/watch/great-... (19:30 onwards)
#BestOf #UKTeaching
🍎🎓
January 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
On Praise from @priteshraichura.bsky.social :
"You need to praise even the smallest of behaviours. This doesn't signal low expectations, this signals what you want to see more of. Every little detail matters, it signals effort.
steplab.co/watch/great-... (19:30 onwards)
#BestOf #UKTeaching
🍎🎓
"You need to praise even the smallest of behaviours. This doesn't signal low expectations, this signals what you want to see more of. Every little detail matters, it signals effort.
steplab.co/watch/great-... (19:30 onwards)
#BestOf #UKTeaching
🍎🎓
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
"Great Teaching Unpacked" steplab.co/watch - I am LOVING this brilliant new resource - HIGHLY recommend for all those leading T&L. Great set of 4 videos from @steplab.bsky.social & @pepsmccrea.bsky.social. I've just watched Episode 1 - Harnessing Attention with the fab
@priteshraichura.bsky.social
@priteshraichura.bsky.social
Steplab Videos | Watch Great Teaching, Unpacked
Browse videos produced by the Steplab team.
steplab.co
January 25, 2025 at 1:11 PM
"Great Teaching Unpacked" steplab.co/watch - I am LOVING this brilliant new resource - HIGHLY recommend for all those leading T&L. Great set of 4 videos from @steplab.bsky.social & @pepsmccrea.bsky.social. I've just watched Episode 1 - Harnessing Attention with the fab
@priteshraichura.bsky.social
@priteshraichura.bsky.social
IT’S HERE! I am a massive believer in the power of concrete examples. This 4-part documentary shows lessons & unpacks the thinking behind them.
Huge thanks to @pepsmccrea.bsky.social, the team at Steplab, Postcode films & of course colleagues & pupils for their involvement. 🙌🏼
Huge thanks to @pepsmccrea.bsky.social, the team at Steplab, Postcode films & of course colleagues & pupils for their involvement. 🙌🏼
🚨🚨 NEW TODAY
For the last 18 months, I've been working on a top secret documentary to capture & deconstruct some of best teaching in UK.
Why We Made It & How To Access It (For Free):
↓
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SQ0...
For the last 18 months, I've been working on a top secret documentary to capture & deconstruct some of best teaching in UK.
Why We Made It & How To Access It (For Free):
↓
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SQ0...
(Why And How) We Made A Documentary Unpacking Great Teaching
YouTube video by Peps Mccrea
www.youtube.com
January 23, 2025 at 5:28 PM
IT’S HERE! I am a massive believer in the power of concrete examples. This 4-part documentary shows lessons & unpacks the thinking behind them.
Huge thanks to @pepsmccrea.bsky.social, the team at Steplab, Postcode films & of course colleagues & pupils for their involvement. 🙌🏼
Huge thanks to @pepsmccrea.bsky.social, the team at Steplab, Postcode films & of course colleagues & pupils for their involvement. 🙌🏼
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
Heads down, hands up. Don't use whiteboards to answer MCQs on screen, but students put head on the desk and open their hands when I call out the answer. Avoids students just copying off other's MWB. Totally stolen from @priteshraichura.bsky.social
January 19, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Heads down, hands up. Don't use whiteboards to answer MCQs on screen, but students put head on the desk and open their hands when I call out the answer. Avoids students just copying off other's MWB. Totally stolen from @priteshraichura.bsky.social
Reposted by Pritesh Raichura
MUST WATCH - All-Hands-Up Cold Call
Thanks @priteshraichura.bsky.social I'm a fan of this and your work generally. Fantastic stuff!
youtu.be/8j4wjUzzZMc?...
Thanks @priteshraichura.bsky.social I'm a fan of this and your work generally. Fantastic stuff!
youtu.be/8j4wjUzzZMc?...
All-Hands-Up Cold Call
YouTube video by Tips for Teachers
youtu.be
December 28, 2024 at 4:37 AM
MUST WATCH - All-Hands-Up Cold Call
Thanks @priteshraichura.bsky.social I'm a fan of this and your work generally. Fantastic stuff!
youtu.be/8j4wjUzzZMc?...
Thanks @priteshraichura.bsky.social I'm a fan of this and your work generally. Fantastic stuff!
youtu.be/8j4wjUzzZMc?...
*NEW post* Becoming Better People.
Do your pupils become more polite, more hard working & more responsible each year they progress through school?
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2024/12/23/b...
Do your pupils become more polite, more hard working & more responsible each year they progress through school?
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2024/12/23/b...
Becoming Better People
Are your pupils more polite at the end of Year 7 compared to the start of Year 7? Do pupils in Year 8 work harder than pupils in Year 7 because their habits of working have improved over their time…
bunsenblue.wordpress.com
December 23, 2024 at 9:13 AM
*NEW post* Becoming Better People.
Do your pupils become more polite, more hard working & more responsible each year they progress through school?
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2024/12/23/b...
Do your pupils become more polite, more hard working & more responsible each year they progress through school?
bunsenblue.wordpress.com/2024/12/23/b...
On average, teachers at Ark Soane Academy observed 40+ lessons & were given feedback on 40+ lessons since September! This truly low stakes, high frequency feedback culture is key to rapid staff development. Want to join us? We're recruiting across subjects! arksoane.org/jobs/vacancies
December 21, 2024 at 7:21 PM
On average, teachers at Ark Soane Academy observed 40+ lessons & were given feedback on 40+ lessons since September! This truly low stakes, high frequency feedback culture is key to rapid staff development. Want to join us? We're recruiting across subjects! arksoane.org/jobs/vacancies