Francisco Goya, El sueño de la razón produce monstruos (1799). With the support of a small grant from the PESGB, I recently attended the Association for Moral Education’s annual conference, hosted by Tampere University in Finland. I presented a poster highlighting…
A recent report identified a growth in the use of standardised curricula in both primary and secondary schools in England. These resourced schemes of work are considered ready for teacher use and often take the form of PowerPoint presentations. They…
(Melencolia I, Albrecht Dürer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) What is to be done except learn all we can about everything we can? Education is a force of civilisation. Through it we have become who we are. Our curiosity and…
One of the most awkward parts of attending conferences, or indeed any work related event, is the requirement to explain what I do. On the train from Sheffield to Oxford for the PESGB annual conference, I was still unsure how…
Having taught Philosophy A Level in Further Education for two years now, I still find it so striking, and perhaps frightening, the expectations and pressures that our society bestows upon our young people. It hits me every time on enrolment…
An allegory of wisdom, attributed to Giovanni Domenico Cerrini (1609–1681) Phronesis and Virtue: Reflections from Gdańsk I am a full-time maths teacher at an inner-city comprehensive school in Coventry, UK. For the past three years, I’ve also been doing a…
Practitioners face questions relating to freedom each day when teaching and planning curricula. How will students engage with the material? How should students be in the learning environment? Do students have the freedom to choose tasks or are they subject…
This year, the PESGB (Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain) commenced celebrations for its 60th anniversary with its annual conference held from 27 – 30 March 2025. 184 distinguished academics and teachers from diverse fields and countries descended upon…
Two days off from teaching six-formers and spending time in the spring sun is, arguably, a luxury for any busy Further Education teacher. To spend these days however among the company of Philosophers in Oxford is certainly a dream. This…
In times such as these, it is difficult to ignore the prevailing practice of attempting to measure the success of (formal) educational endeavours using all manner of qualitative and quantitative instruments. These measurements, in turn, intend to inform research into…
At the height of the Renaissance, Michelangelo unveiled David. This was also the unveiling of the ‘Renaissance man’. In examining this towering figure, one notices that his head and hands are slightly larger in proportion to the rest of his…
If you are coming along to the Oxford Conference 60th anniversary, we need your help. PESGB Flying Circus (philosophy in action – more information here) is seeking philosopher musicians, of all walks of life, from anywhere in the world,…