Primary education is one of the most important phases of learning but there remains a scarcity of in-depth research on this vital topic. However, as the focus on improving outcomes increases there is a growing interest internationally in research that helps us to understand the best ways to help young children engage with the curriculum in order that they may have the best possible life chances. This text helps to address these issues and consists of seminal articles derived from the forty-year history of the journal Education 3-13, which can claim to be one of the most important and influential publications in its field. The chapters included have been chosen carefully to represent a wide range of key topics in research on primary education and the text is sub-divided into five sections, each of which has been edited by leading academics who specialise in the topic under scrutiny. The sections include: * Learning and teaching, including the psychology and philosophy of primary education; * Key challenges in primary education, including changes to the governance of schools, and educational management and leadership; * The primary curriculum, including Maths, Science, IT and Technology Education; * The primary curriculum, including English, Humanities and the Arts; and, * Primary teachers' work and professionalism. Many of the contributions are written by seminal figures in academic research. The text will be especially relevant to students and researchers engaged the study of primary education as well as to practitioners, advisers and policy makers and will prove an invaluable resource for those wishing to gain an overview of research into primary education. It is recommended especially for those who wish to understand the development of primary education and the many twists and turns in theory, practice and policy that have influenced its development over the period of a generation. Those who read the text will come across the origins of many of the ideas that continue to influence primary teaching today as well as very recent research on where we are now in this important subject area.

Measuring the ability to teach is central to government policies to raise standards in schools. 'Successful teaching' is now measured through basic technical and personal skills in the context of the National Curriculum. Teachers are labelled successes or failures based on graded OFSTED inspections.
This thought-provoking book explains how different levels or qualities of teaching can be identified and achieved. It outlines the criteria for competent, successful and excellent educational practice, whilst suggesting ways of achieving the highest possible measure of excellence.
Uniquely, the authors separate the classical teaching approaches, teacher and pupil centred, from the more contemporary, partnership approaches. They look at a variety of models of successful and quality teaching and illustrate their virtues and limitations. The book also highlights ways in which inspection and appraisal strategies can be revised to meet criteria acceptable to both teachers and the groups to whom they are accountable.

Primary education is one of the most important phases of learning but there remains a scarcity of in-depth research on this vital topic. However, as the focus on improving outcomes increases there is a growing interest internationally in research that helps us to understand the best ways to help young children engage with the curriculum in order that they may have the best possible life chances. This text helps to address these issues and consists of seminal articles derived from the forty-year history of the journal Education 3-13, which can claim to be one of the most important and influential publications in its field. The chapters included have been chosen carefully to represent a wide range of key topics in research on primary education and the text is sub-divided into five sections, each of which has been edited by leading academics who specialise in the topic under scrutiny. The sections include: * Learning and teaching, including the psychology and philosophy of primary education; * Key challenges in primary education, including changes to the governance of schools, and educational management and leadership; * The primary curriculum, including Maths, Science, IT and Technology Education; * The primary curriculum, including English, Humanities and the Arts; and, * Primary teachers' work and professionalism. Many of the contributions are written by seminal figures in academic research. The text will be especially relevant to students and researchers engaged the study of primary education as well as to practitioners, advisers and policy makers and will prove an invaluable resource for those wishing to gain an overview of research into primary education. It is recommended especially for those who wish to understand the development of primary education and the many twists and turns in theory, practice and policy that have influenced its development over the period of a generation. Those who read the text will come across the origins of many of the ideas that continue to influence primary teaching today as well as very recent research on where we are now in this important subject area.

Contents:
Preface: Teaching: A Profession on the Move 1. The Study of Teaching 2. What is Good Teaching? First Principles and Counter-Arguments 3. Models of Good Practice: Teacher-Centred Approaches 4. Models of Good Practice: Learner-Centred Approaches 5. Models of Good Practice: Partnership-Approaches 6. Co-constructive Teaching: A Practical Guide 7. Achieving Competence: The Role of Initial Teacher Education 8. Achieving Success: Dealing with 'Out of School' Factors 9. Achieving Excellence 10. The Myths, Mysteries and Magic of Good Teaching