At the chalk-face

Craig'n'Dave

At the Chalk Face is a no-nonsense podcast from Craig’n’Dave, tackling real issues in education. Expect honest chat about pedagogy, classroom practice, and what actually works — from two ex-teachers still embedded in the world of schools. Not just for computer science teachers — this one’s for every educator.

  1. 20H AGO

    At the chalk face: Craig'n'Dave Festival of Computing Sponsor Highlight - VEX Robotics

    At the chalk face: Craig'n'Dave Festival of Computing Sponsor Highlight - VEX Robotics  🚀 Robots, rivalry (the friendly kind!) and reinvigorating computing education 🤖 In this episode of At the Chalkface, we’re joined by Chris from VEX Robotics, one of the main sponsors of the Craig'n'Dave Festival of Computing – and trust us, this is a good one. If you’ve ever thought “robotics sounds amazing, but also… terrifying”, this episode is for you. We dive into what VEX actually offers schools (spoiler: it’s way more accessible than you might think), how competitive robotics is really about collaboration, creativity and confidence, and why you don’t need to be an engineering wizard to get started. 🎯 What we cover in this episode: What VEX Robotics is really all about (from classroom kits to global competitions) Why “competition” doesn’t mean cut-throat (and actually builds brilliant soft skills) How robotics can boost engagement at KS3, GCSE and A level Why VEX works for all students – not just the stereotypical ones What VEX will be bringing to the Festival of Computing this year  A sneak peek at exciting new developments like AI-powered robots and programmable drones Whether you’re a computing teacher looking to reignite the spark, a school leader exploring enrichment options, or just robotics-curious, this episode is packed with inspiration, practical insight and plenty of enthusiasm. 👉 Find out more about the festival and grab your ticket: 🌐 https://craigndave.org/product/festival-of-computing-ticket/  👉 Explore VEX Robotics: 🌐 https://www.vex.com  Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with a colleague who keeps saying “we should do more hands-on stuff” 😉

    24 min

  2. FEB 20

    At the chalk face: Handwriting & embodied cognition

    Is Handwriting Still Important in Computing Lessons? 🖊️💻 In a world full of keyboards, screens, and now AI, do students still need to pick up a pen?  In this episode of At the Chalk Face, Craig and Dave dive into the surprisingly important role of handwriting in learning – even in computer science! From GCSE to A-Level, they discuss: Why handwriting helps reinforce learning through the “eyes–brain–hand” loop ✍️ How AI and typing might be making students less engaged with the thinking process 🤔 Practical ways teachers can bring handwriting back into lessons without losing the benefits of technology 💡 Whether you’re a teacher curious about effective study strategies or just wondering if your own handwriting skills are worth keeping, this is an eye-opening chat you won’t want to miss. 💬 Join the conversation:  Do you think handwriting still has a place in 2026? #TeamCompSci #CraignDave #Education #TeachingTips #Handwriting #LearningByHand #ComputerScience #GCSE #ALevel #TeachingInnovation 👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell if you enjoy honest conversations about teaching, technology and life in schools.  🔗 More from us: Website & resources – Craigndave.org Smart Revise – smartrevise.online Craig'n'Dave Teaching Resources - https://craigndave.org/resource-centre/  #Teaching #Education #Pedagogy #CraigAndDave #AtTheChalkface #TeacherLife #news #educationnews #mobilesinschool

    22 min

  3. FEB 16

    At the chalk face: Is Ofsted copying and pasting inspection reports?

    At the chalk face: Copy and paste Ofsted reports?  Is Ofsted copying and pasting inspection reports? In this episode of At the Chalkface, Craig and Dave dive headfirst into one of teachers’ favourite (and most stressful) topics: Ofsted. We discuss the eyebrow-raising claim that large chunks of Ofsted reports are reused word-for-word across multiple schools. Shocking? Outrageous? Or… actually understandable? 🤔 Using real examples, stats, and plenty of lived classroom experience, we explore:  Why do identical paragraphs appear in inspection reports The tension between standardisation vs meaningful feedback Those wonderfully woolly Ofsted paragraphs that say everything and nothing at the same time Why this frustrates teachers and leaders who genuinely want to improve And the uncomfortable truth: teachers have been doing something very similar with report writing for years 👀 Craig and Dave also reflect on: High-stakes inspections and the pressure they place on schools The old grading system, the new report cards, and what’s been lost along the way Lesson observations, feedback that goes nowhere, and why “good” isn’t good enough if no one can tell you how to be better How technology (and now AI) has long been quietly shaping how reports are written in schools This is a balanced, honest discussion that asks a bigger question: 👉 Should inspection reports be about ticking boxes… or genuinely helping schools improve? 👍 Like, 💬 comment, and 🔔 subscribe if you’ve ever read an Ofsted report and thought, “I’ve seen this before…” 📌 Join us next week for another episode of At the Chalkface If you’re a teacher, leader, or education watcher, you’ll find plenty to nod along with — and maybe a few points to debate. 🔗 More from us: Website & resources – Craigndave.org Smart Revise – smartrevise.online  #Teaching #Education #Pedagogy #CraigAndDave #AtTheChalkface #TeacherLife #news #ofsted  #educationnews  #Ofsted #ukteachers  #EdTech #TeachingLife #CraigNDave #EducationPolicy

    26 min

  4. FEB 6

    At the chalk face: Schools should be phone free?

    At the chalk face: Schools should be phone-free? Well, it’s official – mobile phones in schools are under the microscope!  In this episode, Craig and Dave dive deep into the latest government guidance, Ofsted expectations, and the storm of public opinion around students, teachers, and mobile phones. From confiscation rules to lockable Faraday pouches, we explore: Why teachers might soon have less discretion over phone use in lessonsHow Ofsted is leaning on schools to follow “non-statutory” guidanceThe impact on teachers, senior leaders, and even students’ rights under the Equality ActClever ways phones could be used in learning – from experiments to formative assessmentThe hilarious and sometimes frustrating reality of implementing these rules in real schools It’s a lively, pragmatic chat about tech, teaching, and how policy changes can shake up everyday classroom life. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or just curious about the future of schools, this one’s for you! 🔔 Watch now and join the conversation – are phones a distraction, a tool, or both? If you’re a teacher, leader, or education watcher, you’ll find plenty to nod along with — and maybe a few points to debate. 🔗 More from us: Website & resources – Craigndave.org Smart Revise – smartrevise.online  #Teaching #Education #Pedagogy #CraigAndDave #AtTheChalkface #TeacherLife #news #educationnews #mobilesinschool #EducationDebate #Ofsted #Safeguarding #MobilePhonesInSchools #UKTeachers #EdTech #TeachingLife #CraigNDave #EducationPolicy

    32 min

  5. JAN 23

    At the chalk face: Dodona Learning Technologies - A Coding Platform That Actually Works for Teachers

    Are you fed up with coding platforms that appear… then disappear just as you’ve got your scheme of work sorted?   This week At the Chalk Face, we’re joined by two brilliant guests who might just restore your faith in programming platforms. We sit down with Matthias De Witte (Co-founder & CEO) and Peter Dawyndt (Co-founder & CTO) from Dodona Learning Technologies to talk about a seriously impressive coding platform that’s been quietly supporting tens of thousands of students for nearly a decade. Dodona wasn’t built by a venture capital team chasing profit – it was built by educators, for educators.  Designed originally to support university teaching, it’s now used by schools and universities across Belgium and beyond, offering: Automated, meaningful feedback (not just pass/fail) Powerful visual debugging – including the ability to step backwards through code  A fully web-based platform (no installs, no tech headaches) Tools that genuinely support independence without removing the teacher from the loop A thoughtful, research-led approach to AI (no “AI writes the code for you” nonsense here) We also talk candidly about: Why teachers are frustrated with platforms coming and going The real challenges of teaching programming at scale Feedback, debugging, plagiarism, and learning analytics How Dodona keeps pedagogy front and centre Why Time to Code now lives inside Dodona  If you’re a computer science teacher looking for a robust, proven, education-first coding platform – this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. 👉 Find out more about Dodona here: https://dodona.be/ 👉 And yes… they’ll be at the Craig’n’Dave Festival of Computing this July! Let us know your thoughts in the comments – and whether Dodona could work in your classroom. #TeamCompSci #CraignDave #ComputerScienceTeachers #CodingEducation #ProgrammingInSchools #EdTech #TimeToCode

    42 min

  6. JAN 16

    At the chalk face: Too much pushback on exclusions

    At the chalk face: Too much pushback on exclusions Do schools get too much pushback on exclusions – or not enough support to deal with persistent disruptive behaviour? In this episode, we tackle one of the most complex and emotionally charged issues in education: school exclusions.  From short-term removals to permanent exclusions, we explore why exclusions happen, how behaviour in schools has (and hasn’t) changed, and why the conversation is far more nuanced than “kids are just worse these days”. We dig into the real pressures facing schools and teachers – shrinking budgets, reduced pastoral support, changing societal expectations, and the impact of home life, mental health, and social media on behaviour. Along the way, they ask some uncomfortable but vital questions: – Who gets forgotten when one student disrupts learning? – Are schools judged unfairly for excluding pupils? – And what is the real, long-term impact of exclusion on young people? Drawing on nearly two decades of classroom and leadership experience, this is an honest, reflective discussion that balances empathy for individual students with the reality of teaching 30 children in one room. If you work in education – or care about what’s really happening in schools – this is a conversation worth watching. 👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell if you enjoy honest conversations about teaching, technology and life in schools.  🔗 More from us: Website & resources – Craigndave.org Smart Revise – smartrevise.online #Teaching #Education #Pedagogy #CraigAndDave #AtTheChalkface #TeacherLife #news #educationnews #EducationDebate #exclusion #schoolexclusion #excluded

    37 min

  7. JAN 9

    At the chalk face: Fail an Ofsted inspection for safeguarding | Should mobiles be banned in schools?

    At the chalk face: Fail an Ofsted inspection for safeguarding | Should mobiles be banned in schools? In this episode of At the chalk face, Dave is joined once again by the brilliant Kat Morgan for a lively, honest and (at times) nerdy deep dive into the mobile phone debate in schools.  From Ofsted inspections and safeguarding to behaviour management, social media, and the realities of modern classrooms, nothing is off the table. Following headlines about proposals to fail schools at Ofsted if pupils are seen using phones, Dave and Kat unpack what’s actually going on in classrooms across the UK.  With lots of schools already having some sort of phone ban in place, is this political posturing, a genuine safeguarding concern, or a blunt solution to a very complex problem? Together, we explore: 📱 Whether banning phones really changes behaviour 🏫 The role of behaviour management and senior leadership 🎓 Supporting new and less confident teachers 🌍 Preparing students for the real digital world (not a fictional one without phones) ⚖️ Why calling phone use a safeguarding issue could be genuinely dangerous 😂 And why students will always find something to distract themselves (yes, even the numbers 6 and 7…) As ever, here at the chalk face, we don’t have shouty debates or easy-answer rants. We have thoughtful, nuanced conversations from people who’ve actually worked at the chalk face — and know that education is never as simple as a headline makes it seem. 💬 Where do you stand? Should phones be banned outright? Managed better? Or used more intelligently in lessons? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell if you enjoy honest conversations about teaching, technology and life in schools.  #AtTheChalkface #EducationDebate #Ofsted #Safeguarding #MobilePhonesInSchools #UKTeachers #EdTech #TeachingLife #CraigNDave #EducationPolicy  If you’re a teacher, leader, or education watcher, you’ll find plenty to nod along with — and maybe a few points to debate. 🔗 More from us: Website & resources – Craigndave.org Smart Revise – smartrevise.online #Teaching #Education #Pedagogy #CraigAndDave #AtTheChalkface #TeacherLife #news #educationnews #mobilesinschool 🌐 Explore more Computer Science resources: https://www.craigndave.org Discover how Smart Revise boosts attainment and frees up your evenings: 👉 https://smartrevise.craigndave.org/ 👉Learn more about our Resource Centre here - https://craigndave.org/study-tools/resource-centre/ #CraigAndDave #AtTheChalkface #TeacherTips #ClassroomManagement #SmartRevise #TeachingIdeas #GCSEComputerScience #AlevelComputerScience #TeacherLife #EducationUK #ofsted

    42 min

  8. 11/28/2025

    At the chalk face: Curriculum and Assessment Review - PART 3 | CAR2025

    At the chalk face: Curriculum and Assessment Review - PART 3 | CAR2025  This week, together we’re going into part three of our deep dive into the recent Curriculum and Assessment Review. If you’ve missed parts one and two — where were you?!  We've already broken down the huge 250-page report and the government’s hefty response into something humans can actually understand. 🎓 Today, we're unpacking the big one: the NEW Progress 8 and Attainment 8 model. It looks subtle at first glance… but trust us, the implications for computing, science, creative subjects, humanities, and the whole curriculum are huge. In this episode we cover: 🔹 What the new buckets look like  🔹 Why computing may be in a slightly awkward place 🔹 How creative subjects finally get some love 🔹 What this all actually means for schools, teachers, and option choices 👉 Download our CAR summary PDF here: https://craigndave.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Curriculum-and-Assessment-Review-Summary.pptx 👉 Read our blog for more info -  https://craigndave.org/car2025/  👉 Missed parts one and 2? Watch the here -  👩‍🏫 Whether you’re a computing teacher or just passionate about education reform, this series is your go-to guide to understanding where the CAR is taking us next. #TeamCompSci #CraigNDave #EducationReform #Computing #GCSE #CurriculumChange #Teaching #Alevels #ComputingEducation #CAR2025 #GCSEComputing #TeachingComputing #EdTech #AIinEducation

    34 min
See All (22)

About

At the Chalk Face is a no-nonsense podcast from Craig’n’Dave, tackling real issues in education. Expect honest chat about pedagogy, classroom practice, and what actually works — from two ex-teachers still embedded in the world of schools. Not just for computer science teachers — this one’s for every educator.

Information

  • Creator
    Craig'n'Dave
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Craig'n'Dave Podcasts
  • Show Website
    At the chalk-face