It’s been a big week. I’ve returned to work after maternity leave & it’s been such a joy to reconnect with colleagues across Dixons Academies Trust, especially the brilliant CfG team. @fstewarthistory.bsky.social & I have also received a preview of our soon to be published book. Exciting times!

So much of this powerful article resonated with me: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... ‘For the first time I learned what it really means to live in fear because of the colour of your skin, and it has never left me since.’

UPDATE - thanks to 34,000 protests, this even has been cancelled. Amazing work everyone!

Please sign - take's 10 seconds. actionnetwork.org/petitions/e8...

If I were trying to win elections and arguments, I simply would be doing everything I could to move UK political conversation away from a website run by an avowed enemy who believes and writes this stuff about me:

Great Yarmouth is set to host the biggest neo-nazi music festival in over a decade. The Home Office has the power to block entry of overseas bands, which will scupper the promoters plans. But they won’t act unless we demand it. Email the Home Office now: hopenothate.org.uk/2025/08/28/g...

More and more flags have been appearing near to where I live and Agard’s poem ‘Flag’ has come to mind more than once.

Bradford Literature Festival weekend 1- done! From shadows puppets, crafting & cosy crime to the powerful Ghost Empire Mauritius & Chagos film. It’s been a busy but brilliant weekend & a great introduction to all things literary, magical, cultural and political for my girls. Roll on next weekend!

This www.nfer.ac.uk/media/gneoqx... is essential reading for anyone leading on ITT. If the DfE don’t act on the recommendations, providers must consider where they can enact change.

Would really recommend watching this: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis.... A focus on identity, connection and culture as ways to support people.

@collegeofteaching.bsky.social What a fantastic edition of Impact. This is a must read for anyone supporting trainees and early career teachers.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 👏

1. A few years ago, people like me were widely attacked in the media for “declinism”. How could we fail to see that we were heading into a capitalist utopia, in which everything would keep getting better? This is a thread about what we could see that our critics could not. 🧵

The thread on one page: skywriter.blue/pages/george...

A call for case studies! I’m co-writing a book focusing on how to create a culture of belonging in primary & secondary schools. We’d love to showcase the amazing DEIB work taking place across the UK. Should you be interested in this opportunity, please get in touch. #DiverseEducators

A call for case studies! I’m co-writing a book focusing on how to create a culture of belonging in primary & secondary schools. We’d love to showcase the amazing DEIB work taking place across the UK. We welcome all contributions. Should you be interested in this opportunity, please get in touch.

A call for case studies! I’m co-writing a book focusing on how to create a culture of belonging in primary & secondary schools. We’d love to showcase the amazing DEIB work taking place across the UK. We welcome all contributions. Should you be interested in this opportunity, please get in touch.

Issue 23 of Impact is now live online! 💻 If you haven't received your copy, our full issue + more are available to read on MyCollege. This issue explores the theme of teacher professionalism. Read here: my.chartered.college/impact/issue... #ImpactJournal #TeacherProfessionalism

To the right-wing pundits crowing over Vance's speech: if you are really "less worried" about a dictator-state that's invaded its neighbour, killed tens of thousands of people, reduced cities to rubble & engaged in mass rape and child abduction, than you are about "wokery", then you are truly lost.

Deportation footage ‘enables mainstreaming of racism’, Clive Lewis says

This week look for ways to make a difference. Look for ways to make good trouble. Challenge. Disrupt. Push. @womened.bsky.social

Calm Leadership Lesson: 🗣️ To lead with empathy is to prioritise relationships over rigid systems and authenticity over superficial compliance. It means understanding the people you work with, valuing their perspectives, and creating an environment where they can thrive. Lead Calmly ❤️

‘The question isn't "How do we make everyone feel comfortable?" but rather "How do we create conditions where people feel secure enough to embrace discomfort in service of growth?"’ An interesting read exploring psychological safety and psychological maturity www.forbes.com/sites/michae...

The UK govt needs to stop looking on at the awful things coming out of America right now as if they are somehow unexpected or just a hit odd. These are the beginnings of despotism and he told us all he would do it. Trump must be challenged robustly by the whole international community

Today from Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny: snyder.substack.com/p/the-logic-...

“DEI is not a threat. It’s a gift.” — Alicia Keys accepting the Global Impact Award at the #GRAMMYs .

Interesting and intersectionality undoubtedly needs consideration here. “By focusing on FSM status as some kind of fixed category, we risk ignoring the structural racism in labour markets and the wider housing system…’

19,000+ views of this work which traces the emergence of the 'word gap' in England's education policy, critiques the deficit thinking which underpins it, and the flawed theory of social justice which it is part of. thanks to all who have read and shared 💕 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

DEI public favorability continues to be +19. Pundits are wrong that: 1) DEI is unpopular. It's popular. 2) This recent support is thermostatic. This is NOT thermostatic. DEI favorability has been high throughout its existence (second pic).

I’m rereading this and am reminded about how brilliant it is. A must read in these uncertain times. ‘Recognise systems of oppression before letting individual defensiveness stop you from dismantling them.’ (Inclusion on Purpose, Ruchika Tulshyan)

Sat Feb 8th, 10am to 12noon, free webinar on Diversifying Coaching from @hannahwilson.bsky.social & #DiverseEd associates: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/diversifyi... Please share with anyone you think may be interested? Thanks.

Congrats to #Bradford. Hope they have a great year ahead 🎉 BBC News - UK's new city of culture seeks to overturn negative image www.bbc.com/news/article...

I've read several responses to the US election and the UK riots stating 'this is why we need to stop being superior to people and understand where they are coming from'. I have bristled at this and I want to understand why. A thread:

How are families affected by the cost-of-living crisis and the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic? Here's some of what parents and carers told Parentkind. Keep up with research like this - sign up to my free LinkedIn monthly newsletter, Early Years Evidence in Action lnkd.in/etCmPvJy

@positivteacha.bsky.social Thank you for your honest, sensitive and important session on Combatting Misogyny in Schools this evening. We all can certainly do much more.

This is why one of our campaigns is to increase representation of women leaders with a diverse heritage. Trust leaders, get in touch as we can help you move the dial for this issue. 💜💜Schools Week schoolsweek.co.uk/diversity-ga...

How can we use everyday interactions in #earlyyears to extend children’s learning and thinking? New resource from @theeef.bsky.social ⬇️ educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/improvi...

Looking forward to attending this.

Lucky enough to work with Mark, he's a clever sausage. Give this a listen #EduSky

Newish post. On feelings of imposterism and school leadership. Thinking beyond 'syndromes' to consider social processes. www.mind-your-head.net/post/imposte... I don't know who reposted this yesterday, but thank you!!! It has had 600+ views in the last 12 hours.

And here's the full Oracy Commission report - 'We Need to Talk': oracyeducationcommission.co.uk/wp-content/u... (pdf)

Such a brilliant video on what belonging means in schools and why it’s so important. A must-see.

Someone just shared this with me - anyone else using it for name pronunciation? namedrop.io You can sign up, record your name and add it to your signature. #DiverseEd

And we’re off! The call for evidence for the curriculum and assessment review is now open, and will be for 8 weeks. As @beckyfrancis.bsky.social says, this is the chance for a national conversation. Excited to hear the diverse views, insights and expertise of all. www.gov.uk/government/c...

Final NFER forecast of ITT recruitment in England 2024/25: - 12 out of 17 subjects very likely to be below target - Primary 12% below target and secondary 40% below - Biology 15% above target, but 40% below target across all three sciences Thread continues 🧵 👇

What is 'Disciplinary Literacy'? It's the reciprocal relationship between language and thinking in our subjects. researchschool.org.uk/bradford/new...

There are 'serious dangers in simply assuming that schools are ‘back to normal’ – they are not – and assuming they will easily be able to meet the needs of young people affected by lockdowns and pandemic', new report warns

I have been trying to collate useful starting points for educators to learn about DEI and decided to put them into a Padlet. Access free here (more content to follow): padlet.com/benniekara/d... #EduSky #UKTeachers

Our first #DiverseEd blog for the new academic year is by us. The UK Race Riots, Summer 2024 - The Aftermath www.diverseeducators.co.uk/the-uk-race-... Do check out the resources and signposting.