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Critical Pedagogy

Getting Radical: Pedagogy, Philosophy, and the Roots of Education

Posted on 9 November 2022 by Dr Kevin Smith

What does it mean to teach—and learn—radically? In this post, I discuss how radical pedagogy invites us to dig beneath the surface of education, uncovering its roots in philosophy, justice and our shared responsibility to the Earth.

From “Not Racist” to Anti-Racist: Building Curricula for Justice

From “Not Racist” to Anti-Racist: Building Curricula for Justice

Posted on 3 June 2020 by Dr Kevin Smith

Being “not racist” isn’t enough. This post explores what it means to be anti-racist in education—how teachers can move from awareness to action, and from intention to transformation. Drawing on critical pedagogy and first-hand experience, it highlights why anti-racist teaching is essential to dismantling systems of inequality and cultivating critical hope.

Wales, Welshness, and the Curriculum: Rethinking the Welsh Dimension

Wales, Welshness, and the Curriculum: Rethinking the Welsh Dimension

Posted on 16 December 2019 by Dr Kevin Smith

What does it really mean to “be Welsh” in today’s curriculum? This post explores how official discourses shape our understanding of Wales and Welshness, revealing the tensions between tradition, diversity and identity. It calls for a critical pedagogy of place—one that helps pupils think deeply about culture, belonging and the world beyond their doorstep.

When Pupils Protest: Lessons in Voice, Power, and the Lived Curriculum

Posted on 16 October 2019 by Dr Kevin Smith

What happens when students turn theory into action? This post tells the story of a classroom discussion that led to a full-scale pupil protest—and what it revealed about power, agency and the possibilities of critical pedagogy. It’s a reflection on voice, justice and the kind of learning that can’t be contained by a textbook.