Last day with children in school today! Which is lucky, because it turns out my own children have approximately 18,475,385 questions they need to ask me in quick succession, sometimes at the same time as one another.

This is such en idiotic argument. It's like demanding music rooms without worrying about instruments. Or like I once had, a kitchen for a whole class... But with two ovens! www.tes.com/magazine/new...

As an aside from the football... Chances the NCA portal functions as needed at 7.30 tomorrow morning?

The question for Nigel Farage now is whether it's less embarrassing to un-resign and claim that was an establishment stitchup, or to spend a month competing with a bin. Neither is exactly a *great* option. Neither solves his ongoing scandals. And it's a mess entirely of his own making.

Evidence Informed? My recent speech from ResearchED on why I'm so worried about our direction of travel and why once again we may need to fight for evidence informed education. bennewmark.wordpress.com/2026/07/07/e...

The more I think about the 'Experts at Hand' idea, the more I worry about the role of 'swooping in', handing out a bundle of recommendations, and then waltzing off to lead schools to unpick what can and should be delivered. We may end up in even more of a mess.

Always amusing to see an article where the opening paragraphs highlight how little the author knows or understands about teaching. Maths teachers are not scared of going outside; they just know that sunflowers are a dreadful way of teaching about Fibonacci. schoolsweek.co.uk/why-im-tryin...

'Right to Choose' assessments are a classic example of teacher workload: nobody objects in principle to the idea - because its for the benefit of the children - but the practice is another task in teachers' days for which there is no capacity.

I can't help but think this Number 10 in the North idea is going to lead to a lot of people sitting on trains into London, quickly double-checking the agenda for their meeting that day, and then suddenly cursing themselves, the trains, and Andy Burnham as they hastily phone in their apologies.

I've just added this to my SEF: There are no trends for SEND data across the school, as the range and complexities of needs is so varied that the data in yearly or school context is almost meaningless. I feel strongly about this. Drawing conclusions from SEND data is deeply flawed.

Seeing the plans for the compulsory "inclusion" training that's come down the road, I can't help but recall the "New Opportunities Fund" training from many years ago. There's a real risk of it being a balance of useless and patronising.

Here's a pattern that summarises the challenges schools face in navigating government directives: INCLUSION is a strength, but ATTENDANCE is a weakness. And there's no acknowledgement in the report of the conflict 🙄

Who's going to be entitled to use this alternative entrance? At what point does it then become the main entrance? Who can access the calmer space? How many will there be? Will it still be calm if everyone wants to access it? www.gov.uk/government/n...

This level of humidity is unacceptable.

Remember when a prime ministerial resignation would have felt like big news? But today, I'm far more shocked by the revelation that the phonics threshold is now... 31!!!

For Fathers' Day, Keir Starmer posts a photo of his own father, who died in 2018, and a non-political message. The replies are a torrent of vitriol & cruelty, all with hundreds of Likes. We complain a lot about the quality of leadership, but there's a huge problem with the way we treat politicians

A shirtless white man, in the street with a knife in his hand, having attacked and wounded five people, allegedly shouting anti-Muslim slogans is the sixth story on the BBC UK news page. There is absolutely no doubt at all this would be the lead story if attacker and intended victims were reversed.

I’m going to focus most of my social media posts on Bluesky and Instagram. I feel increasingly that X is no longer valuable as a journalist. You can follow me on insta @paulbrandtv - join me there too! www.instagram.com/paulbrandtv?...

In accordance with ancient tradition, our next Prime Minister is announced to the nation while standing between a furry and a man with a bin on his head.

Crikey. I've started to browse through the "enrichment framework" and my goodness they know how to strip the joy out of everything, don't they?

sorry to be ‘that guy’ but please be cautious when RTing a missing person post from an unofficial/unverified source. While many are genuine, sometimes the person has run away because they're a victim of domestic abuse. Thanks x

The whole of Lesotho is higher than Ben Nevis

Got your first leadership position starting in September? membership.naht.org.uk/offer/join-n...

We must take on the hateful forces that seek to divide us. My statement on recent events in Belfast.

Who does this man from Location Location Location remind me of?

Everyone on X and elsewhere who called for a violent response should be charged with incitement. Everyone involved in the pogrom should be locked up with exemplary sentences. Govt should make it clear that will be the response in future anywhere else. Enough.

A genuine porridge serving suggestion from the DfE breakfast club guidance. Is this a joke?

A genuine porridge serving suggestion from the DfE breakfast club guidance. Is this a joke?

The US is run by our enemies.

I really hope in my lifetime we can go back to making racism something to be ashamed of again, rather than something that’ll get you a regular slot on rolling news.

If you vote Reform you are voting for racists. Simple. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

How utterly disgusting that the father of a murdered boy has to also be the voice of calm and reason. Shame, shame, shame on anyone who won't respect his wishes.

Being a Jew in modern Britain latest British Museum intimidated into cancelling an event about Jews, because Jews. It's not 'regrettable'. If this happened with any other community, it would lead to outrage. But it's just the Jews www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/pre...

You've all switched off your alarms, right?

Every summer I repost this article on how to spot drowning. Please read it and pass on. In the last few years I’ve had SIX messages from people who saved a kid’s life after clicking on the link from my feed. slate.com/technology/2...

So Ofsted are now considering some sort of "similar schools" measure for attainment says used for inspection. Anyone remember this?

Didn’t realise the Eurovision was going to be co-presented by Swiss Tony #eurovision

Everyone remembered to do their Headteacher's Declaration?

An interesting little "compare and contrast" set of results from Teacher Tapp. Look at the bottom to see which is general opinions and which is primary leaders (although you may be able to guess) I guess a primary optimist might hope that 'primary teachers' come closer to primary leaders' views...

Today's news: DfE provider taken by surprise by all primary schools wanting to access SATs registers on the day that all primary schools are required to access SATs registers.

If you are going to force schools into an accountability exercise, then making sure the tools of that exercise work properly would be useful...

Delighted to see this in my email today from @naht.org.uk

Companies that allow your child's work to be "published" so that you can pay for a copy of the book - dreadful racket or exciting opportunity for children? Where do you stand?

Been saying it for months - sensory needs is the new trauma informed.

I’m sorry, but everyone now knows exactly what Reform stands for, so if you vote for them, you’re a nasty racist with no respect for other humans. No ‘I didn’t know’ or ‘the other parties have let me down’ excuses now. Shame on them and shame on you.

School leaders at the @naht.org.uk conference have paved the way towards industrial action over Ofsted’s new inspection framework, after warning that ‘polite concern is not enough’

It's interesting to be that in articles and analysis like this, no-one ever mentions parenting. Is that because no-one thinks it's a factor or because no-one dare say it? www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Good luck getting much reading for pleasure done without any literacy. 🙄

Here’s a challenge for @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social and DfE Name some names? Of the 20000+ state schools in England , can you list 10 who are delivering food to the standards and without additional support for £2.61 per meal