Overview

For one reason or another, mainstream education does not suit every young person. Many young people are educated in alternative provision, which is defined by the Department for Education as educational provision 'for pupils who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not otherwise receive suitable education'. As of 2023, over 25,000 young people are enrolled in alternative provision, and those numbers continue to rise. It is essential, then, that the curriculum on offer in alternative provision is exemplary, as these young people - already facing extraordinary challenges - need the very best if they are going to progress successfully into adulthood. Huh is the Egyptian god of endlessness, creativity, fertility and regeneration. He is the deity Mary Myatt and John Tomsett have adopted as their god of the curriculum. Their Huh series of books focuses on how practitioners design the curriculum for the young people in their schools. The Huh project is founded on conversations with colleagues doing great work across the education sector. In AP Huh, Mary Myatt and John Tomsett discuss curriculum provision for pupils attending alternative provision with some of the leading experts in the field. Mary and John interviewed pupils, parents, teachers, headteachers, CEOs, educational consultants and lecturers. They then edited the transcriptions of those interviews to provide an ambitious, thoughtful, nuanced and challenging vision of what the best possible provision looks like for children who find that mainstream schooling is not for them. The challenging conversations that comprise AP Huh paint a positive picture that is hugely hopeful for the future of the curriculum in our alternative provision settings.

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9781036004187

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Reviews

There is so much brilliant practice in our schools which goes unheralded and unshared. This is why the Huh series of books on the curriculum is so important - Myatt and Tomsett have given a platform to colleagues across the school system who are doing great work that needs to be heard far and wide. AP Huh brings together voices who are working at the sharp end of things, picking up children who, for one reason or another, cannot access mainstream education. It is a book of deep hope. Our colleagues working in AP are extraordinary and their stories recounted here in these curriculum conversations are inspiring. * Jonny Uttley, CEO, The Education Alliance Trust * AP Huh is a fabulous collection of insights into the vital role that AP plays in the education of some of our most vulnerable young children. The experiences of the excellent contributors are insightful and inspiring. The interview format of the book draws you in and makes this such an easy and pleasurable read. As the headteacher of a mainstream secondary school, I have learned so much from this fabulous book. It would not be an exaggeration to say that my thinking has been transformed. A must-read for anyone who is serious about achieving genuine inclusion! * Patrick Cozier, headteacher, Highgate Wood School and Sixth Form Centre * As a reader who has cerebral palsy and talks about my mainstream education, I have read a number of books and articles on inclusive practices and SEND provision, but this book is the most informative that I ever read on inclusive education. I took a lot from AP Huh. This will definitely be useful for new and current educational professionals. I particularly enjoyed reading some of the stories from the contributors about their experiences in education and how they got into teaching and alternative provision. By the sounds of it, they are amazing and are making a positive difference! * Ellise Hollie Hayward, motivational/public speaker, disabilities correspondent, inclusion and AAC ambassador * Alternative provision provides safety, learning, friendship and hope for our most vulnerable children. The very best alternative provision is wonderfully ambitious and inclusive; but it can so often go wrong, putting children's futures at risk. AP Huh is an energising read, continuing the Huh series into possibly the most overlooked and underrated territory. To read through these conversations, or even just to dip in, is illuminating, educational, moving and invaluable. We are at a time when the number of persistent absentees in our schools is growing exponentially. Society can ill afford to ignore these children and the places in which they can learn and be successful. * Keziah Featherstone, executive headteacher, Q3 Academy Tipton * I've always believed that the best CPD is simply talking to other teachers. AP Huh is exactly that! A series of engaging, succinct and informative conversations with current teachers/school leaders about the intricacies of AP curriculum. It offers practical advice and guidance in a user-friendly format. There is so much to take away! Essential reading for all stakeholders in alternative provision. * Omar Akbar, teacher of science and education author * Welcome to a journey that promises to transform the way we think about education in alternative provision. The authors, drawing upon a wealth of experience, present a vision of education where every student is seen, heard and valued. AP Huh is not just about the 'what' and 'how' of curriculum design; it is profoundly about the 'why'. It challenges us to rethink the purpose of education in alternative provision, advocating for a curriculum that fosters resilience, creativity and a lifelong love of learning. * Wasim Butt, director of AP and special academies, Ormiston Academies Trust * Teachers up and down the country are saying that behaviour has been more challenging since COVID. Therefore, AP Huh could not have come soon enough. It is a chance to learn from the absolute experts working in alternative provision, who are making an incredible difference in challenging circumstances, supporting the pupils who need help the most. Like other Huh books, the interview format, impeccably facilitated by Mary Myatt and John Tomsett, gives real practitioners a voice. AP teachers often don't control the narrative and I learned so much from hearing their words about their work. What shines through strongly is the proper power of relationships and the importance of giving students something to be proud of through their curriculum. This book is essential reading for all mainstream teachers and leaders. We have never needed it more. * Haili Hughes, senior lecturer at the University of Sunderland and head of education at IRIS Connect * AP Huh is an excellent read, full of insights and wisdom from practising alternative provision leaders. The in-conversation style unpacks each leader's curriculum journey and decision making, illustrating practical ways to improve outcomes for students in alternative provision. * Shaun Brown, programmes director, The Difference * Leaders in AP Huh discuss the unique perspectives of children on the outside of education, isolated from school and their peers. It is often a sense of belonging that they are missing; as Jess Mahdavi-Gladwell notes, these children look for safety beyond home. Historically, some of these young people might have been considered 'uneducable', as John D'Abbro explains; his unique perspective shows they were most likely unheard or misunderstood. AP Huh is that conversation you may have always wanted with a leader in AP, so that you can better understand students missing from our registers. It poses the question for all of us in mainstream education: how can we consciously do better, both for our colleagues and our pupils in AP? * Ms Mabina Ahmed, head of science, Prendergast Vale School * In this book, Mary Myatt and John Tomsett expertly bring together some of the most forward thinking and innovative leaders working in alternative provision today. Through a series of 'curriculum conversations', key themes and practices are revealed, lifting the veil on what happens behind the often perceived-to-be closed doors of alternative provision. AP Huh is a must read for all teachers and leaders working in AP who want to learn more about how common challenges are addressed by colleagues across the sector and in different settings. Most importantly, this is an essential read for teachers and leaders working in mainstream schools who frequently feel that the practice of AP colleagues is shrouded in mystery. * Eleanor Bernardes, strategic lead for the APSEND National MAT CEOs network *

Author Information

Mary Myatt (Author) Mary Myatt is an education adviser, writer and speaker. She trained as an RE teacher and is a former local authority adviser and inspector. She engages with pupils, teachers and leaders about learning, leadership and the curriculum. Mary has written extensively about leadership, school improvement and the curriculum. Her current work focuses on the Huh Curriculum series for primary, secondary and SEND alongside the Huh Academy with John Tomsett. She has established Myatt & Co, an online platform with films for ongoing professional development including the popular Primary Subject Networks and Secondary Subject Networks. Her most recent work is the development of The Teachers' Collection, underpinned by the findings from the 'Faster Read' research from the University of Sussex. Mary is a patron of CAPE, and has been a governor in three schools and a trustee for a multi-academy trust. She maintains that there are no quick fixes and that great outcomes for pupils are not achieved through tick boxes. www.marymyatt.com X: @MaryMyatt John Tomsett (Author) John Tomsett taught for 33 years in state schools and was a teaching secondary headteacher for 18 years. He writes a blog called This Much I Know and has written extensively about school leadership. He has published 10 books, including: Love Over Fear: Creating a Culture for Truly Great Teaching; Putting Staff First: A Blueprint for Revitalising our Schools (with Jonny Uttley); Cognitive Apprenticeship in Action (editor); Huh: Curriculum conversations between subject and senior leaders; Primary Huh: Curriculum conversations with subject leaders in primary schools; Primary Huh 2: Primary curriculum leadership conversations; SEND Huh: Curriculum conversations with SEND leaders; and Alternative Provision Huh: Curriculum conversations with AP leaders (all with Mary Myatt). He maintains that the best thing for our students is that our teachers are happy, healthy, well-qualified, highly motivated, hard-working, well-trained experts. Consequently, he believes we should put staff first. www.johntomsett.com X: @johntomsett

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