ATL comment on Education Endowment Foundation report on different teaching and learning strategies

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said: “Teachers know that giving children space to talk thoughtfully and openly, rather than feeling forced to give correct answers, leads to sustained learning and it is encouraging that this report supports this.

“That this kind of practice doesn't happen routinely is a damning indictment of the testing regime and accountability system which ensures teaching to the test is far more common. It's also clear that dialogic teaching is about much more than just letting children talk - and that teachers need time to learn how best to implement this kind of teaching. 

“Until the Government addresses the toxic accountability system that leads to children and schools feeling like failures if they don't get the right answers, children, particularly at the top end of primary, will continue to be focused on passing tests, rather than sustained, thoughtful, critical learning.”