A playful profession: Teachers and pupils learning together
FORUM - Print ISSN 1474-7685 - Online ISSN 2047-7171
Volume 68 Number 2 (2026)
A playful profession: Teachers and pupils learning together
The Playful Teacher Collective pages 83‑103
DOI: 10.3898/forum.2026.68.2.12
Abstract
In this paper, a collection of current teachers and teacher educators discuss the importance of play in education, including in teacher education. In sympathy with the theme of this special issue, the bricolage of voices here calls for a future in teaching and learning which is more open to play and playfulness – not just in early years or compulsory education but throughout life. The contributions progress loosely, beginning with a focus on the theory of play, then exploring the potential of play and playfulness in school classrooms, and finally considering playfulness in teacher education. Together, the pieces constitute a powerful and heartfelt critique of dominant approaches to education in England’s policymaking, which favour top-down didactic pedagogies that risk the disengagement of learners and the disillusionment of teachers.
SORRY - you are not registered as being permitted online access to the full text of this article
You have the following options:
- If you are viewing this via an institution or academic library you can ask that your institution takes out a Subscription to this journal.
- If you already have a Personal Subscription please login below
Forgotten your username / password? Click here to locate
- Purchase an annual Personal Subscription
PRINT + DIGITAL personal subscription (£45 / year)
DIGITAL personal subscription (£35 / year)
A Personal Subscription provides immediate access not only to the single article you are seeking, but also to all past and future articles in this journal up to the expiry of your annual (calendar year) subscription. - Purchase immediate access to this single article (UK£7.00) - Buy article Coming Soon
To cite this article
The Playful Teacher Collective (2026) A playful profession: Teachers and pupils learning together, FORUM, 68(2), 83-103 . https://doi.org/10.3898/forum.2026.68.2.12