Why do we privilege writing about everything else? It’s odd that high quality talk in classrooms is often regarded as an optional extra, something quite nice to do, rather than an entitlement for all pupils. Why, as a sector, do we think written outcomes matter more than talk?

In order to get back on track, we need to think about our attitude to the status quo, to be prepared to change or remove those aspects of school activities which do not add value to pupils’ learning.

We have an awful lot of ‘stuff’ going on in schools that is getting in the way of our core business: teaching and learning. It’s time to take a hard look at this ‘stuff’ and decide whether all of it is really necessary.

If one of our deepest needs is to belong, then how does this relate to the ethic of everybody? It is the ‘quid pro quo’ or the counterbalance of recognising our own need to belong and extending that to others. What we recognise we need for ourselves, should in turn be offered to others. The settings where this is understood are hopeful.