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. 5d ago

    At the chalk face: Not Ofsted again

    At the chalk face: Not Ofsted again Is Ofsted really fit for purpose? 🤔 Surely we’ve talked about Ofsted enough by now… right? Well, apparently not! In this episode of At the chalk face, Craig and Dave take another look at Ofsted and ask a pretty big question: has anything really changed? Following the introduction of Ofsted’s new report card system, a survey of more than 5,000 teachers found that 72% felt inspections had actually got worse, with 40% saying they had significantly or greatly worsened. So, has Ofsted genuinely changed the way it inspects schools, or have we simply replaced one set of grades with several? We also reflect on our own experiences of Ofsted, the importance of recognising what schools do well, and whether inspection should be about finding faults or helping schools improve. As always, this is a conversation rather than a definitive answer - and we’d love to hear what you think. Should schools be graded? Has Ofsted really changed? And what should school accountability look like? 👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments! 🎥 Watch more 'At the chalk face:' We tackle the big questions facing teachers, schools and education. Find more resources and support from Craig’n’Dave: https://craigndave.org #AtTheChalkface #Ofsted #Education #Teachers #SchoolLeadership #Teaching #EducationReform #TeamCompSci

  2. Oct 2

    At the chalk face: Should I make my own resources?

    Should teachers make all their own resources? Or is it perfectly okay to buy them in?  In this episode of At the chalk face, Craig and Dave tackle a question that comes up time and time again - particularly for trainee and early-career teachers. They explore the pros and cons of making your own resources, the dangers of constantly reinventing the wheel, and why buying high-quality resources doesn’t make you a “lazy” teacher. In fact, knowing when to save your time and energy can be an important part of building a sustainable teaching career. They also dive into the role of AI in lesson planning and resource creation, including the growing problem of low-quality “AI slop” and why AI can be much more useful as a critical friend than as a replacement for teacher expertise. From their own experiences of spending countless evenings, weekends and holidays creating resources, Craig and Dave discuss why a hybrid approach can work so well: start with good resources, then adapt, tweak and contextualise them for your students. And perhaps most importantly, they talk about collaboration, reflection and why your resources don't have to be perfect - they just need to help your students learn. What do you think? Do you make your own resources, buy them in, or use a mixture of both?  Let us know in the comments! 👍 Like the video, subscribe to the channel and join the conversation with At the chalk face. Want to check out our Computer Science KS3, KS4 & KS5 Teaching Resources?  https://craigndave.org/resource-centre/ 0:00 The Great Resource Debate 0:36 Origins of the Question 1:53 Teaching in the 90s vs Today 3:55 The Role of Resource Creation in Training 6:18 Avoiding the Burnout Trap 9:05 Exploring the Two Extremes 25:13 The Reality of AI in the Classroom #TeamCompSci #CraigNDave #AtThechalkface #Teaching #TeacherWorkload #TeacherResources #ComputingEducation #TeacherTraining #AIinEducation #teachingpodcast #podcast

  3. Sep 18

    At the chalk face: Limitations of teaching models

    At the chalk face: Limitations of teaching models  Framework or formula? How much freedom should teachers really have? In this episode of At the chalk face, Craig and Dave tackle a question that will probably make a few teachers nod, smile… and perhaps roll their eyes!  How much should schools dictate how teachers teach? Is it better to have a formula that everyone follows, a framework that provides guidance, or complete freedom to let teachers use their professional judgement? Craig and Dave explore their own experiences of all three approaches, from highly prescriptive teaching models to schools where teachers were trusted to find their own way. They discuss the benefits of consistency, reducing teacher workload and sharing effective practice - but also the dangers of turning good teaching strategies into rigid checklists. They also get stuck into some bigger questions around pedagogy, cognitive load theory, semantic waves, teaching strategies and the science of learning. When does useful research become an overly prescriptive teaching formula? And are we sometimes so focused on ticking the right boxes that we forget the most important people in the classroom - the students? With plenty of personal experiences, a few rants and some food for thought, Craig and Dave ask: Where is the line between an effective teaching framework and an ineffective teaching formula? 💬 What do you think?  Should teachers have complete freedom, or does consistency matter more? Let us know in the comments! 👍 If you enjoy At the chalk face, don’t forget to like and subscribe for more conversations about teaching, education and Computer Science. 🌐 And for more Computer Science teaching resources, visit the Craig’n’Dave website.

  4. Sep 11

    At the chalk face: Do GCSEs doom students to fail?

    At the chalk face: Do GCSEs doom students to fail? Are our GCSE results really telling us the whole story?  As students head back to school and teachers reflect on another set of GCSE results, Craig and Dave take a closer look at one of the most debated questions in education: is our education system set up for students to fail? Around a third of students don't achieve a grade 4 in English or maths. But does that mean a third of students are genuinely failing or is there much more to the story? In this episode of At the Chalk Face, Craig and Dave unpack the reality behind GCSE results, comparable outcomes, grade boundaries and the way schools are judged on performance data. They explore why grade boundaries change, whether standards really are rising, and why the idea that a fixed percentage of students must fail is a major misconception. We also get personal, sharing Dave's experience supporting his own son through GCSE maths and the lengths parents sometimes have to go to when the system isn't working for every learner. And then comes the deliberately provocative bit…  Should English and maths GCSEs be replaced with compulsory literacy and numeracy qualifications - more like a driving test - while English and maths become optional subjects? It's a big idea, and one that's bound to get people talking! 💬 What do you think?  Should every student be expected to achieve a grade 4 in English and maths? Are GCSEs the best way to measure what students actually know and understand? And if you could redesign the system, what would you change? 👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 💻 And for more Computer Science teaching resources, support and ideas, visit Craig’n’Dave.org 0:00 Are GCSEs designed for failure? 1:46 The dreaded first day back 5:37 Decoding the grade four benchmark 12:04 The reality of mandatory resits 16:11 Parenting through the exam struggle 23:58 Is the system artificially capped? 37:20 A radical proposal for education

  5. Sep 4

    At the chalk face: Is AI a panacea? With Kat Morgan

    At the chalk face: Is AI a panacea? With Kat Morgan Is AI really the answer to reducing teacher workload? AI is everywhere in education. But is it actually solving the problems of teacher workload and student attainment - or are we expecting a little too much from it? In this episode, Dave is joined by Kat Morgan (our Lesson Hacker), an edtech and AI expert, to take a closer look at how AI is really being used in schools right now.  From lesson planning and fact-checking to AI tutoring, assessment and personalised learning, they explore what AI can genuinely offer teachers and students - and where we need to be much more careful. We discuss: 🤖 How teachers are currently using AI in schools. 🔐 Data protection, safeguarding and the risks of free AI tools. 🧠 Why AI works best as a thinking partner or critical friend. 📚 Using AI to fact-check and challenge your own understanding. 👩‍🏫 Why AI shouldn't replace the personality and expertise of a teacher. 🎓 The potential of AI tutors to provide more personalised support. ⚠️ Hallucinations, AI-generated content and the dangers of over-reliance. 💬 Why students can be surprisingly good at spotting AI-generated content. 🛡️ Why trustworthy AI needs proper safeguards and clear boundaries. ⚡ Why AI should be a force multiplier for great teaching - not a replacement for it. The conversation also explores the UK government's plans to establish AI benchmarks in schools and whether this could finally bring some much-needed structure to what currently feels like the 'wild west' of AI in education. The big question is: Is AI a panacea for education, or is its real value in helping great teachers become even more effective? What’s your experience of using AI in school? Has it genuinely reduced your workload or improved learning - or has it created more problems than it solves? 👇 Let us know in the comments! 👍 Like the video, subscribe to the channel and hit the notification bell for more conversations about computing, education and the future of teaching. 🌐 Find more computing education resources at Craig'n'Dave: https://craigndave.org/

  6. Aug 21

    At the chalk face: Are you ready to go back to school?

    Are you ready to go back to school?  The summer holidays always seem to fly by, and suddenly September is just around the corner. But why does the thought of returning to the classroom bring such a strange mix of excitement, nerves and… dread? In this episode of At the chalk face, Craig and Dave get honest about their own experiences of returning to school after the summer break — from imposter syndrome and first-day nerves to the excitement of a fresh academic year and a new group of students. They also share some practical advice for getting yourself organised before the new term begins, including: * Creating a system that keeps you organised. * Setting up your own personal markbook. * Protecting your PPA time from the email black hole. * Establishing clear and consistent classroom routines. * Making marking manageable (and avoiding unnecessary workload!). * Preparing early so you're not chasing your tail in October. Whether you're an ECT heading into your first year, an experienced teacher feeling those familiar September nerves, or someone who simply needs a little reminder that you're not the only one who feels like this — this episode is for you. And remember: if you're feeling nervous about going back, it probably means you care about doing a good job.  So, take a breath, get organised, and get ready to face the new academic year! Watch the episode and let us know in the comments: are you excited, nervous or dreading going back? #TeamCompSci #CraignDave #ComputerScience #Teaching #Teachers #ECT #TeacherTips #TeacherWorkload #BackToSchool #Education

  7. Aug 14

    At the chalk face: Every teacher has a superpower. What’s yours?

    Every teacher has a superpower. What’s yours? What makes a truly great teacher?  Is it the perfect lesson plan? The latest teaching strategy? Or simply ticking all the right boxes? In this episode of At the Chalkface, Craig and Dave explore the secret ingredient that seems to make some teachers effortlessly brilliant: connection. From earning students’ respect and building meaningful relationships, to being fair, consistent and genuinely knowing the young people in your classroom, they discuss what separates simply teaching from making a real impact. They also reflect on the teachers who inspired them, the importance of discovering your own teaching superpower, and why some of the best classroom skills can be incredibly difficult to teach or coach. And, of course, Craig and Dave turn the conversation back on themselves… 🦸‍♂️ What is Craig’s teaching superpower? 🦸‍♂️ What is Dave’s? 💡 And why does challenging the way things have always been done sit at the heart of Craig’n’Dave? From teaching programming and using Raspberry Pis to the development of Smart Revise, TIME 2 CODE and the latest Key Stage 3 resources, this episode explores how asking “Why?” can lead to better teaching, better resources and better outcomes. Most importantly, there’s one question we want you to answer: What’s your teaching superpower? Let us know in the comments! 👇 And if you enjoyed this episode, make sure you subscribe for more At the Chalkface conversations from Craig’n’Dave. 👉 Explore more Computer Science teaching resources from Craig’n’Dave and discover how we can help raise attainment and reduce workload.

  8. Aug 7

    Craig'n'Dave Key Stage 3 Scheme: Idea to impact.

    Craig'n'Dave Key Stage 3 Scheme: Idea to impact.  Our brand-new KS3 Computing resources are finally here! After years of planning, classroom testing and refining, we've officially launched our brand-new Craig 'n' Dave Key Stage 3 Computing Scheme of Learning. In this video, we take you behind the scenes to explain why we've created these resources, what makes them different, and how they're designed to support teachers preparing for the 2028 Computing curriculum changes. We'll cover: ✅ Why we decided now was the right time to create KS3 resources. ✅ How we've planned ahead for the new curriculum. ✅ Our careers-led approach to inspire students. ✅ How we've reduced teacher workload with purposeful assessment. ✅ The pedagogy behind every lesson. ✅ What makes our scheme different from traditional KS3 resources. ✅ Our roadmap for future units and ongoing updates. Whether you're already using Craig 'n' Dave resources or you're looking for a future-ready KS3 Computing curriculum, this video explains everything you need to know. Find out more and explore the new KS3 resources: https://go.craigndave.org/9IExkn 📧 Questions? We'd love to hear from you: admin@craigndave.co.uk If you enjoy the video, don't forget to like, subscribe, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. Your feedback helps shape future resources and videos. #Computing #ComputerScience #KS3 #TeachingComputing #SecondaryEducation #ComputingTeacher #CraigAndDave #Education #EdTech #ComputingCurriculum #TeacherResources #AIinEducation #CurriculumReview #ComputerScienceTeacher

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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
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Craig'n'Dave Podcasts
  • Show Website
    At the chalk-face