Poster for the Kyiv Book Fair, Ukraine (2023)

Why do we keep on accepting the unacceptable? We are complicit in this is if we don’t stand up to it. It appalls me. @primeministeruk.bsky.social at this point you should have stood up and said this press conference is over. In school, if anyone spoke like this in a meeting, you’d end the meeting.

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀? Tapestry’s annual survey is now live - topics include:   • working with parents   • how individuals feel about their role   • AI in the early years The survey is open until 30th May 2025 - about 5 minutes to fill in. 📝 www.surveymonkey.com/r/TFHNF79

I'm running this free webinar on 4th June. Perfect for trainees, ECTs and anyone looking for inspiration on behaviour. Tickets are free with the option to make a donation. Please share! Thank you. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/positive-b...

🔥 15 hottest edu-research papers from the last 15 weeks: (all open source 🔓) ↓

First time watching an episode of Bluey today and ended up a total blubbering wreck. Blimey.

I’ve been going to LinkedIn for my edu news and views a lot recently and I honestly never ever thought that would happen

I mistyped an email sign off as “all the bees” instead of “all the best”. I reckon I’m going to stick with it. I can’t think of anything negative that can possibly come of wishing someone all the bees.

This is high art

I’m so pleased to be able to share that @carlywaterman.bsky.social will be joining Sharnbrook Academy and Meridian Trust as Principal in September. A very special leader for a very special school. Carly brings values and experiences that will be ideally placed to steer the next phase at Sharnbrook.

I am very excited to say that, after nearly three years as Director of ECT at Ambition Institute, I will be taking on the post of Principal at Sharnbrook Academy, in Bedfordshire, this September. What a privilege it will be to go back to Headship. Can’t wait! 🙌

I’ve been thinking about peace and reconciliation recently: how we humans can move on from hurt, reach out & find coexistence with those we’ve hurt & been hurt by - as individuals, as people’s & nations, as schools Unfortunately I have not found a solution - don’t read the thread for one quick trick

I’m delighted Sir Hamid Patel has been elected Chairman of Ofsted. His track record speaks for itself. He also showed me immense kindness whilst surrounded by edu-greats on an DfE consultation group. He has emotional intelligence, empathy and sensitivity - all qualities valuable at Ofsted I reckon.

Thank you @headsroundtable.bsky.social for this important statement. Racism is abhorrent and we must call it out. Sir Hamid Patel’s appointment at Ofsted is a brilliant one.

Omg just watched Lilo & Stitch for the first time ever. Was not prepared. Who knew? And why didn’t you tell me? Not sure I’ve laughed and cried so much in ages. What a delight.

🚨 Join our team ‼️ As the number of schools and trusts Steplab supports increases, we’ve got two exciting opportunities to join our UK-based team and help our partners with PD that really works. 👉 Coaching Development Lead 👉 Content Lead 📅 Closing 21 March More info 👇

In a world of Matts, be a Derek.

For two men who have professed such hostility towards taking the knee, they are surprisingly happy to do it for Putin, in the Oval Office, in full view of the world’s media.

Added my name to this: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/no...

Whenever you welcome guests, treat them with kindness, grace and respect. Simple as that.

The far right becoming the official opposition in Germany and the US siding with North Korea at the UN. If the warning signs weren’t clear enough, then surely they must be now?

After playing a fictional member of the Resistance a long time ago, I never could have imagined it ever happening in real life, but here we are.

Okay, I have to face up to the fact that I’m vacating a brilliant job at a fantastic school! 🥲 If you want to be a headteacher, you’ll love this. Come and visit. www.eteach.com/job/headteac...

If we give up on our values we give up on everything. Values are very much worth holding onto. Big hugs to everyone who is at least trying. ♥️

Look what I’m up to @jameshandscombe.bsky.social 🤩🤩🤩🤩

ECTs and trainee teachers: please can I ask for your help? I want to hear from you about your experience in teaching. What do you love about it? What do you wish you could change? If you’re a teacher who left teaching after their first few years, what pushed you to leave? Pls comment below👇

Ofsted has an “institutional disinterest”in why some schools welcome the most vulnerable children, while others “push them away”. @annelongfield.bsky.social & @jonnyuttley.bsky.social on why Ofsted’s inclusion category falls “woefully short of the sea change needed”. www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Incredibly useful! Thank you Cassie 🙏

Everyone has a stake in the story of a school, & stories are never neutral. Whose story is the one adopted as ‘official’? & whose stories are silenced? New blog from me. Seems to be about ideas & opinions but is actually about power, & who holds it. watermanlearning.wordpress.com/2025/02/02/w...

🧵👇 Educational psychology has got its hooks in me. 1. It’s more than theory; it’s the key to understanding how kids learn, struggle & thrive. It’s the bridge between curriculum & cognition, behaviour & belonging. The more I dig into it, the more I see it shaping whole communities.

Loved this interview with @jonnyuttley.bsky.social. ✅ Happy, strong communities so people have better lives ✅ If you only ever talk to your direct reports, you get disconnected ✅ How can we help young people - long term? ✅ Small Trusts ARE the system #TeamTEAL m.youtube.com/watch?v=yg8y...

The DEI caused the plane crash narrative is a distraction. The tariffs are a distraction. Whatever insane nonsense Trump spews that the media will chase like cats chasing a laser light is a distraction. The only story that counts right now is the wholesale hijacking of control of the US government.

From the brilliant @brianbilston.bsky.social

A must-read. Don’t let them demoralise you and convince you it’s all inevitable. Nothing is inevitable.

I wrote a blog. It’s been a while! Inspired by @head-teach.bsky.social’s blog ‘Lighthouses & Sirens’ educontrarianblog.com/2025/02/02/l... It’s full of dangerous opinions & ideas that may well run amok as soon as you click the link. Caution advised 😊 watermanlearning.wordpress.com/2025/02/02/w...

This morning’s sunshine has reminded me of the word ‘philocaly’: a love of beauty, even in the smallest things.

Gary Snyder (one of the great spirits of our time) on how to unbreak the world

I can’t live without it. Every Sunday I devour this newsletter and I adore it. Nourishing, affirming, challenging and filled with wisdom and beauty. My weekly dose of philosophy. Would highly recommend to anyone trying to find meaning in this broken world we appear to live in 👇

Brilliant production of West Side Story on next weekend in Corby with a cast all under 18. They’re so good.. and my fabulous daughter is one them. #ProudMum. If you’re local, this is a must-see www.thecorecorby.com/whats-on/wat...

Added my signature ✅ petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...

🚨🚨 NEW TODAY For the last 18 months, I've been working on a top secret documentary to capture & deconstruct some of best teaching in UK. Why We Made It & How To Access It (For Free): ↓ www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SQ0...

Excellent words from @carolinebarlow.bsky.social on the need for change in our accountability system. Inclusion, curric breadth and wellbeing were not built into the current system. So a change here absolutely is the lever needed for inclusion, equity and care. schoolsweek.co.uk/how-labour-c...

‘There are more effective ways of monitoring students as they move through school’.. @richardselfridge.bsky.social in this fab blog👇 The ‘must be making progress’ mindset is ubiquitous.. we’ve not moved away from flightpaths (even if we say we have). www.insightinform.co.uk/2025/01/21/l...

AQA GCSE English Lang P1 and 2 changes announced today - first examined June 2026. Here’s a specimen paper: ‘The Whole Town’s Sleeping’ and a set of PPT slides Q by Q with models and scaffolds to reflect these changes. Help yourself 😊 #teamenglish www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bd6qg...

Due to some stuff I’ve been through professionally, I became quite frightened of having a voice or presence on any social media. I felt I had to be mostly invisible. I don’t think it’s okay for people to make you feel that way, so I’m going to participate & contribute more. No longer afraid, see.

Yes, yes I could. Done ✅

New article informed by Tapper responses 👇 • 34% of teachers say their school is helping children with teeth-brushing. • Approximately one-in-seven teachers say they have spent their own money to provide food to struggling families. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Jim Acosta announces on air that he's leaving CNN and says, "it is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant ... don't give in to the lies."