Posts by Mark Taylor
More Than A Score – NAPE 034
Mark Taylor talks to NAPE Information Officer Peter Cansell about their support for More Than A Score, a growing coalition of parents, teachers, heads and education experts, working together to call for change in the government’s over-testing regime.
Children are More Than A Score
Primary school is a time for self-discovery, building confidence and nourishing potential. But primary school children in England are being let down by a system that cares more about measurement than their education.
Our system is obsessed with league tables, turning children into data points and denying them a broad, stimulating education at key stages in their development. It puts an unnecessary burden on children, parents and teachers alike.
Heads, parents and governors can unite and demonstrate their opposition to a system saturated with high-pressure testing by signing and displaying our Pledge.
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.
For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk
103: Beat Goes On with Ollie Tunmer
Continuing our Primary Music on Fire specials I catch up with Ollie Tunmer about how the Beat Goes On is developing.
This includes body percussion with literacy, samba drumming and collaborations with organisations such as Charanga.
You can get in touch with Ollie at
and follow on twitter @beatgoesonuk
You can listen to his previous episode here
Show Sponsor
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.
For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk
Easy School of Hard Knocks with James Newcomb. LF039
James Newcomb joins me on the Learning on Fire podcast and explores the most important learning and educational moments that shaped his life.
Our guest – James Newcomb
Questions asked on the Learning on Fire Podcast Interview
1. Who are you?
2. What does your life look like now and how is it different from when you were growing up?
3. What was valuable about your school experience?
4. Which teachers do you remember and why?
5. Who did you admire when you were young?
6. What was it about that person that had such an impact?
7. What was the best piece of advice you have ever been given and who gave it to you?
8. What advice would you give your younger self?
9. What does your future look like?
10. What podcast, book, video, film, song or other resource has had the biggest impact on your life and why?
Resources mentioned
John Lee Dumas – Entrepreneurs On Fire Podcast
Contact information
Twitter & Instagram – @mrjamesnewcomb
Show Sponsor
National Association for Primary Education
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.
For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk
Humanities 20:20 discussion – NAPE 033
Mark Taylor joins Dr. Tony Eaude and Professor Simon Catling in a conversation about their new project – Humanities [20:20]
Join us in our campaign to restore the humanities – History, Geography, RE and Citizenship to their rightful place in the primary curriculum.
We believe the humanities play a key part in a broad and balanced school curriculum. They have a crucial role in helping children to:
- explore the purpose & meaning of their lives,
- build their sense of identity & self-worth and
- develop the values that will help them to become active, inclusive and thoughtful citizens.
To find out more information about Humanities [20:20] and to sign their manifesto please visit
To join the the conversation please leave a message in the comments below.
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.
For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk
Click below to listen to Tony Eaude’s previous episode based on his NAPE Christian Schiller Lecture.
To read the article written by Tony Eaude for Primary First (NAPE journal) please click here.
Issue 22 page 24
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Nelson Mandela
102: History Rocks with Glenn Carter
We continue our Primary Music on Fire specials this week by talking about how being authentic with your class can be inspiring for your pupils. This is especially true when you love rock music, have a YouTube Channel and created History Rocks.
Glenn Carter is a primary school history co-ordinator and year 5 teacher, who has a Masters Degree in History.
Glenn has combined his passion of history, music and education to create History Rocks.
History Rocks is all about making primary history creative! As well as fusing technology with history, producing worksheets, presentations and classroom activities, History Rocks also provides FREE, high-quality songs.
Click below to find out more about Glenn or book him for CPD.
Contact Details
mrcarterrocks.wixsite.com/historyrocks
Twitter – @historyrocksuk
Resources mentioned
Want to see more?
Show Sponsor
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.
For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk