Curriculum Highlights from the We Are In Beta Community 2024-2025 : Thank you for making it so special
As the academic year draws to a close, we want to say massive ‘well done’ and ‘thank you’.
Well done for getting through another tricky year.
Thank you for doing everything you can for your students. And each other.
In this post we want to celebrate:
some of our collective achievements and most popular resources.
the acts of kindness you show each other
examples where members (and specific schools) - named below with a thank you link for each of you - have gone above and beyond for each other
We hope the post conveys how much we appreciate you and that the links inside offer you value whatever subject you teach.
Have a lovely summer!
What you’ve helped us achieve inside the Curriculum Thinkers Community
In 2024/25 you have helped the Curriculum Thinkers community achieve to cumulative total...
📚 2,304 curriculum resources shared by members (like these here and inside Curriculum Thinking Weeks here). Up 287 (14%) from 2,017 last year.
📺 627 session and meet up recordings (here). Up 96 (18%) from 531 last year.
📝 657 whole school curriculum related policies pooled and analysed (here). Up 405 (160%) from 252 last year.
📎 2761 departmental resources pooled and analysed (here). Up 0 (0%) from 2,761 last year.
💰£30.7 million (1.06 million hours) of research time saved by our members accessing our curriculum policy and practice research. Up 16.8%, £1.46 million (50,672 hours).
💼 148,598 times the 311 vacancies we promoted have been in our newsletters (like this). Up 81,827 views (122%) from 66,771 and up 37 vacancies (14%) from last year.
This is all made possible by each and every community member that has shown up, got involved and supported their fellow members.
What are the highlights from the Curriculum Thinkers Community in 2024-25?
(And how have your actions helped your fellow members?)
There are so many ways you help each other out inside the Curriculum Thinkers Community.
Here are four alongside some examples where you have gone above and beyond:
1. Asking (and answering) questions - openly (and supportively)
Asking questions can be intimating and make you feel vulnerable.
Answering them takes time, consideration and effort.
That’s why we are hugely grateful for every question you ask and every answer you give each other.
Here are some examples of the most helpful subject specific questions and answers from 2024-2025:
🎯 Senior Curriculum Leadership questions
🤖 AI Policy
“I am interested in developing the AI policy in my school and was wondering if anyone else is on the same or similar journey at their school?”
11 comments and a resource which planted the seeds for an SLT meet up on AI.
Thanks to Michael Siu for the post, and Charlotte Key, Pete Jones, Caroline Lowing and Andrew Woods for the replies. Follow the link to check out the replay of the Curriculum SLT Meet-up on AI.
📊 Middle Leader Accountability
“We are seeking to connect with schools that have secured or improved accountability, especially in middle leadership, developing consistency and ownership without excessive paperwork requirements.”
Thanks to Pauline Kerr for the post, and Dena Eden, Liam Harris, Hannah Gregory-Harris and Tara McVeigh for the replies.
🔀 Flexible Grouping
“Hi all, I am looking for some best practice or CPD on using flexible grouping effectively in the classroom. Also withdrawing scaffolding support but maintaining high-quality work. Any suggestions will be greatly received..”
Thanks to Dan Tanner for the post, and Chris Ryder Peter Mannion, Hannah Gregory-Harris and Tara McVeigh for the replies.
🎯 Subject specific questions
💼 Business Studies Handbook
“Hi, I am working on my Business Dept Curriculum Handbook. I would love to learn what others include in their, if anyone is happy to share? Resource swap in return 😁”
Thanks to Jenny Davies for the post, and Isobelle Robinson and Grace O’Connell for the replies
💻 Computer Science -Challenging the most able
“Hi folks, Our focus this year is challenging our most able to engage in activities taking them beyond the curriculum. I am interested in hearing from others to see what you do in this area”
Thanks to Kaeren Coverdale for the post, and Michelle Perrineau-Daley for the reply.
📚 English using Sparx
“We are exploring the use of Sparx reader and would like to hear from anyone who already uses this and has seen good impact please?”
Thanks to Fiona Lint for the post, Jonathan Mountstevens and Oliver Smith for the replies.
🏺 History - OFSTED guidance
“Hello, I have been reading the Ofsted report and guidance into History and there appears (from my reading) that they do not want 'skills' taught or emphasised too much. We explicitly focus on second order concepts in lessons and in our units across KS3, addressing different second order concepts - so one unit of lessons may focus on 'significance' of conquest in the 11th Century and we then keep coming back to the 'skill' as we cover the content. Then in the next unit we will move onto a different skill which we will use alongside the content. Does anyone have any ideas/advice around this? Thanks :)?”
Thanks to George Smalley for the post, Danielle Bunkell, Emily Horrocks, Stuart Godman, Chloe Hubbard and Dan Tanner for the replies.
➗ Maths - Provision for lower attainers
“Hi all, I am currently looking at the provision we offer for intervention for our lowest attaining students in KS3 and KS4.... Any help would be greatly appreciated.”
Thanks to Stephen Rudd for the post, Ben Johnson, Rhiannon Rainbow, Dave Tushingham and Ellen Ashford-Kelleher for the replies.
🎵 Music software
“Hello. I line manage music and was wondering what software other schools use. Currently using Logic and macs but this is proving expensive. Do other schools use pcs and what software do you use with this?”
Thanks to Pam Klopper for the post, James Kyberd, Paul Hepplewhite, Claire Hague and Rebecca Gough for the replies.
💬 PSHE Assessment
“I was wondering if anyone would be happy to share what assessments you have in KS3 for RSHE/PSHE. We are looking to review our curriculum for September and wondered if schools look to have these lessons as more discussion based outcomes or assessments on recall of key information.
I know some schools also use workbooks to record lesson content - would anyone be willing to share a sample or point me to a good school website?”
Thanks to Leanne Mills for the post, and Charlotte Ward for the reply.
📖 Religious Studies “lenses”
“Looking for any resources on for using "lenses" in RS. Specifically looking at using Theological, Philosophical and Historical lenses as a framework from Y7 to aid deeper understanding.”
Thanks to Peter Jewkes for the post, Nikki McGee, Sharn Giddings and Gavin Collins for the replies.
🔬 Science Top Grades
What strategies can be used that are effective in pushing students to the top grades in Science?
Thanks to Angela King for the post, Repa Begum, David Brown, and Farhaz Patel for the replies.
🥇 Special member mentions
There so many of you who help each other other. But there a number of you go above and beyond to help out your fellow members.
Special mention should go to…
(for the second year in a row)
Jonathan Mountstevens (Deputy Headteacher, Beaumont School):
He has contributed 20 of your conversations and added 56 insightful replies this year. 3 more than last year Incredible.
He is supportive and (respectfully) challenging in equal measure. He attaches resources, he links to others' work and shares his blog when most helpful.
If you’ve not read it, you should. Find it here. Consider applying to work at his school here.
Other special mentions should to the following. Together, the trio below sparked or solved 30 Q&A threads and clocked up 1,000+ community visits in the last 12 months. Brilliant work!
Lee McLinden (Vice Principal, Fulwood Academy). Work with him here.
Hannah Gregory-Harris (Deputy Headteacher, Newhouse). Work with her here.
Caroline Lowing (Headteacher, Thorden). Work with here here
Thank you again to you three.
There are also many more we’d like to thank.
We’ve named and thanked you all here.
How did we do in helping you get answers?
In short: compared to last year, we answered more questions , answered more of them successfully and involved more members in answering them.
For paying members:
110 questions posted
100% were signposted to hand picked resources inside the community that help answer the question
92/110 (84%) got helpful answers from other members of the community (because we sent them out to handpicked members we think can help)
For non-paying members:
38 questions posted
35/38 (92%) were signposted to hand picked resources inside the community that help answer the question
13/38 (34%) got helpful answers from other members of the community (because we don't send them out to people we think can help)
Why that matters
No dead ends for paying members. Every question got at least one useful pointer.
Crowd‑sourced brilliance. 66 % of all answers involved real‑time ideas, resources or even school‑visit invites from fellow practitioners.
Premium uplift. Paid community members saw even deeper support, with four out of five questions drawing direct replies from peers.
Huge thanks to the people who make it work 🤝
You, the helpers. Every reply, DM, shared slide deck and “let’s chat” moves us closer to instant answers
The behind‑the‑scenes crew. The We Are In Beta team tracks every single conversation and invests 40 + hours a week so threads stay lively and nothing slips through. Give them a shout‑out next time you see them!
Sent this by a friend?
2. Sharing resources - generously
Resources are one of the most generous things you share with each other.
You share them in lots of different ways, which appreciate immensely.
Here some examples how you share curriculum resources:
a) 📺 Alongside your Curriculum Thinkers Master Classes 2025 sessions
Across the Curriculum Thinkers Master Classes members shared 58 resources this year, taking the total to 246
At her “Secondary Reading Series | Session 1: Getting the whole-school reading for pleasure” session, Georgina Charles shared a whopping 35 resources which have helped them improve reading across Future Academies.
b) 📺 Alongside your Curriculum Thinking Week 2025 sessions
Across the entire Curriculum Thinking Week 2024 conference speakers shared 235 resources.
⚖️ Underneath her “Literature revision strategy” - Susan Strachan ,
English and Drama, St Bernadette Catholic School, posted a whopping 17 resources.
Thank you to all the speakers, especially Susan.
We’ve named and thanked all speakers here.
c) 📎 In conversation threads by attaching using the ‘Add File’ in the comments:
🖼️ Poster power – “Does anyone have a corridor‑friendly poster that sets out student presentation expectations?”
(See the eye‑catching designs from Matthew King & Helen Pugh.)📝 Report roundup – “Would you be willing to share your school reports – or, even better, a range of exemplars?”
(Browse the generous samples from Jonathan Mountstevens, Helen Pugh & Emma Turner.)🤖 AI in action – “Does anyone have staff guidance or policy docs on classroom AI use?”
(Helpful guides already shared by Jodie Clarke & Rosie Gardner.)📈 Accountability that works – “We’d love to learn from schools that have strengthened middle‑leadership accountability, building consistency and ownership without the paperwork mountain!”
(Tara McVey’s meeting template is a great starting point.)📚 Smarter book looks – “Any proven ways to keep work scrutiny/book looks meaningful for students and staff while protecting workload?”
(Dave Brown’s time‑saving approach is well worth a look.)🙌 Thank you, everyone! There are too many contributors to list here, so we’ve named and thanked you all at the bottom of the post.
Thank you to all of you.
There are too many name here, so we’ve named and thanked you here.
3. Hosting and attending meet ups - collaboratively and eagerly
Like last year, we brought you together to discuss topics that mattered to you at senior leadership level.
We want to thank everyone who hosted conversations and come along to learn from them.
You are all legends. We’ve named and thanked you here.
Here some examples to celebrate and links to to follow, in case you missed them:
Leading on Reading and Literacy (premium reply and transcription here)
Optimising Options (premium reply and transcription here)
AI - Risks and Rewards for Senior Leaders (premium reply and transcription here)
Academic Interventions (premium reply and transcription)
Developing middle leaders (premium reply and transcription)
4.Presenting a Master Class and speaking at Curriculum Thinking Week 2025 - bravely
Putting your work out there at a conference for all to see is not easy. But when you do, magic happens.
You have a chance to step back and reflect on your work.
Others get to learn from someone who’s been there and done that.
Conversations begin and supportive relationships form.
Here’s are top 3 Curriculum Master Classes based on attendance:
1️⃣ Secondary Reading Series | Session 3: Disciplinary Literacy: High leverage approaches to oracy and vocabulary Georgina Charles)
2️⃣ Secondary Reading Series | Session 1: Getting the whole-school reading for pleasure (by Georgina Charles
3️⃣How to Implement a Process of Whole School Curriculum Review (by Darren Pearce & Aran Davis)
Here’s are top Curriculum Thinking Week 25 sessions (per subject) that got that got people watching, talking and learning the most*:
🎯 Leading cross curricular aspects: Talk to Think: Driving 100% Participation with Oracy - Gavin Weir (Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning) at Kings Academy Ringmer
🤖 AI applications: Developing an AI Literacy Curriculum - Andy Pilbury (Deputy Headteacher) at Tytherington School
💵 💻 Business & Computer Science: Improving student use of sentence level vocabulary in the Computer Science curriculum - Adam Hirst (Trust Lead for Computer Science) at Future Academies
🛠️ Design Technology: How can KS3 design and technology ignite creative rigour? - Liam Anderson (Head of Design & Technology) at Trinity School, Newbury
📖 English: Literature Revision Strategy - Susan Strachan (Head of English and Drama) at St Bernadette Catholic School
🌍 Geography: Planning progression in Geography through ‘golden threads’ - Fiona Sheriff (Head of Geography) at Kingsthorpe College
🏰 History: Developing a broad and balanced curriculum at KS3 - Harry Hudson (Head of History) at West London Free School
🧭 RE: Disciplinary Knowledge in Religious Studies - Charlotte Newman (Trust Lead for Religious Studies) at Archway Learning Trust
👋 Languages: “Serious Fun” How Low-Prep Games Create High-Impact Language Lessons - Ben Levi (Lead Practitioner MFL, Lead of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion ) at The James Hornsby School
📊 Maths: Making Maths More Inclusive - Jemma Sherwood (Curriculum and Assessment Lead and Senior Lead for Mathematics) at Ormiston Academies Trust
🎭 Performing Art, Dance, Drama and Music: Learning in role - Rosie Devine (Head of Drama) at Coombe Wood School
⚖️ PSHE: Building consistency and quality across whole-School PSHCE - Ria Searle (Head of RE and Sociology, Curriculum Coordinator of PSHCE) at Northwood School
🧬 Science: Codifying a research informed curriculum using booklets - Beejesh Deva (Director of Science) at Moorside High School
🧠Social Science: Less Marking, More Spark-ing: Using Academic Posters in A Level - Lucia Berridge (Director of Faculty for Social Sciences, Head of Psychology) at The King John School
🏫 Senior Curriculum Leadership: We aren't using Instructional Coaching! - Bryony Paul (Assistant Headteacher) at Queensbury Academy
Again, there are too many Master Class guests and CTW25 speakers to name here.
So I've included our Curriculum Thinking Week conference speaker graphic below so you can get to know their faces.
We've also named and thanked them all here.
5. Following the data to find great practice - ambitiously and curiously
We often discuss what's more powerful: one-to-one connections or one to many research insight?
We've been greedy and settled on making both happen inside We Are In Beta!
I've already sign posted the most popular conversation threads above.
So what were the most popular research pieces in the Curriculum Thinkers Community?
1️⃣. 🎯 Pupil Premium - targeted academic support: full analysis, case studies and resource bank
ICYMI: This looked at how 30 high performing schools with high levels of disadvantage allocate their pupil premium funding to targeted academic support. It also identified which subjects they prioritise and which external providers they invest in. You can also sort and filter schools to find spending, subjects, providers and plans by Helen Coyle
Read free version here.
Read premium version (with schools directory, case studies and drive of resources) here.
2️⃣. 📊 Assessment policies and practice: full analysis, case studies and resource bank
ICYMI: This looked at high 21 high performing schools with high levels of disadvantage approach assessment. It includes 7 case studies including: student achievement and recognition, progression models, subject specific approaches and research informed models. By Jessica Dobrowolski
Read free version here.
Read premium version (with schools directory, case studies and drive of resources) here.
3️⃣. 📈 Meet & learn from the outcomes leaders who work at the 93 top-performing schools for disadvantaged students in 2024
ICYMI: This piece allow you to meet the members of the community who work in highest performing schools in the country. It also provides you with a database which allows you to look up any school in the country according to their Progress 8, levels of disadvantage, local authority and more. By Frances Ling
Read free version here.
Read premium version (with schools directory and list of members tagged) here.
4️⃣. 🧬 Science: Spotlighted curriculum practice from 4 successful science departments
ICYMI: Part of our Subject Success research, this curated all publicly available information and resources about the highest performing science departments in the country: curriculum maps, intent statements, guided teaching hours, exam boards, sequencing and more. By Corrine Pearson
Read free version here.
Read premium version (with schools directory, case studies and drive of resources) here.
5️⃣. 👩🏽🏫 Teaching and Learning (T&L) policies: full analysis, resource bank and case studies.
ICYMI: This piece curated and analysed the teaching and learning policies of som eof teh high performing schools in the country. It also gives you a database that allows you find schools like yours and policies of different styles that might suits your needs and context.
Read free version here.
Read premium version (with schools directory, case studies and drive of resources) here.
Why are we highlighting these examples of curriculum community spirit?
We exist to help you share how you get the best outcomes for your students in your curriculum areas.
We simply would not be able to pursue that mission, or make the progress we have, without your support.
Your actions lift others up.
We'd love to see even more of you support each other next year.
🙌 Actions you took to lift each other up - thank you
Here’s a list of things you do for each other that make a massive difference (and we hugely appreciate):
Being curious - asking questions
Being supportive - answering questions
Being engaged - showing up regularly
Being generous - sharing resources
Being brave and helpful - speaking at Curriculum Thinkers Week
Being open to learning - joining & hosting group meet-ups
Being a cheerleader - supporting other to get involved
Being welcoming - sharing new job opportunities
🏫🌟The Curriculum Thinkers schools that shone in 2024/25
We’ve taken a look at the schools with the largest number of their team getting involved in the community and offering help for fellow members.
We first looked at which schools had the most people being successful in any of the eight ways above. Then we wanted to see if this changed when looking at the volume of actions from these members.
Taken together, both groups of schools are those with strongest signs of a staff culture that values professional learning, mutual support and collaboration.
If you like the sound of these schools too, we’ve added links to their vacancy pages for you.
Top 10 schools for the number of their team contributing to the community
Towers School and Sixth Form Centre - vacancies here
Uxbridge High School - vacancies here
Thornden School - vacancies here
St Bonaventure's RC School - vacancies here
Cleeve School - vacancies here
Q3 Academy Langley - vacancies here
King's Academy Ringmer - vacancies here
Future Academies - vacancies here
Fulston Manor School - vacancies here
Copleston High School - vacancies here
Top 10 schools for depth and breadth of their team’s contributions
Thornden School - vacancies here
Towers School and Sixth Form Centre - vacancies here
Q3 Academy Langley - vacancies here
Uxbridge High School - vacancies here
Future Academies - vacancies here
Fulwood Academy - vacancies here
St Paul's Academy - vacancies here
Beaumont School - vacancies here
St Bonaventure's RC School - vacancies here
St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn - vacancies here
Sent with ❤️ from Curriculum Thinkers Team at We Are In Beta
Thanks for the big ups!