Category Archives: Uncategorized

From early on in my teaching career two approaches were promoted by schools I worked in:    1. Make a fuss of the small stuff – particularly with regard to pupil behaviour.  2. You walk past the standards you accept.  By constantly reminding students to tuck their shirts in, do their ties up, larger behavioural problemsContinue reading “Student Voice”

I was delighted to read recently the Junior School Head Boy and Girl Blog in which Holly and Joel explain their thoughts about moving to the Senior School and share their enjoyment of the recent Transition Days.  Change is daunting for most of us and learning to negotiate successfully both the planned and unplanned changesContinue reading “Transition – Dixie 6”

On the 6th June a collection of Lower Sixth Formers from Dixie Grammar School joined by Stafford Grammar met for the first time to discuss topics raised by the “Everyone’s Invited” campaign. Throughout the day the students respectfully discussed topics such as sexism, stereotyping and consent with the aim of helping to create a positiveContinue reading “Consent Project Blog”

The year has been full of challenge for us all, and for schools, provision for Year 11 and Upper Sixth after their final exams has been an important additional consideration. The easiest option would have been to let these year groups leave school after half term, but this would have resulted in a 15-week holidayContinue reading “Academic Ambition”

The Secretary of State for Education has suggested that silence in school corridors should become the norm, and that a ban on mobile phones is essential for avoiding poor behaviour. The Dixie corridors are not silent, and whilst we have a zero tolerance policy on the recreational use of phones, ultimately we want students atContinue reading “Silent Corridors?”

As a first time parent, one of the most important decisions you make is deciding where your children will start their school career.  We all have our own experience of education and school that undoubtedly influences our decisions but deciding for your 3 year old can be both exciting and daunting. I have worked inContinue reading “Early Years at the Dixie”

Working at Dixie for the last sixteen years, I have always hoped and believed that we offer an environment that is tolerant, inclusive and welcoming to all. Certainly, the ‘Dixie family atmosphere’ was one of the things that first attracted me to the school back in 2004, an important factor in my decision to leaveContinue reading “Diversity”

The Government and DfE will be receiving many responses to their consultation – if you haven’t done so, do consider giving your own personal feedback. The survey takes about half an hour to complete; the essence of my responses is outlined below. It should be said at the outset that there is no neat solutionContinue reading “GCSE and A Level Exams – DfE consultation”

Live teaching is an increasingly prominent feature of remote education for both Junior and Senior School pupils and whilst an incredible opportunity, it brings its own challenges. We are immensely proud of the adaptability and enthusiasm of teachers in learning new skills, and incorporating this learning into their remote lessons to the benefit of studentsContinue reading “Remote Teaching and Learning Jan 2021”

Value added is not a measure of pupil achievement, but of progress – it measures the journey taken by the student and the difference made by a school, rather than the destination. That is why very selective schools are silent when it comes to measures of value added – some are so academically selective thatContinue reading “Value Added”