I note with interest right-wing media's total absence of any concerns about prominent BBC presenter Armstrong expressing his highly political opinions. As was always perfectly clear to many of us, the problem was not that Lineker had views, but the fact they didn't approve of his views.

Take a look at the @headrestuk.bsky.social blog. It contains all of our annual wellbeing reports as well as posts from a range of guest bloggers all focussing on wellbeing.

Brilliant this from fellow Headrestian and former special school head @moonrakerteacher.bsky.social.

Pete telling it like it is www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog/headtea...

If you want to explore humane and intelligent alternatives to a high stakes accountability system, then this book from @headrestuk.bsky.social is a good starting point. Full of examples of how it could work, backed with international research, real examples and best practice. Out now. ⤵️

Yay. Now available on Kindle.

I’m not sure I have the energy to go through another Ofsted framework change. The training, the buzzwords, Ofsted goons strutting about the place using terminology no one has previously heard of as if we should all know the meaning of, the expense. I might write my first ever blog about this.

Already amusing myself with the "guess which of the descriptors is meant to be better" game for the new Ofsted toolkits.

#Ofsted has a new report card but Ofsted is still Ofsted and does nothing to change its awful impact on schools, teachers and children. It’s an antiquated system that needs to go.

We are not happy with Ofsted. Here’s the follow-up to our response yesterday to the unworkable report card proposals.

Our response to the latest Ofsted proposals. Part 2 tomorrow. www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog/missed-...

bsky.app/profile/head... @edmund-b-w.bsky.social

Reading the article in @schoolsweek.bsky.social on the unhappiness in OFSTED and whistleblower letter to press - let’s be honest about this - putting OFSTED in charge of designing the change was always going to be a total disaster.

Our book is out today 🎉

Out this Friday. Beyond Belief. Why school accountability is broken and how to fix it. Not my thoughts but those of 30 or so others. Pre-order here. 🙏🏼 amzn.eu/d/0KmhHzA

Trump has deployed active military to help round up migrants and put them into detention camps. The military forced us out of our homes at gunpoint in 1942 because we were considered possibly disloyal Americans. They sent us to internment camps for four years. History is repeating. Pay attention.

The @HeadsRoundtable continues to be the public voice of the sensible, ethical majority in the profession. I know I am far from the only one who greatly appreciates their collective wisdom and leadership. 👏👏👏

10 days to publication. Thank you @johncattedu.bsky.social for todays delivery. #BeyondBelief

All the royalties from this book go to education wellbeing charities. We need to nominate one. Any suggestions?

Our 2025 Annual Headteacher Wellbeing Report is published today. It summarises the key stressors and issues headteachers are facing. We make a number of recommendations that are aimed at improving the wellbeing of headteachers. Please share widely.

Absolutely superb stuff from the brilliant @headrestuk.bsky.social This report draws from a huge range of experience & evidence & accurately describes the reality of school leadership in 2025 Essential reading. Especially for senior leaders at Ofsted. www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog/headtea...

Exclusive: The 2024 @headrestuk.bsky.social report reveals that the support service is still receiving "traumatic" calls from heads, leaving them "fearful" of further tragedies. It calls for better inspector training on "most serious situations”, such as suicide risk. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Pre-order the new book from the @headrestuk.bsky.social team, along with 30 other amazing contributors. It’s all about how to fix our broken accountability system. We think you’ll like it. Published 31st January by @johncattedu.bsky.social. All royalties to charity. 1/4 amzn.eu/d/cGl2wSe

A Christmas present whisky from @rosmcm.bsky.social. Arran is one of my favourite distilleries - this is a very good and gently peaty wee dram.

Keep protesting - The Observer is worth protecting.

Today Guardian and Observer journalists are on strike over plans to sell the Observer to a loss-making digital start up and put its journalism behind a paywall. 🧵 How can you support us? SHARE our posts WRITE to [email protected] JOIN US - there's cake!

Whisky Advent calendar day 2 - an Islay whisky. Lagavulin 12 year special reserve. Very peaty, very smoky, a good winter whisky.

Advent whisky calendar - day one. A very good Talisker reserve. A lovely wee dram from Skye.

Edmund is a fine advocate for intelligent and humane accountability and has written a powerful piece for the new book ‘Beyond Belief. Why school accountability is broken and how to fix it’ Do give him a follow.

NEW: The great Trump-Musk crackdown is coming. And it will hit hard & fast. Journalists will be first. But everyone else is next. I urge you to read my 20 lessons in How to Survive the Broligarchy, inspired by & featuring the great @timothysnyder.bsky.social 1/ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

If the Ofsted proposals are as they appear the Secretary of State will need to be brave enough to call out this charade. Schools need accountability but if Ofsted think this approach is the answer they clearly have learnt nothing. This is not reform it is mere tinkering.

Said it before but saying it again. If we know at least 11 heads have been left suicidal since Ruth Perry’s inquest why does anyone believe this organisation can change itself? Or even that it really wants to.

It is hard to credit how stupid and damaging these proposals are. Putting the discredited organisation in charge of drawing up new arrangements was a bonkers idea but this is even worse than could have been expected. schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-propo...

Please give @headrestuk.bsky.social a follow and share with others. Thank you #HeadteachersUK www.headrestuk.co.uk

I am very pleased to see how thorough Dame Christine has been. feweek.co.uk/gilbert-revi...

Here’s wishing all of you a successful return next week. Hope you feel rested. Thankfully, it’s been quiet at Headrest over the summer but if you need to talk, you know where we are. And be sure to please share what we do with any new HT colleagues. 🙏🏼 #HeadteachersUK #EduSky HeadrestUK.co.uk

This is my fifth year of not having the sleepless nights before A-level and GCSE results. But I’ll never forget the gut-wrenching anxiety, nor the joy of celebration, nor the the exhaustion of analysis etc. With you all in spirit and don’t forget www.headrestuk.co.uk is here if you need to talk.