Join us for an exclusive bonus episode of the HDYT? Podcast! Hosted by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL, and featuring Zoe Enser (Lead HMI Secondary English) from OFSTED, this episode promises an enriching discussion on the state of English education today. Together, they delve into the highlights of the English education subject report, celebrating the exemplary practices of English teachers nationwide. From recognising the widespread appreciation for English education to navigating the...

Prepare to enhance your science revision with Karen and Amanda! They're here to revolutionise science exam preparation in this final episode of the ‘HDYT?’ science series. From structured methods to rigorous practice testing and innovative multi-disciplinary approaches, they've outlined a toolkit of strategies to help you help students strive for success in science. Join them as they share tips on how to optimise revision sessions, transform the specification into engaging approach-style...

Get ready to shake up your approach to revision with a burst of creativity on the final episode of 'HDYT?' English series! Join Rachel Johnson alongside a stellar lineup of educators and authors including Mark Roberts, Amy Staniforth, Stuart Pryke, and Dr. Jamie Edgecombe.   Discover the joy of guiding students through the literary landscape as they blossom into unique and imaginative writers. Sharing many gems like techniques to overcome the initial hurdles of apprehension with a curated...

At some point in the year, you’ll probably have witnessed the transformation in your students as they embrace the English Literature content, taking pride in their progress and impressing themselves, peers, and teachers alike– so let’s make the most of this momentum as we approach exams. Embark on the journey of effective revision strategies in English education with Rachel Johnson and a dynamic team of educators - Ashley Harris, Amy Weir, and Josh Sheehan - on this very practical episode of...

Join Karen and Amanda as they tackle a key issue highlighted in examiners' reports year after year: the struggle with practical questions in exams. In this episode, they delve into the importance of purposeful practicals, dissecting the barriers staff and students face in mastering these essential skills. Drawing insights from key publications such as the Gatsby Good Practical Science Guide and the Education Endowment Fund’s Improving Secondary Science, Karen and Amanda explore strategies...

Explore the complexities of teaching calculation skills in science with Karen and Amanda. Novice learners often struggle with grasping formulas, unit conversions, and applying knowledge across disciplines. Join them as they delve into strategies such as speaking the language of maths, effectively rearranging equations, and modelling solutions to challenging problems. Discover invaluable scaffolding techniques like FAME (Fade, Apply, Mistakes/misconceptions, Explain) and FIFA (Formula,...

Demystify the vital skill of the teaching and learning of comparison questions in GCSE English with Rachel Johnson and a panel of esteemed educators – Yamina Bibi, Joshua Clarke, and Natalie Sinclair – on this week's episode of the ‘How do you teach?’ podcast.  Unravel the complexities of guiding students through comparison questions as we explore actionable strategies and insights. From honing analytical prowess through Socratic questioning to delving into tonal nuances, discover...

Welcome to "How Do You Teach?” where Karen Collins and Amanda Clegg, authors of 'Grappling with Graphs' and science teaching experts, delve into the perplexing world of graph interpretation and construction. In this episode, Karen and Amanda unravel the mysteries behind why students often struggle with graphs. From the fundamental issues in constructing and interpreting graphs, to the intricacies of plotting and understanding the line of best fit, they leave no stone unturned. Sharing...

Being able to evaluate effectively is a crucial skill, both in and out of the English classroom. Join Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) and seasoned English educators Jo Heathcote and Richard Twigg (@Richard_Twigg), this week, as they get stuck into the nuances of teaching evaluations, dissecting the joys and challenges, tips and tricks. Whether it is enabling students to debate and critically think about media effectively, addressing the large cognitive load required to attempt these questions, or...

The acquisition and recall of knowledge is very important, but there emerges a need to include understanding and application of knowledge to the practice of teaching science to ensure students are able to use what they have learned, even when facing questions they may not be familiar with.  Amanda and Karen take us back to 2018, where the simple osmosis question that led to “Carrot-gate” highlights the issues students have with the application of knowledge in Science. Diving into the...

Creativity and curiosity lie at the heart of great writing skills, but nurturing this ability can pose difficulties for English educators at every level. This week, we welcome English teachers Luke Boatright (@CPAenglish) and Glynn Palmer-Bell (@teachEnglishLit) to talk about all things writing. Alongside PiXL CEO, Rachel Johnson, they discuss what great writing can open young people up to, exploring their top tips to encourage more inquisitiveness, honing student’s imaginative skills,...

Extended response questions - overwhelmed students may leave them  blank. Others might try unloading all of the information they know about the topic, without actually answering the question. There are many reasons why students struggle with tackling these questions in exams, but what steps can you take to ensure they know the best way to approach these questions? Join our expert Science duo Karen Collins and Amanda Clegg as they delve into the core issues hindering students in science...

The teaching of unseen texts can provide brilliant opportunities for students to apply their skills and knowledge, but it is not without its challenges. To kick off the first English episode of ‘How do you Teach?’, PiXL CEO Rachel Johnson is joined by expert teachers and authors Haili Hughes (@HugesHaili) and Chris Curtis (@Xris32), who discuss the importance of normalising the difficulty of approaching unseen texts, as well as why it is vital to embed skills from Year 7 to improve...

Welcome to the ‘How do you teach?’ podcast from PiXL. This special series will explore the key areas that pupils find challenging in English and Science and then expert educationalists from our network will suggest different practical approaches you can take as teachers to help your students strive for success now. We will be releasing weekly episodes to help support you to support your pupils over this crucial period. English episodes will be released on a Monday and Science on a Tuesday.  ...