At the chalk-face

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’...

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 provid...

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...

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 real...

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 sy...

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...

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 dif...

At the chalk face: Resource recon - LMC and LRC Discover two completely FREE interactive Computer Science apps designed to make teaching processor architecture and low-level programming easier than ever.  In this episode of At the Chalk Face, Craig and Dave take a closer look at their Little Man Computer (LMC) and Little RISC Computer simulators, showing how they can help bring abstract concepts t...

At the chalk face: Craig'n'Dave Festival of Computing 2026 Review and Q&A 🎉 The Festival of Computing 2026 may be over, but we're not quite finished yet! After an incredible day at the Craig 'n' Dave Festival of Computing 2026, we're sitting down to answer some of the brilliant questions asked by teachers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees throughout the event....

Will a social media ban really make schools safer? Or is it just the beginning of a whole new set of challenges? With social media restrictions for young people moving closer to reality, schools could soon face some difficult questions. If mobile phones are already banned in many schools, will anything really change? Or will safeguarding, teaching and student wellbeing become even more complicated...

At the chalk face: Why do pupils stop enjoying computing? Are students losing interest in computer science teaching?  We examine the root causes of disengagement in the computing classroom. Craig and Dave, former computer science teachers, explore the reality of student engagement in computing. Many educators assume students simply stop enjoying the subject, but we question whether the issue stems...

Will AI replace coding in schools? Or is programming more important than ever? In this episode of At the Chalkface, Craig and Dave dive headfirst into one of the biggest debates in computer science education right now: with AI and “vibe coding” exploding in popularity, do we still need to teach students how to code? From the latest curriculum and assessment review to the growing influence of gener...

At the chalk face: The UK social media ban debate AI, social media, and online safety – where do we draw the line? In this episode of At the chalk face, Craig and Dave tackle one of the biggest challenges facing education, technology, and government today: protecting young people online in a world where social media, AI, and digital tools are increasingly intertwined. With ministers exploring toug...

Are you thinking of leaving teaching this year? This is our story. In this honest and personal episode of At the Chalk Face, Craig and Dave share the story of why they eventually stepped away from full-time teaching after years in the profession. From leadership responsibilities and workload pressures to mental health, career progression, and finding a new path in education, this is a candid conve...

Are extra roles in school actually worth it?  - Teaching Careers Explained In this episode of At The Chalk Face, we (Craig & Dave) dive into the paid and voluntary opportunities that come along in teaching — from exam marking and mentoring trainee teachers to governor roles, subject leadership, CAS involvement, maternity cover posts, and more. Some opportunities boosted career progression. Som...

At the chalk face: Teaching - Would we do it again? Craig & Dave take a look back at their teaching careers and ask - If we could go back and do it all over... would we? 🤔 In this very personal episode of At the Chalkface, we reflect on nearly 30 years in education — from our first terrifying lessons and early career mistakes, to leadership, imposter syndrome, tutor groups, and the students w...

At the chalk face: Cambridge OCR at the Festival of Computing 2026 We’re delighted to have Cambridge OCR as one of this year’s sponsors for the Craig’n’Dave Festival of Computing 2026! In this interview, we catch up with Ceredig, Subject Advisor for Computing at Cambridge OCR, to discuss the future of Computing education, curriculum developments, classroom challenges, how teachers can help shape w...

At the chalk face: The 4 revision methods that actually work Exams are coming… feeling the pressure? Good. It means you care. In this episode of At the Chalkface, we cut through the noise and focus on the four revision methods that actually work — no gimmicks, no fluff, just proven strategies that help students retain knowledge and perform when it counts. Before we dive in, we tackle the big dos a...

At the chalk face: Built by a Teacher, for Teachers: The Story of Go Code It In this episode of At the Chalkface, we’re joined by Pete Hudson — computer science teacher, Head of Department, and creator of Go Code It — a programming platform built by a teacher, for teachers. After years of frustration with platforms disappearing overnight (and taking hours of hard work with them), Pete decided enou...

At the chalk face: Why AQA backs our Craig'n'Dave Festival of Computing 2026. A Behind-the-Scenes chat with this year's Festival of Computing Headline Sponsor AQA. In this special Festival of Computing episode, Craig & Dave sit down with Frances Sparrow, Subject Lead for Computer Science at AQA, to talk all things qualifications, classroom impact, and what it really means to sup...

At the chalk face: Differentiation is dead “Differentiation is dead”… or is it? 🧠🔥 In this week’s At the Chalkface, Craig and Dave dive headfirst into one of the most controversial (and misunderstood) ideas in modern teaching. We’ve all been there — late-night lesson planning, colour-coded worksheets, three versions of every task, and trying to make sure every learner is “met where they are”. Bu...

At the chalk face: It's not in the mark scheme Ever marked a mock and heard, “But it’s not in the mark scheme…”? 🤔 In this episode of At the Chalkface, Craig and Dave tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in Computer Science assessment — and it might just change how you mark (and teach) forever. Drawing on real examiner experience, they unpack the truth behind mark schemes, including: Why...

Does learning really have to be fun to be effective? 🤔 In this episode of Craig’n’Dave 'At the chalk face', we tackle one of the biggest debates in education — making learning fun — and whether it actually leads to better outcomes for students. From unplugged activities and memorable classroom moments to the dangers of prioritising entertainment over real understanding, we explore what...

At the chalk face: Tackling GCSE Discuss Questions Exam season is just around the corner… and while students might be feeling the pressure, we know teachers are too! 😅 In this episode of At The Chalk Face, Craig and Dave tackle one of the biggest challenges in GCSE Computer Science exams: extended response questions. You know the ones — the 6-mark and 8-mark questions where students suddenly forg...

At the chalk Face: Inception of the Festival of Computing The Festival of Computing 2026! Join us Wednesday, 1st July 2026, at Bromsgrove School for the Festival of Computing 2026 – a fantastic CPD event in the UK dedicated to secondary computing teachers. In this special episode of At the Chalkface, Craig and Dave take a trip down memory lane to share the story behind the Festival of Computing. F...