Ideas for better teaching
A space for thoughtful conversations about what helps young people learn — and how we can make education work better for every pupil.
Teaching is a craft.
Let’s keep learning it together.
Hello, I’m Darrágh
I’m a Business teacher in Belfast, with experience across Business Studies, Science, ICT and inclusive education. I created Beyond the Classroom to share ideas, ask better questions and connect with colleagues who care about the difference teaching makes.
My interests include Rosenshine’s Principles, metacognition, cognitive science and the future of Northern Ireland’s curriculum. I’m especially interested in turning research and professional debate into practical, thoughtful classroom choices.
Get in touchFollow my reflections on teaching, learning, curriculum reform and more!
Swipe or scroll sideways to explore my recent posts.
19 October 2026 · Curriculum reform
Last week, I had a teacher (outside my organisation) challenge me about TransformED, questioning why I am such a strong advocate for the proposed curriculum reforms.
The question is whether our curriculum ensures that all pupils, regardless of their school or classroom, experience the same high expectations, coherent knowledge and opportunities to succeed.
Evidence over ideology. Always.
Read the full post on X17 October 2026 · Literacy and curriculum
From a Northern Ireland perspective, I would argue that elements of our curriculum have fundamentally failed too many of our young people.
How can we expect pupils to succeed academically when some lack the foundational skills they should have developed years earlier?
Read the full post on X12 October 2026 · Education priorities
I find some of Danny Baker’s approaches to education bizarre. He criticises progressive, evidence-informed curriculum reform and has dismissed mobile phone pouches as a “pet project”.
Education funding should prioritise teaching, learning and raising standards.
Read the full post on XKnowledge, sequence and the choices that shape what every pupil gets to learn.
Read the latest ↗02 / PEDAGOGYExplicit instruction, retrieval practice and making learning visible.
Explore the ideas ↗03 / INCLUSIONCreating conditions where pupils can take part, belong and make progress.
Join the conversation ↗Evidence should sharpen our thinking —A principle behind Beyond the Classroom
and help us teach with purpose.