Ashley Betts
@abetts.bsky.social
Primary Music Teacher. Passionate about developing creativity in young people. Former Faculty Lead for Creative Arts in Secondary Phase. Have taught Music, Drama, Maths, Arts, Photography, PSHEe & ICT.
Am Dram performer, director, MD & audience member!
Am Dram performer, director, MD & audience member!
Happy #europeandayoflanguages all! Three years ago I wrote a song in five different languages for our pupils to learn (one language each year). It was so lovely today, hearing pupils sing in multiple languages so confidently!
September 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Happy #europeandayoflanguages all! Three years ago I wrote a song in five different languages for our pupils to learn (one language each year). It was so lovely today, hearing pupils sing in multiple languages so confidently!
Was super impressed with my Year 2 music class' recall this morning. Lots remembered about our "Rhythm Café" menu before introducing new menu items today!
September 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Was super impressed with my Year 2 music class' recall this morning. Lots remembered about our "Rhythm Café" menu before introducing new menu items today!
Each half term I make a playlist for us to listen to as a school. This half term, our focus is the composer Alan Menken. Feel free to listen along with us! youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Alan Menken (Whole School Listening) - YouTube
youtube.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Each half term I make a playlist for us to listen to as a school. This half term, our focus is the composer Alan Menken. Feel free to listen along with us! youtube.com/playlist?lis...
This arrived today! Forgot that I had pre-ordered it months ago. It's the perfect wind down from a busy day. If you've ever wondered how cryptic crosswords work, check these guys out. #MinuteCryptic
September 4, 2025 at 8:55 PM
This arrived today! Forgot that I had pre-ordered it months ago. It's the perfect wind down from a busy day. If you've ever wondered how cryptic crosswords work, check these guys out. #MinuteCryptic
Reposted by Ashley Betts
Read the full article on p58 here :) www.theteachco.com/uploads/spec...
March 10, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Read the full article on p58 here :) www.theteachco.com/uploads/spec...
Thanks Stuart! Really pleased to have been asked to do it. Check out @teachprimarymag.bsky.social to give it a read. Advice on teaching creatively in a knowledge -led curriculum.
Extremely proud of my friend @abetts.bsky.social who has had an article published in TeachWire this month! Superb piece and a great read for music specialists and non-specialists alike! 😊
March 9, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Thanks Stuart! Really pleased to have been asked to do it. Check out @teachprimarymag.bsky.social to give it a read. Advice on teaching creatively in a knowledge -led curriculum.
Such a useful resource. Definitely worth reflecting on your assessment practice as so much time (for pupils, teachers and leaders) can be wasted doing assessment badly.
The Four Pillars of Assessment resource guide.
The guide will provide you with a strong understanding of what underpins each pillar and how it supports great assessment.
Download our free eBook on The Four Pillars of Assessment here👇📖
https://buff.ly/418IEaf
#EduBlogShare #EduSky
The guide will provide you with a strong understanding of what underpins each pillar and how it supports great assessment.
Download our free eBook on The Four Pillars of Assessment here👇📖
https://buff.ly/418IEaf
#EduBlogShare #EduSky
December 2, 2024 at 7:39 AM
Such a useful resource. Definitely worth reflecting on your assessment practice as so much time (for pupils, teachers and leaders) can be wasted doing assessment badly.
Every year, I'm asked to teach Christmas songs to our Nursery classes. The trouble is that so many of them are too tricky for 3 yr olds to sing well. This year, I wrote new lyrics to simple tunes. Feel free to use if useful to you (or just sing them yourself!) #eyfs #eyfsmusic #primary #primarymusic
December 2, 2024 at 7:36 AM
Every year, I'm asked to teach Christmas songs to our Nursery classes. The trouble is that so many of them are too tricky for 3 yr olds to sing well. This year, I wrote new lyrics to simple tunes. Feel free to use if useful to you (or just sing them yourself!) #eyfs #eyfsmusic #primary #primarymusic
In the midst of a difficult week, I just wanted to report that I just soothed my 3wk old baby to sleep by singing 'Humu Humu Nuku Nuku Apuwa'a' from High School Musical 2 ❤️
November 21, 2024 at 6:38 AM
In the midst of a difficult week, I just wanted to report that I just soothed my 3wk old baby to sleep by singing 'Humu Humu Nuku Nuku Apuwa'a' from High School Musical 2 ❤️
Reposted by Ashley Betts
Our next set of ‘Ready to Teach’ books are underway, including our first for A Level! Released across 2025 and 2026 🤩 @teachals.bsky.social
@hugheshaili.bsky.social @miriamhussain.bsky.social @xris32.bsky.social
@hugheshaili.bsky.social @miriamhussain.bsky.social @xris32.bsky.social
October 20, 2024 at 9:15 AM
Our next set of ‘Ready to Teach’ books are underway, including our first for A Level! Released across 2025 and 2026 🤩 @teachals.bsky.social
@hugheshaili.bsky.social @miriamhussain.bsky.social @xris32.bsky.social
@hugheshaili.bsky.social @miriamhussain.bsky.social @xris32.bsky.social
It's my third year in post and I've been noticing the effectiveness of the curriculum I have built. I'm seeing learning being built upon, confidence developing and passion for my subject being fostered. There is more to improve, but the successes are motivating me to lead those improvements.
October 10, 2024 at 5:35 AM
It's my third year in post and I've been noticing the effectiveness of the curriculum I have built. I'm seeing learning being built upon, confidence developing and passion for my subject being fostered. There is more to improve, but the successes are motivating me to lead those improvements.
Was asked to do some "musical science" with Y1, so we opened up the piano, discussed how all sound is vibration, made the link between the words "big" and "low" (and "small" and "high") and confirmed this by comparing boomwhackers and testing them on my head #primary #music #crosscurricular #edusky
September 26, 2024 at 6:31 PM
Was asked to do some "musical science" with Y1, so we opened up the piano, discussed how all sound is vibration, made the link between the words "big" and "low" (and "small" and "high") and confirmed this by comparing boomwhackers and testing them on my head #primary #music #crosscurricular #edusky
Love those lessons where you can see the progress and the fruits of the children's efforts. I introduced once per term whole-class drum kit lessons across KS2 just under two years ago and yesterday I watched my year 6s perform multiple rhythms with seamless switching. #EduSky #PrimaryMusic #KS2
September 19, 2024 at 5:41 AM
Love those lessons where you can see the progress and the fruits of the children's efforts. I introduced once per term whole-class drum kit lessons across KS2 just under two years ago and yesterday I watched my year 6s perform multiple rhythms with seamless switching. #EduSky #PrimaryMusic #KS2
Children are a joy. Our baby is due this term and I missed an assembly last week for a hospital appointment. Rumour immediately went round that we'd had the baby and it's a girl (we haven't revealed the gender). The rumour was so strong that I was emailed by a parent with congratulations!
September 19, 2024 at 5:29 AM
Children are a joy. Our baby is due this term and I missed an assembly last week for a hospital appointment. Rumour immediately went round that we'd had the baby and it's a girl (we haven't revealed the gender). The rumour was so strong that I was emailed by a parent with congratulations!
Wonderful first week back. For a former secondary school teacher of 9 years, I think I did a pretty good job at calming the nerves of several 5 by year olds as they left their parents on the first day back. I found talking about dinosaurs did the trick for many of them!
September 6, 2024 at 7:17 PM
Wonderful first week back. For a former secondary school teacher of 9 years, I think I did a pretty good job at calming the nerves of several 5 by year olds as they left their parents on the first day back. I found talking about dinosaurs did the trick for many of them!
Reposted by Ashley Betts
@ofstednews.bsky.social has published their Big Listen response: www.gov.uk/government/c...
Ofsted Big Listen
The Ofsted Big Listen asked for views across our work, from schools and children’s social care to teacher training and early years.
www.gov.uk
September 3, 2024 at 5:16 AM
@ofstednews.bsky.social has published their Big Listen response: www.gov.uk/government/c...
Thinking of any teachers with a sleepless night ahead of them. I haven't had one of those since starting my new job, but I anticipate one tonight. This term will see me become a Dad. By the end of this term my life will be forever changed! Goodnight all.
September 1, 2024 at 8:46 PM
Thinking of any teachers with a sleepless night ahead of them. I haven't had one of those since starting my new job, but I anticipate one tonight. This term will see me become a Dad. By the end of this term my life will be forever changed! Goodnight all.
We always come to the sea front on the last day of the holidays. What are your end of holiday rituals?
September 1, 2024 at 1:21 PM
We always come to the sea front on the last day of the holidays. What are your end of holiday rituals?
What have I achieved over this summer break? Turned the inherited summerhouse into a bar, did a lot of gardening, made it to Turin and back, directed a show in a week, hosted both sides of the family, painted the nursery... and have fully caught up on the Off Menu podcast.
August 31, 2024 at 3:11 PM
What have I achieved over this summer break? Turned the inherited summerhouse into a bar, did a lot of gardening, made it to Turin and back, directed a show in a week, hosted both sides of the family, painted the nursery... and have fully caught up on the Off Menu podcast.
Reposted by Ashley Betts
Creating Bookmarks using Custom Feed in Bluesky
YouTube video by Elle Cross
youtube.com
August 20, 2024 at 8:48 AM
Saving this as a #techtips bookmark.
Quick tip - seen a long YouTube video and wondering if it's worth the effort? Go into the part of the description, click 'transcript' and highlight+copy+paste the text into Claude.AI and ask it to summarise in long-form bullets with quotes. Bingo.
August 20, 2024 at 8:32 AM
Saving this as a #techtips bookmark.
Reposted by Ashley Betts
If there's a real desire to address the workload of leaders then one area would be to put
GCSE/ Post 16 results in the same week &/or into term time. Every summer they rip out 2 weeks of the break - perhaps not in school but in terms of headspace.
August 18, 2024 at 8:11 PM
If there's a real desire to address the workload of leaders then one area would be to put
GCSE/ Post 16 results in the same week &/or into term time. Every summer they rip out 2 weeks of the break - perhaps not in school but in terms of headspace.
Had an absolute blast of a week directing Shrek Jr with this talented bunch! Let your freak flag fly! 💚👑🫏🤥🐲
August 18, 2024 at 8:34 PM
Had an absolute blast of a week directing Shrek Jr with this talented bunch! Let your freak flag fly! 💚👑🫏🤥🐲