My hairdressing appointment reading. I love this book: we cannot decided what students can/ cannot do before we even let them try. Scaffolding not differentiation #pedagogy #teaching

This!

What if the words that shaped ancient civilisations could help someone rewrite their future? The ACE project wants to widen access to the study of classics for society’s most marginalised learners, those in prison. Pilot feedback has shown that it has been transformative for incarcerated learners.

#TeamRhetoric It’s brilliant to launch our new Oratory and Rhetoric Club at Lichfield Cathedral School: AGORA The LCS Agora will be a space to explore rhetoric, oratory, and persuasion from the origins of democracy in Classical Athens to modernity! #democracy #oratory #rhetoric #teaching #debates

I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening. The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.

He is a little boy. He was taken from school and used as bait to open the door of his home. He has been detained in Texas. He is a little child. Children are being taken. Parents are being taken. People are being taken.

POV History & Classics teachers in 2026: It’s frustrating seeing how ancient history, especially empires, is used to justify actions in the present. What’s inspiring as an Ancient Historian is knowing that I have the skills to address misconceptions and encourage critical thinking.

Monday, tune in for a special conversation between Rachel Maddow and guests of her most recent podcast “Burn Order” from a live community event in Los Angeles. Watch Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order Monday at 9pm ET on MS NOW.

In March 2026 I’ll be with the awesome @ttradioofficial.bsky.social talking about Ancient Democracy! #History #Teaching #CPD

It’s finally new ink time

First term as the new HoD of History and Politics at LCS ✅ #teaching

One of the best versions of Macbeth I’ve ever seen. Truly Scottish and what a brilliant setting for it #Macbeth #RSC #Shakespeare #TheOtherPlace

Hope you don’t mind me sharing this again. I’m just so excited to share this brand new podcast series produced by @histfest.bsky.social for @historyextra.bsky.social Listen wherever you get your podcasts (here’s the Spotify link spotify.link/hxH97mL4PXb )

Well behind (HoD in a new school - autumn caught up with me!) but here’s my latest @classicstober.bsky.social for yesterday. Day 14 Cocytus, the river that flows to Acheron, of wailing and lamentation. οιμοι φεύ φεύ

@classicstober.bsky.social day 4 Shroud #ClassicsTober

Busy day but trying to make sure I do my #ClassicsTober day 3 Graiai @classicstober.bsky.social

@classicstober.bsky.social day 2 #Thanatos

#ClassicsTober time #hypnos @classicstober.bsky.social

An early start, but what a beautiful morning singing on BBC Radio 4 this morning for Sunday Worship with Lichfield Cathedral Chamber Choir

#AQA 1K display is starting to come together! #USA #teaching #Alevel #RiseofaSuperpower

Freedom of speech is ancient, freedom of satire is ancient. If you are not free to criticise leaders, it is not a democracy

A little poster for my classroom. A collection of Ancient Greek and Roman comedy but mostly tragedy masks depicted in ancient art.

Athenian Democracy was based on 2 principles: isegoria (right to speak) isonomia (equal in the law) but that did not absolve you from the consequences - you’d be prosecuted for libel/ slander, if you lied or gave poor advice that harmed the polis you’re accountable. It did not silence dissent.

Closing today! 📣 This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of this new chapter and join me in building a new and dynamic department to engage our historians and politicians! #Teaching #hiring #UKEd #Lichfield #history #politics #AQA lichfieldcathedralschool.face-ed.co.uk/Vacancies/De...

Very excited to get my hands on the new book by Rachel Ball and Alex Fairlamb ‘The Scaffolding Effect’. I LOVE their ‘What is History Teaching Now’ so cannot wait to read this and put it into action in my department!

this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like

One thing every student should hear (actually every person at every age) Your best is always good enough. No matter what. It’s something my Dad always told me before every exam since I was little - if I can look in the mirror and know that I did my best, then that’s all anyone can ever ask of me.

#internationalcatday #Flo

Supporting the Bham Lit Fest 2025 with the awesome #punksandchancers x #blackcountrytype collab. Support our libraries! #BooksBab #LibrariesGiveUsPower www.birminghamliteraturefestival.org

Bluesky is great, but what I really miss is what #TeacherTwitter used to be! Is it still out there? #HistoryTeacher #PoliticsTeacher #Teaching #UKteaching #KS3 #KS4 #KS5 #GCSE #AQA #Alevel #learning #pedagogy #resources #curriculum #teach

Thank you to the brilliant @emmasouthon.bsky.social for recommending @gregjenner.bsky.social You’re Dead to Me and @jonathanhealey.bsky.social new book. That’s my summer reading sorted on causes of the civil war for my Alevel history students.

Beautiful Musica Deo Sacra Matins service at Tewkesbury Abbey yesterday, with a sunbeam streaming through. I also thought, Margaret of Anjou was here! In 1471 a defeated Somerset & some Lancastrians sought Sanctuary here, but it was broken by the Yorkists. The abbey was purified & reconsecrated

Palestinian statehood is not a bargaining chip.

Free stuff!

My last day at the educake office, so I obvs was a total tourist. Ta’ra a bit Oxford (and can you be a classicist and not go to the Loebs in Blackwells??)

He managed to say farewell and raised millions for charities that will help the people of Birmingham. Ozzy, ta’ra a bit bab #ozzy

The paperback, with new preface, coming next month. Preorder now! www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725302...

If you didn’t catch our speaker announcements then check out our awesome line up for September! Connect. Collaborate. Spark fresh thinking. All for FREE! www.eventbrite.com/e/teachers-t... @ttradioofficial.bsky.social #TTRHumanities #TeamRE #historyteacher #TeamGeog

Also, to my fellow #classicists in the normal 9-5 world, it’s never too late to come back to our research. I’ve been working on versions of my #CA2025 paper since 2017 (the world keeps giving me more populist material…) but here’s proof that we’re still academics even if we’re outside of academia

Love history? Near London? This Friday & Saturday there are two days of talks by great historians at @southwarkcathedral.bsky.social — my children & families event is on Saturday at 10.30am. I’m talking about the chaotic mess of Roman Britain cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/whats-on/his...

“A catastrophic data breach.” For two years, the government took The News Agents to court over a leaked MOD document - under a super injunction. Now it’s lifted. @lewisgoodall.com reports on the hidden court that tried to silence us. Watch here. ▶️ www.globalplayer.com/videos/2JsSc...

Thank you to everyone who came to my #CA2025 talk on the reception of Demosthenes’ use of identity, the past and parrhesia in modern populist discourse! It was brilliant to receive such positive feedback and engaging questions! Huge thanks to the brilliant @lottieparkyn.bsky.social for capturing it

May you find someone who gazes at you like I do a statue of Demosthenes or a map of the Ancient Greek World (thank you @lottieparkyn.bsky.social for capturing!)

Good morning from ‘A Declaration of Classics: Classical Reception under Fascism’ panel at #CA2025

Ready for #CA2025 this weekend! See you on Saturday St Andrews! #AncientAthens #Demosthenes #Identity #Rhetoric #Politics

So excited that #Cylla is opening in #Brum this month! The food looks divine and a cocktail list that includes: Hermes Highball, Ambrosia’s Kiss, Circe’s Spell, Elysian Fields, Polyphemus Punch - I’m am one happy Classicist (who loves her #Greek food). #ModernGreekDining

Excited to be presenting on the Reception III panel at #CA2025 conference this weekend in St Andrews on #Demosthenes. If you’re there, please come and say hi! See you at the ceilidh ca2025.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/programme/se... #ClassicalAssociation

Well the list is an embarrassment to our discipline today. @luxmea.bsky.social your courage and resilience in the face of close-minded criticism is respected by many of us

Here’s Flo in a heatwave with her little ice cube

It was such an honour to launch @theees.bsky.social latest book, Amelia B Edwards: The 'Queen of Egyptology' for #PrideMonth2025 at Bolton Museum. Read all about the launch and my sincere thanks to Ian Trumble and Prof Joann Fletcher here: www.ees.ac.uk/resource/his...