Low pitch is not kindness. It can quietly close doors.
Pupils with SEND and lower prior attainment don't need a diluted curriculum.
They need one ambitious enough to be worth their time, and carefully enough taught for them to succeed within it.
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What are pupils being included in?
At KS3, the real question isn't just "do they belong?" — it's "what do they belong to?"
Rich knowledge? Demanding texts? Or a thinner curriculum because we've decided that's what they can manage?
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That's the difference between scaffolding and dilution.
Scaffolding keeps the destination intact.
Dilution changes the destination.
Inclusion without ambition is not enough. Pupils need to belong to something intellectually worthwhile.
More in KS3: The Ambitious Years → amzn.to/4ue27Bk
"Every young person has a right to an education that is rich in knowledge, high in challenge and rooted in belonging. That is not a luxury for some children; it is an entitlement for all."
@samgibbs.bsky.social on KS3: The Ambitious Years 🙏
amzn.to/4ue27Bk
# A week in
It’s been almost a week since 𝘒𝘚3: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 was published, and I wanted to pause and share something of what this week has felt like.
I’ve been genuinely moved by the responses coming in.
open.substack.com/pub/marymyat...
A week in with KS3: The Ambitious Years. @samgibbs.bsky.social review: "Every young person has a right to an education that is rich in knowledge, high in challenge and rooted in belonging. That is not a luxury for some children; it is an entitlement for all." open.substack.com/pub/marymyat...
Buy KS3 The Ambitious Years: Why Years 7-9 matter more than we think by Myatt, Mary (ISBN: 9780995668720) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
