These are my five favourite songs about winter… 5. ABBA – “Snowing Me, Snowing You” 4. Lionel Richie – “All Night Longjohns” 3. Band Aid – “Duvet Know It’s Christmas?” 2. The Stone Roses – “I Wanna Be Indoors” 1. Kate Bush – “Running Up That Heating Bill”

Today’s the winter solstice so here’s a list of ten wintery films… 10. Scarf-face 9. Casablanket 8. Jurassic Parka 7. Fleece Academy 6. Extra Layer Cake 5. Mittens Impossible 4. Thermals and Louise 3. The Men Who Stare at Coats 2. What’s Heating Gilbert Grape 1. The Snood, the Bad and the Snuggly

#BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social @sarahjchung.bsky.social

Big Questions #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social @sarahjchung.bsky.social

“Work is love made visible.” Khalil Jibran Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country. Their love for good education and their commitment to ensuring a good education for ALL children is why they do what they do. #BigQuestions

Really good and thoughtful write-up of one of the most positive changes Labour is attempting to make, this:

“Good governance should be an expectation - not an exception.” Abigail Spanberger How do you define good governance? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social @sarahjchung.bsky.social

Most governors will come into school, albeit with a particular focus and not just shadowing for a day (nor should they, they are strategic not operational). Many (not all) employers will give time off for this.

Effective boards need to be disciplined about what information they request, and regularly reflect on whether challenge is proportionate or drifting into micromanagement. Creating safe spaces for leaders to be honest about pressure points is crucial.

Ultimately, supporting work/life balance is as much about how boards govern as what they monitor.

Liano’s quote is a timely reminder that chairs shape not just meetings, but culture. Boards can support chairs’ professional development by prioritising high-quality chair induction, ongoing CPD, and by fostering a board culture that genuinely values governor education.

This includes access to mentoring and recognising that effective leadership grows through continuous learning and not experience alone.

Great question! I think that for this to happen, both parties (governors and SLT) need to be involved in developing the ethos of the school, with open conversations around what the school is and what they want the school to be.

I don't really see how governors could effectively hold leadership to account if they are fed information primarily from leadership and only see policies and not what they actually look like classroom by classroom.

I think that there's often a problem that governors are very remote from the realities of the schools they govern. How often do governors spend an average school day in the school? How could they? We want governors who are working people with expertise to consider implementation. They're at work.

#BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social @sarahjchung.bsky.social

“With proper governance, life will improve for all.” Benigno Aquino III How does the board ensure that ALL children receive the best possible education and are safe and happy? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs

#UKEdGovs #BigQuestions @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social @sarahjchung.bsky.social

“Good governance requires working toward common ground. It isn't easy.” Pete Hoekstra How can we ensure that all board members and all executive leaders are working towards the same goal? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs

I had a discussion in school today about ensuting governance was not creating workload issues for staff. We also see survey results and sometimes survey direct from board or meet with staff to chat. #UKEdGovs .

#BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social @sarahjchung.bsky.social

“The challenge of work-life balance is, without question, one of the most significant struggles faced by modern man." Stephen Covey How can the board effectively monitor work/life balance of school staff? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs

...and another book here that looks interesting, coming out in a few days time

#BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social @sarahjchung.bsky.social

“Each day you are leading by example. Whether you realize it or not or whether it's positive or negative, you are influencing those around you.” Rob Liano How can boards help professional development of their chairs? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs

That is a big question & too big for a short social media answer - it's about culture. It's something our EHT and I have been discussing a lot this term esp in relation to improving attendance. There are some useful books, blogs about this do share any you have found #UKEdGovs #Governors

Belonging, It's about feeling ssfe, secure, part of someting bigger than self - it's about inclusion. I haven't read this book but it looks interesting #UKEdGovs

Also lots of resources, blogs etc at the newly renamed 'Belonging Effect' (Previously Diverse Educators) share.google/MfPQcyvPdVtB.... #UKEdGovs #Governance #SchoolGovernors Belongjng really is our business as governors/trustees!

#BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social @sarahjchung.bsky.social

“I feel sorry for anyone who is in a place where he feels strange and stupid.” Lois Lowry. How do you ensure your pupils have a sense of belonging without it becoming a tick box for Ofsted? #BigQuestions

From yesterday. Why did edutwitter discourse dissolve? 👇🏻

Sunday reflection: “The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.” Socrates “The only real ill-doing is the deprivation of knowledge.” Plato #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social @sarahjchung.bsky.social

“The power of visibility can never be underestimated.” Margaret Cho. Does your community know who the governors are and what they do? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social @sarahjchung.bsky.social

... and different viewpoints come from having a wide range of people around the table - diverse boards. However, it is really difficult to achieve this - recruiting governors is pretty difficult at the moment. It's a big voluntary commitment & people have busy, busy lives. #UKEdGovs

I really like this question. A strong board isn’t one that always agrees, but one that welcomes robust discussion. Cohesion comes from valuing different viewpoints and creating space for governors to feel heard and understood.

“It's always best when everyone in the group is on the same page.” Dennis DeYoung How do you build a cohesive board? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social

“AI is going to reshape every industry and every job.” Reid Hoffman. Has your board had discussions on the use of AI in board meetings/classrooms? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social

“All great leaders choose great advisors, people they really trust for their governance.” Tom Payne How can boards show appreciation for their governance professionals? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social

Through all the tools at our disposal (leading on vision, values & policy, data, case studies, school visits, pupil, parent, staff voice) & mostly by curiosity - asking Qs & remembering that we set the culture of our organisation. When was this last a discussion topic on a board agenda? #UKEdGovs

“We want a society in which everyone enjoys equal rights and opportunities; education is the means.” Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah How can boards best monitor inclusion and equity? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social

By forming a good relationship with school, being seen by staff & available for informal chats. Ensure policies are in place for raising concerns & that these are understood & used appropriately. Survey periodically too - So some structured & some unstructured ways of hearing staff voice #UKEdGovs

“I touch the future. I teach.” Christa McAuliffe Teachers are our greatest asset. How can the board monitor and ensure their wellbeing? #BigQuestions #UKEdGovs @hoylerosemary.bsky.social @brendanhollyer.bsky.social @sambuller.bsky.social

Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?

Chapter Five: Art Appreciation through the lens of British landscape painters of the early 19th Century (or Turner and Constable: same guy or different guys). Culminating in this amazing abstraction:

Just over a week until publication of my new book on the joys and power of curiosity - the perfect gift for someone interested in maths or politics or archaeology or physics or art or poetry - also ideal for anyone not yet interested in those things who should be.

A particularly important result: the Dems retained all three seats on the PA supreme court which means the GOP can't get a majority before 2028. State supreme courts matter a lot in the fair running of Presidential elections and PA is one of the key swing states.

Huge wins for the Democrats in state elections across the US last night. Chaotic authoritarianism is not popular.

I worked as a bartender, lifeguard, and as a waiter in an Indian restaurant before being discovered as a teacher…

Grok appears to have started offering this false account about eye-witnesses by generating its view from false rumours on X. It began by saying there wasn't evidence then picked up rumour and misinformation and amplified it x.com/grok/status/...

If, ever, @tomrosenthal.bsky.social asked me on his podcast what my favourite day of the week is, I’d tell him of a book I read years ago. It was about the car manufacturing industry before advent of robots. According to the book, people in the know would try and buy a car that had been.. 1/