Analyse and discuss teachers and/or pupils experiences of one or more aspects of contemporary primary school classrooms, making reference to the policy context.

Essay question:

Analyse and discuss teachers and/or pupils experiences of one or more aspects of contemporary primary school classrooms, making reference to the policy context.

Essay question is intentionally wide so that students are able to choose something that particularly interests them to focus on. Some of the things you could choose are high-stakes testing, attainment grouping, rewards and sanctions, the teacher-pupil relationship, peer relationships or teacher feedback

Your introduction should include:

•A short orientation (introduce topic with a broad opening sentence or two)
•Answer the question with your main point (or topic statement).
•Provide a summery or ‘road map’ of your essay (signpost)

Main body
Each developing paragraph should have:

•A topic sentence
•Evidence to support your claims (referencing*)
•Counterevidence if relevant (e.g.: however, nevertheless)
•Concluding sentence if necessary (e.g. to sum up, in brief)

Conclusion

The conclusion should:

•Move from specific to general

•Restate your answer to the question (thesis statement)

•Re-summarise the reasons or main point (in a couple of sentences)

•Include a final broad statement (about possible implications, directions for research, implications for policy etc)
But NEVER introduce new ideas or information. It’s purpose is to sum up your main idea.

Reading:

-The Blue Table Means You Don’t Have a Clue”: The Persistence of Fixed-Ability Thinking and Practices in Primary Mathematics in English Schools in FORUM: for promoting 3-19 comprehensive education

Article by Rachel Marks 2013 This is an open access article: http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pdf/validate.asp?j=forum&vol=55&issue=1&year=2013&article=4_Marks_FORUM_55_1_web (you need to fill in code for full text)

You feel ashamed that you are not in the higher group’: Children’s psychosocial response to ability grouping in primary school in British Educational Research Journal Article by Deirdre McGillicuddy; Dympna Devine 2020

Reflective teaching: in schools Book by Andrew Pollard; Kristine Black-Hawkins 2014

The reality is complex’: teachers’ and school leaders’ accounts and justifications of grouping practices in the English key stage 2 classroom in Education 3-13 Article by Emma Towers; Becky Taylor; Antonina Tereshchenko; Anna Mazenod 2020

How Do Children Understand Themselves as Learners? Towards a Learner-Centred Understanding of Pedagogy in Pedagogy, Culture and Society Article by Tamara Bibby 2009

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