Senior Lecturer in Mathematics// Educational Philosopher// Author & Educational Commentator// Personal Account// Views my own
Joined June 2023
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Dr William H Kitchen retweeted
Alliance supports excluding a unionist minister over a clumsy social media post, but not a Sinn Féin minister for blatantly breaking the law. They take part in no-confidence motions against unionist ministers, then walk out when their own face scrutiny.
Sorcha was awfully quiet over the Garvaghy Rd debate.
She sat in waiting for the aftermath to unfold, so she could pounce on Unionism.
Bryson is not my cup of tea; but you don't have to be elected to have a voice. Her comments are snobbish and patronising.
Unbelievably, not happy with unleashing months of genuine fear and anxiety throughout Northern Ireland by reopening one of the most painful and shocking parading disputes by letting an unelected nobody lead political unionism by the nose, the DUP are now blocking attendance at a conference with our Prime Minister that was an opportunity to fight for fair funding for Northern Ireland. Honestly, are they wanting to continually harm Northern Ireland? That they set themselves up as the guardians of NI is an absolute joke. The DUP are the biggest threat to the existence of Northern Ireland. Absolute fools.
Dr William H Kitchen retweeted
Discuss a direction, agree a direction, enact a direction. Otherwise it's incoherent. Dr G lobbied hard for her vision for 2007, as was her right. We've learnt a lot more about how learning happens since then & a new philosophy has been adopted in light of that. Time to enact it.
Many of the detractors of TransformED claim that they haven't been listened to in the reforms.
That's incorrect. They assume that being "listened to" can only be evidenced by being "agreed with". A ludicrous assumption.
Nothing was pre-determined. Evidence led the way.
I hope DE ran this past Sharon McMurray before publishing.
Otherwise they will be criticised for "not listening" 🥴
Find below, the Department of Education's latest guidance on phonics instruction for primary schools.
education-ni.gov.uk/sites/de…
In every policy decision, there is always a point when a broad consensus is adopted.
At that point, people who are unwilling or unable to work towards common objectives become barriers to progress.
This was not merely "different opinions" from CCEA.
To engage with consensus... you mean they had their own differing opinions? Therefore having a different opinion to the one preset wasn't to be tolerated? Interesting @DrIanCollen @CarmGall1
Exactly.
Somehow we've reached a point in education where:
- teaching kids explicitly is controversial
- academic rigour is treated as a threat to student wellbeing
- memorizing math facts is discouraged or considered unnecessary
- practice is dismissed as "drill and kill"
Low expectations are not kindness, and nothing hurts someone's confidence more than falling further behind every year.
It's entirely clear that the minister and his dept. are willing and able to engage in robust discussion around the curriculum.
DE has met every challenge put to them by the critics.
I am proud to stand in favour of these reforms. Why? Because they will improve children's lives.
Education Minister Paul Givan has published a Written Ministerial Statement setting out the Department’s position on recent criticisms of Curriculum 2028 and outlining the evidence underpinning the proposed reforms.
🔗Read the full statement here: education-ni.gov.uk/publicat…
ALT Illustrated graphic with added text "Ministerial Statement Published"
Dr William H Kitchen retweeted
Direct instruction is joyful & leads pupils to success. Here is a *clip* where I use high frequency & high participation questioning in 3 phases:
1. Check for listening
2. Rehearsal
3. Check for understanding
Established routines: all hands up, turn & talk, SLANT & ruler reading
Carmel aided and abetted in designing and implementing a curriculum which has failed.
She is certainly a very well-respected person in education in NI.
Her ideas on curriculum design and implementation, however, are highly questionable.
Dr William H Kitchen retweeted
Good thread stating some important facts.
Dr William H Kitchen retweeted
As for it being rushed, the process started in autumn 2024 when Lucy Crehan was appointed to conduct her review. That was delivered in May 2025 & the process of writing the curriculum started in autumn 2025, completed for consultation by June 2026. Consultation closed nearly...
Dr William H Kitchen retweeted
As for local expertise, over 100 teachers & academics from NI were involved in the subject writing groups, along with representative from CCEA in the Curriculum Taskforce. Yes, international expertise was involved, but it's a misrepresentation to say local expertise was ignored.
Dr William H Kitchen retweeted
Dr Gallagher is also the architect of the NI Curriculum that is being replaced, so the new curriculum is certainly going to challenge the values on which she built the 2007 curriculum. But the PISA results for NI have not shown that curriculum to be successful. Change is needed.
Dr William H Kitchen retweeted
That's my experience too Kathryn. There are loud voices dissenting (as is their right) but my sense is that many teachers are up for this, and some are genuinely excited at what it offers. Reform is needed & im broadly in favour of TransformED.
Dr William H Kitchen retweeted
Those responsible for the awful 2007 curriculum should probably take a backseat in this…
A former director of curriculum in Northern Ireland has delivered a scathing assessment of the Department of Education's plans for curriculum reform, which she believes was “pre-determined” and “rushed”.
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…
