Collins Schools

Secondary History – Victorian Baby Farms

Secondary History – Victorian Baby Farms

Sometimes something you read can open up a completely different way of looking at things! Whilst reading Mary Hooper’s new novel ‘Velvet,’ which is mainly about Victorian spiritualism, I came across a reference to Amelia Dyer, who was hanged in...

3 min

Secondary English – Post-it Power and Pupil Voice!

Secondary English – Post-it Power and Pupil Voice!

I love a Post It. I’ll admit it. I also get to do the stationery order (oh the joys!) so I order the boring yellow ones but also all the hearts, thumbs up, cars and smiley faces. These are hoarded...

3 min

Chemistry – Soda

Chemistry – Soda

The properties, uses and manufacture of the various forms of soda (sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydroxide) are relevant to KS3 and KS4 topics involving alkalis, the chemical industry, pollution, and the alkali metals and their compounds.

5 min

Secondary Geography - Group Work

Secondary Geography - Group Work

I often observe lessons where group work is used. Whilst the teaching is often outstanding, the learning is often lagging behind because not all students take an active role in the group work. As a result I have been working...

4 min

Secondary Technology – Revision Games

Secondary Technology – Revision Games

When it comes to exams, I often find that a lot of my pupils struggle to revise for Design & Technology, finding their practical experiences hard to associate it with written exams! In lessons, they enjoy the practical side of...

4 min

Secondary History – It’s Complicated…

Secondary History – It’s Complicated…

To help our students make sense of history quite often we generalise, so Hitler’s war becomes Germany’s war, where all Germans are involved in fighting against the Allies.  During the Industrial Revolution all factory owners were oppressive, making their workers...

3 min

Secondary History – Hyperinflation

Secondary History – Hyperinflation

‘In August 1923, the dollar reached a million Mark.’ -Hyperinflation through Defying Hitler

4 min

Secondary RE – Engaging teens in the ‘God’ question…?

Secondary RE – Engaging teens in the ‘God’ question…?

“But Miss, I don’t want to be a priest, so why do I have to learn about God?”

3 min

Explore Christmas

Explore Christmas

So, Christmas is fast approaching and all the students want to do is watch a video or make Christmas cards, and frankly, you’re tempted to give in as it you’ve worked ridiculously hard and your thoughts are now turned towards...

2 min

Secondary Psychology – How to learn studies

Secondary Psychology – How to learn studies

“Not another study to learn Miss…” Many students complain about the number of studies they have to learn for the examination. There are things they can do to ease the...

3 min

Secondary Science – Salt

Secondary Science – Salt

Some of us like to put a little salt on our food to enhance the flavour. While there is no doubt that many of us have too much salt in our diets there is a lot more to salt. Salt...

4 min

Secondary History – Taking a Second Look

Secondary History – Taking a Second Look

Sometimes you know a topic really well, you’ve taught it many times, you are familiar with the key ideas and subject knowledge. You know which text book has the best images, the best activities, or which clip of film to...

3 min