Our blog

News, events and insights from Oriel Square.

Welcome to our blog
Welcome to our blog
News, events and insights from Oriel Square
Edtech, educators and engagement: lockdown’s technological legacy
Edtech, educators and engagement: lockdown’s technological legacy
As schools return, Hannie Kirkham looks at the future of tech in (and out of) the classroom. What will teachers take forward from their experience with tech during lockdown? Will the legacy of edtech in Covid-19 help teacher workload, improve engagement, reduce the gap and absenteeism? Or will it be back to business as usual?
Exams 2020: What have we learnt?
Exams 2020: What have we learnt?
The exams process is an emotionally charged experience for families and education professionals at the best of times, but 2020 really has to take the cake. Watching the drama play out, with a host of unexpected plot twists, has truly tested the nerves of all involved and led to terrible heartache for many.
How to streamline your project management (free template)
How to streamline your project management (free template)
Ever wondered how to save time when giving project updates to your team or manager? Or, are you looking for a way to roll a project update and meeting agenda into one concise document? Maybe you want a less formal way to document project risks... Our project bulletin template can help!
A-levels: 2021 and beyond
A-levels: 2021 and beyond
Education was already one of the stories of this strange, hot summer, doing well in an unusually crowded field; but the last week has pushed it to the top of the public agenda as rarely before. If the government has now done enough to contain the story as it affects GCSEs this week, we might […]
Highlights from CMC 2020: Diversity in children’s media, education and publishing
Highlights from CMC 2020: Diversity in children’s media, education and publishing
In this blog mini-series, Hannie gives her top takeaways from the Children’s Media Conference, including insights from the BBC, Black Lives Matter, Changemakers, Waterstones’ Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, and the Moomins.
Highlights from CMC 2020: Storytelling and creativity are as important as ever
Highlights from CMC 2020: Storytelling and creativity are as important as ever
In this blog mini-series, Hannie gives her top takeaways from the Children’s Media Conference, including insights from the BBC, Black Lives Matter, Changemakers, Waterstones’ Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, and the Moomins.
Highlights from CMC 2020: Changemakers – listening to young people
Highlights from CMC 2020: Changemakers – listening to young people
In this blog mini-series, Hannie gives her top takeaways from the Children’s Media Conference, including insights from the BBC, Black Lives Matter, Changemakers, Waterstones’ Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, and the Moomins.
Highlights from CMC 2020: Partnerships are key to quality education in Lockdown
Highlights from CMC 2020: Partnerships are key to quality education in Lockdown
In this blog mini-series, Hannie gives her top takeaways from the Children's Media Conference, including insights from the BBC, Black Lives Matter, Changemakers, Waterstones’ Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, and the Moomins.
Five big questions for the new term
Five big questions for the new term
The government has released a huge amount of information for schools in recent weeks. Here, Steve Besley looks at five of the most recent to see what they mean.
Will emergency funding help close the attainment gap?
Will emergency funding help close the attainment gap?
Following the Department for Education's 'catch up' funding announcements, John considers how these months might widen the attainment gap; and asks whether emergency funding for schools addresses the problem.
Using agile principles to deliver a publishing project
Using agile principles to deliver a publishing project
In 2018, Amy was leading on the development of a brand new maths programme at a UK-based global education company. In this article, she explains how Oriel Square helped her use agile principles to develop, articulate and deploy new processes to deliver a key publishing project.
Online engagement and the human element
Online engagement and the human element
Oriel Square Director Sam Derby reflects on a rapid period of learning and development in the world of online training and facilitation.
Autumn Newsletter
Autumn Newsletter
Oriel Square | Autumn Term 2019
Spring Newsletter
Spring Newsletter
Oriel Square | Spring Term 2020
Teacher Tapp data – answers in uncertain times
Teacher Tapp data – answers in uncertain times
As the UK’s Covid-19 crisis has escalated over the past fortnight, Teacher Tapp has been uniquely placed to find out what teachers are really thinking about.
Agile principles in practice
Agile principles in practice
This short article outlines why at Oriel Square we use the manifesto and principles of agile to inform best practice in project leadership and personal effectiveness.