Teach to the Top is a research-informed guide to aspirational teaching, focusing on how embedding higher-level knowledge in the classroom empowers students to succeed and to enjoy learning. Questioning existing orthodoxies around ability, Teach to the Top sets out a vision for an education system in which pupils of all attainment levels are enabled to make fantastic progress by being exposed to sophisticated concepts, and afforded opportunities to think deeply and grapple with stimulating ideas. Making a convincing case for the centrality of subject knowledge, the book also shows how affording teachers the professional autonomy to participate in continual development of their own knowledge benefits both teachers and students. As well as engaging critically with a wealth of educational research, Teach to the Top outlines a plethora of research-informed strategies for teaching to the top. Topics include embedding advanced knowledge in curriculum planning, approaches to challenging classroom talk, the fundamental importance of increasing learners' confidence, the dangers of differentiation and grade-focused feedback, and the value of an adaptable approach to planning. Both thoughtful and practical, Teach to the Top develops a persuasive justification for the entitlement of every child to higher-level knowledge, alongside providing teachers with a range of practical suggestions and questions for reflection to enable the application of this philosophy to their own classrooms.
Megan Mansworth is an experienced teacher and leader who has taught English and guided students to achieve outstanding results across a variety of state secondary schools, from leafy suburban to inner-city schools. Her previous leadership roles include being Leader of Research and Leader of English for two multi-academy trusts. Alongside this, her writing on education has been published in a range of national media publications and academic journals. She has also delivered CPD on a national level and has co-edited a book on teaching A Level English Language and Literature. Megan is in the final stages of her PhD in Literary Linguistics at Aston University, where she has lectured on undergraduate and postgraduate modules in the School of English. Teach to the Top is inspired by her passion for the value of using advanced subject knowledge in the classroom and the importance of having high aspirations for every learner.
